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How Randy Gregory got his life back on track and earned his NFL reinstatement
By Calvin Watkins Jul 17, 2018 19
The meeting took place a year ago in Houston’s Galleria, a high-end mall off Highway 610. Arrival requires overcoming heavy traffic.
It was a lunch date between Daniel Moskowitz – a lawyer originally from New York – and Randy Gregory, an NFL player under suspension, raised in the Midwest.
Gregory was sitting around on suspension from the league for numerous failed drug tests.
Moskowitz wanted to know if Gregory was ready to begin the process of returning to the NFL.
“You don’t think you will ever get in the NFL, do you?” Moskowitz asked.
“No way,” Gregory said with a laugh.
Moskowitz was stunned. He wasn’t sure if this partnership of opposites was going to work. But he gave Gregory’s parents a three-page memo with the plan, anyway.
Part of the plan for Gregory’s return was to get a job. He worked a 9-to-5 at Dallas-based Genesco Sports Enterprises. When he got off work, Gregory worked out to prepare for his dream job. Lifting weights, running and jumping; just in case he got that chance to play football again.
The job is a small part of everything. Not so much as going to drug counseling sessions and taking random drug tests, but it was important for Gregory to just feel alive again. Simply to try to get his life back in order.
Gregory kept working on both his two jobs; marketing and lifting weights. Moskowitz was confident things were going well, but wasn’t 100 percent sure.
Gregory is a 2015 second-round pick of the Cowboys but was treated like a late night custodian. He was rarely seen and didn’t speak with too many people.
Gregory wasn’t allowed to speak with Jerry Jones, the man who remained absolutely sure of his value. Nor Jason Garrett, who made use of players on second and third chances.
He couldn’t talk to any teammates. He couldn’t speak with any coaches. He couldn’t talk to captain and linebacker Sean Lee, who wrote a letter to the league asking for Gregory’s return. Gregory couldn’t talk to Ben Bloom, one of the defensive coaches, who also spoke up for him.
The only way the Cowboys received updates on Gregory’s progress was through Moskowitz and in weekly meetings with Bryan Wansley, who runs the Cowboys’ player development team. Wansley is a man who talks to players about everything.
Wansley knows about what the Cowboys are going through. If they have relationship problems. If they have family problems. If they have problems just getting a credit card. If you have an issue, Wansley helps you.
This is the world Gregory was in.
Even all of this wasn’t enough to convince Moskowitz that his client was improving.
Seven months ago something changed. An unnamed teammate of Gregory’s needed help. He was afraid he would be disciplined by the league.
He sought Moskowitz’s help.
“Talk to Randy,” Moskowitz told the player, breaking the rules.
Gregory and the player spoke about the problem. They spoke about potential rehab. They spoke about being alone, away from the team.
“That kind of did it for me,” Moskowitz said. “What he told (the unnamed player) meant a lot. It showed me that Randy gets it.”
Gregory understood that you must change your life if you want people to believe in you.
On Tuesday afternoon, World Emoji Day, Gregory participated. It sent the Twitter world into a frenzy.
The NFL had reinstated Gregory with conditions. He will remain in Stage 3 of the drug program for two more years. He will get random drug tests, see a doctor and continue to attend various treatment programs.
He can attend practices in Oxnard, Calif., next week with the Cowboys. He can line up in the grass at defensive end again. He can play football again.
The 9-to-5 job is over.
He gets the dream job back.
“His growth has been unbelievable,” Moskowitz said Tuesday afternoon. “He’s earned this. I just hope fans give him a chance.”
Gregory was in shock when the NFL told Moskowitz he could return to play football again.
“The Scarlet Letter is off you now,” Moskowitz told Gregory.
“I hope people get to know the real Randy Gregory,” Moskowitz said. “It meant a lot to him that people spoke up for him, everybody from Jerry Jones, Ben Bloom, Sean Lee, players. Stephen Jones. One thing the Cowboys foster is ‘strength and stability will lead to success.’”
The Cowboys waited on a player who has played in just two games the last three seasons. His return bolsters their defensive line.
“The Cowboys are going to fall in love with Randy Gregory,” the lawyer said. “It’s early to write somebody off. I told (NFL Senior VP of Labor Policy and League Affairs) Adolpho Birch this is a Shakespearean tragedy. He’s a great guy. He’s brilliant. The most difficult client I’ve ever had. He questions everything. But he’s earned this.”
It’s uncertain just how good Gregory will be when and if he plays in Week 1 at Carolina. Considering what he’s been through, just getting to the first preseason game against the 49ers will probably mean more to Gregory than anything else.
He’s been gone for a long time and is savoring this moment.
“Not many people get second, third, fourth chances,” Gregory told former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt. “I plan to take advantage of mine.”
It’s a moment he can’t spoil.
__________________________________________
Dude has busted his ass to get back to this point. I am really pulling for him.
By Calvin Watkins Jul 17, 2018 19
The meeting took place a year ago in Houston’s Galleria, a high-end mall off Highway 610. Arrival requires overcoming heavy traffic.
It was a lunch date between Daniel Moskowitz – a lawyer originally from New York – and Randy Gregory, an NFL player under suspension, raised in the Midwest.
Gregory was sitting around on suspension from the league for numerous failed drug tests.
Moskowitz wanted to know if Gregory was ready to begin the process of returning to the NFL.
“You don’t think you will ever get in the NFL, do you?” Moskowitz asked.
“No way,” Gregory said with a laugh.
Moskowitz was stunned. He wasn’t sure if this partnership of opposites was going to work. But he gave Gregory’s parents a three-page memo with the plan, anyway.
Part of the plan for Gregory’s return was to get a job. He worked a 9-to-5 at Dallas-based Genesco Sports Enterprises. When he got off work, Gregory worked out to prepare for his dream job. Lifting weights, running and jumping; just in case he got that chance to play football again.
The job is a small part of everything. Not so much as going to drug counseling sessions and taking random drug tests, but it was important for Gregory to just feel alive again. Simply to try to get his life back in order.
Gregory kept working on both his two jobs; marketing and lifting weights. Moskowitz was confident things were going well, but wasn’t 100 percent sure.
Gregory is a 2015 second-round pick of the Cowboys but was treated like a late night custodian. He was rarely seen and didn’t speak with too many people.
Gregory wasn’t allowed to speak with Jerry Jones, the man who remained absolutely sure of his value. Nor Jason Garrett, who made use of players on second and third chances.
He couldn’t talk to any teammates. He couldn’t speak with any coaches. He couldn’t talk to captain and linebacker Sean Lee, who wrote a letter to the league asking for Gregory’s return. Gregory couldn’t talk to Ben Bloom, one of the defensive coaches, who also spoke up for him.
The only way the Cowboys received updates on Gregory’s progress was through Moskowitz and in weekly meetings with Bryan Wansley, who runs the Cowboys’ player development team. Wansley is a man who talks to players about everything.
Wansley knows about what the Cowboys are going through. If they have relationship problems. If they have family problems. If they have problems just getting a credit card. If you have an issue, Wansley helps you.
This is the world Gregory was in.
Even all of this wasn’t enough to convince Moskowitz that his client was improving.
Seven months ago something changed. An unnamed teammate of Gregory’s needed help. He was afraid he would be disciplined by the league.
He sought Moskowitz’s help.
“Talk to Randy,” Moskowitz told the player, breaking the rules.
Gregory and the player spoke about the problem. They spoke about potential rehab. They spoke about being alone, away from the team.
“That kind of did it for me,” Moskowitz said. “What he told (the unnamed player) meant a lot. It showed me that Randy gets it.”
Gregory understood that you must change your life if you want people to believe in you.
On Tuesday afternoon, World Emoji Day, Gregory participated. It sent the Twitter world into a frenzy.
The NFL had reinstated Gregory with conditions. He will remain in Stage 3 of the drug program for two more years. He will get random drug tests, see a doctor and continue to attend various treatment programs.
He can attend practices in Oxnard, Calif., next week with the Cowboys. He can line up in the grass at defensive end again. He can play football again.
The 9-to-5 job is over.
He gets the dream job back.
“His growth has been unbelievable,” Moskowitz said Tuesday afternoon. “He’s earned this. I just hope fans give him a chance.”
Gregory was in shock when the NFL told Moskowitz he could return to play football again.
“The Scarlet Letter is off you now,” Moskowitz told Gregory.
“I hope people get to know the real Randy Gregory,” Moskowitz said. “It meant a lot to him that people spoke up for him, everybody from Jerry Jones, Ben Bloom, Sean Lee, players. Stephen Jones. One thing the Cowboys foster is ‘strength and stability will lead to success.’”
The Cowboys waited on a player who has played in just two games the last three seasons. His return bolsters their defensive line.
“The Cowboys are going to fall in love with Randy Gregory,” the lawyer said. “It’s early to write somebody off. I told (NFL Senior VP of Labor Policy and League Affairs) Adolpho Birch this is a Shakespearean tragedy. He’s a great guy. He’s brilliant. The most difficult client I’ve ever had. He questions everything. But he’s earned this.”
It’s uncertain just how good Gregory will be when and if he plays in Week 1 at Carolina. Considering what he’s been through, just getting to the first preseason game against the 49ers will probably mean more to Gregory than anything else.
He’s been gone for a long time and is savoring this moment.
“Not many people get second, third, fourth chances,” Gregory told former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt. “I plan to take advantage of mine.”
It’s a moment he can’t spoil.
__________________________________________
Dude has busted his ass to get back to this point. I am really pulling for him.
