FRISCO, Texas _ The NFL has reinstated Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory, the league confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
Gregory was reinstated on a "conditional basis," allowed to rejoin the team at training camp next week for practices, meetings and conditioning. Once Gregory and his team clarify arrangements for his clinical resources in Dallas, he'll be clear to join the team there as well.
Gregory was ecstatic at the decision, he said in a phone call on Tuesday, though not surprised after doing what the league has asked before his petition.
"I'm very excited," Gregory told SportsDay. "Thanks to the ones who supported me and stood by me. It's a lot more to the story than it seems and it took me a lot to get to this point.
"Now I'm ready to make some plays."
Gregory, the Cowboys' second-round pick from 2015, has not played since the final regular season game in 2016. Repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy led to his suspension without pay beginning January 2017. He was suspended 14 games during the 2016 season as well for repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy.
Gregory said Tuesday that he's tempering his expectations for his return, though he's excited to show what he's been working on in regular workouts since June with longtime Raiders defensive end Greg Townsend. Gregory has worked with a helmet and pads for the workouts with the All-Pro with the goal of getting back in football shape.
He's worked out three to four times a week with Townsend, and had plans for the next session Wednesday. They've focused on hand placement and pass rushing, moves and get-offs.
"It's similar to stuff we'd do with Rod Marinelli," Gregory said.
But now it's time to do it with his teammates.
"I don't have any crazy expectations," Gregory said after joking that in 2018, he'd aim for 45 sacks. "Try to be the best professional I can on and off the field.
"I think I've shown that off the field these last months and now I'll prove it on the field. I feel like I'm definitely capable of doing that."
Gregory said he's grateful for the work attorney Daniel Moskowitz put in on his reinstatement bid, including an application mailed to the league offices at 345 Park Ave. stretching longer than 2,000 pages.
After months working toward his reinstatement, Gregory and Moskowitz met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on June 12 to petition for his reinstatement. The commissioner rarely meets directly with players seeking reinstatement so Goodell listening himself to the presentation from Gregory's team and NFLPA representation gave them hope.
"I'm very excited for the public and media to get to know the real Randy Gregory," Moskowitz said by phone Tuesday afternoon. "To get to know his story, which is nothing short of remarkable."
SportsDay detailed here the requirements Gregory must meet to be reinstatement according to the NFL policy on substance abuse. They include submitting information about his treatment and abstinence from substance abuse, as well as an interview with a medical advisor. Teammates including linebacker Sean Lee and defensive end Tyrone Crawford submitted letters supporting Gregory as part of the application. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in May that he was proud of Gregory's work toward coming back; the diligence with which he chased reinstatement.
A Cowboys spokesperson declined to comment on Tuesday afternoon.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli explained his plan for Gregory at minicamp in June.
"First with him, get him in a stance and get him going," Marinelli said. "He's been off for a long time.
"He's talented, no question, and he's a great guy. And smart. But number one thing we've got to do is groove him back in, groove him back in before I set standards for him and goals. Let's just get him in the stance and start teaching the game of football. Cause like I say, it's kind of like golf, if you don't play for three of four months, a year, it's not the same, the timing.
"I'm just excited hopefully to get a chance to work with him again."
Now, Marinelli does.
