Cowboys DE Randy Gregory calls out NFL over lack of progress on his reinstatement
Randy Gregory is still waiting word on his reinstatement with the NFL, and he’s starting to get frustrated.
The Dallas Cowboys defensive end, who was suspended indefinitely in February 2019, called out the league on social media on Wednesday for “telling me to just sit and wait in limbo.”
The NFL, he said, has provided him “little to no help” with his reinstatement.
For all of you that’s wondering... pic.twitter.com/gj7nWJpw5e
— Randy Gregory (@RandyGregory_4) August 5, 2020
“I really miss playing football and being a player in the NFL,” Gregory wrote on Twitter. “I’m doing everything that is asked of me and I’m in great shape physically, mentally and emotionally but I’m being held back from furthering my career because of [COVID-19] and testing.
“I’ve been ready to play for months but still have gotten little to no help to resolve my reinstatement. I’m asking more questions than I’m getting answered. It’s amazing that the powers that be can keep passing the buck and also use this pandemic as a way to prevent me from joining my team.
“Telling me to just sit and wait in limbo over things I can’t control, all the while doing everything right off the field is unfair and flat out wrong!!!”
Gregory applied for reinstatement in March
Gregory applied for reinstatement in March, more than a year after he was suspended indefinitely for repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy. He has appeared in just 28 games in his career out of a possible 80 after he was selected in the second round of the 2015 draft, and has missed 30 total games due to previous suspensions.
He has struggled with mental health issues in the past too, however, is reportedly now in a good place, has been passing drug tests and has the support of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones even signed him to a contract extension after his indefinite suspension, which will keep him with the team through the end of the 2020 season.
Gregory recorded 25 total tackles and forced two fumbles in 14 games in 2018, his last season in the league. The NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement says that players can no longer be suspended after testing positive for marijuana, though Gregory has to re-enter the league under the old system — which requires commissioner Roger Goodell’s approval.
While the league undoubtedly has its hands full trying to put together a workable season amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gregory is clearly tired of sitting “in limbo” — especially with the season just right around the corner. Whether his statement on Wednesday pushes that process forward, however, remains to be seen.
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