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.
A Cowboys spokesperson declined comment on Tuesday afternoon. Mike Ornstein, a longtime league agent who helped with Gregory's reinstatement, said he saw Gregory in California on Tuesday and Gregory was "ecstatic."
"He'll be ready" next week, Ornstein added.
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.
But after months working toward his reinstatement, Gregory and his attorney Daniel 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.
To ready himself on the field, Gregory began workouts in June with longtime Raiders defensive end Greg Townsend. He had a helmet and pads for the regular workouts with the All-Pro with the goal of getting Gregory in football shape.
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.
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. Lets 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.
