PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 01: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles escapes Randy Gregory #94 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defatted the Cowboys 27-13. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys took a huge chance when they drafted edge rusher Randy Gregory out of Nebraska in 2015. Gregory’s history with drugs had been well-documented leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft, but Jerry Jones and company saw a potentially great player too.

It just hasn’t worked out well, with Gregory spending more time suspended than on the playing field in his career.

Gregory failed a second drug test in the 2016 offseason, earning him a four-game suspension, and followed that up with another failed test just a few months later. That one earned him a 10-game suspension and meant he would miss the first 14 games of the 2016 season at a minimum.

Now Gregory is in some serious trouble with the league for an alleged missed drug test while under suspension this season. The league treats missed drug tests like a failed test and the player can be subject to the penalties laid out in the CBA.

After hearing an appeal from Gregory, the NFL has handed him a one-year suspension without pay from the league.

Gregory was able to play in just the final two games of the season this year, recording eight tackles and his first career sack in the process.

However, it will be a long time before he will be wearing a Cowboys (or any other team’s) jersey again. He is banned from team activities and cannot be in the facilities of the Cowboys at all during his suspension. Additionally, Gregory can’t apply to be reinstated to the league until at least Nov. 16 of this coming season.

Clearly Gregory has a problem keeping up with the rules of the NFL, and regardless of one’s stance on marijuana in today’s society, he signed up to play in the league and under its rules.

It will be interesting to see how this plays itself out and if Gregory can stay drug-free going forward, or take a different path than professional football with his life.

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!