Randy Gregory has reportedly failed yet another drug test, and now faces a season-long suspension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
The Dallas Cowboys defensive end has had a troubled season in 2016. He was suspended back in February for violating the league’s drug policy. Gregory failed another drug test in September and was given an additional 10 games. The 2015 second-round pick initially appealed the decision but dropped it. Now, it appears he’s failed another test.
#Cowboys DE Randy Gregory has failed another drug test, sources tell @MikeGarafolo & me. Per the drug policy, next suspension is a year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2016
#Cowboys DE Randy Gregory can appeal his looming banishment & suspension. Per @NFL: “The league has not been notified of any new violations”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2016
The Cowboys gambled on the talented 23-year-old out of Nebraska despite off-field concerns. Gregory slipped in the drafted after testing positive for marijuana, a problem which has plagued him throughout his pro career. Gregory has not justified Dallas’s selection, appearing in just 12 games last season. In 2016, Gregory has yet to play a snap for the first-place Cowboys.
Substance abuse isn’t something to be taken lightly, of course. And the rules in place are clear for everyone in the league; Gregory’s continued inability to abide by those rules has certainly hurt the team, and he has to own that. At the same time, it’s important to remember that it’s just marijuana. There are players committing worse offenses and getting less time. That’s an issue that is going to have to be addressed in the near future, especially as legal marijuana usage becomes more commonplace around the country.
