FRISCO – We have suggested in this space before that maybe the reason Randy Gregory has not experienced enough “escape games” this season is because the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff likes other defensive purposes.
Based on our conversation with Jerry Jones, this is about to change.
“I think you’re right about that, ” the Cowboys owner said in an exclusive interview.” We need to have him there whenever we get a chance. ”
What we were “right” specifically, is our guess, formulated in the form of a question, about whether Jones – reflecting on Gregory’s dominant performance in the Cowboys’ 37-17 win over Philadelphia in Week 16 (six tackles, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks and a deflection of the pass) – was the main point of discussion at the usual meeting of the team owner on Monday here at the Star.
We asked because … we already knew it was true.
Jones stayed with Gregory from the day the Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, knowing full well about some of his behavioral problems.
“I thought when we recruited him he was the best pass-rusher in the draft,” Jones told us on our visit 105.3 The Fan. “And that’s why I took the risk on him that I took. But it was a risk at the time and we paid for that risk (with Gregory spending two years under NFL suspension). Randy will be the first to tell you. And now it’s paying off for us. ”
Gregory played only 38 games in the Dallas uniform. He is emerging as a player as impactful as any Cowboys defender. He arrived”? For the people who run the Cowboys, trust us, that’s not the problem. The problem is: “Why didn’t this coaching staff give him the photos to help him ‘get there’ ‘
Until a few weeks ago, Gregory was playing only 20 percent of the snaps. The Dallas defense is not good enough, it is not talented enough, it is not well trained enough to make it a reasonable number.
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Jerry Jones heard the reasons … er, … apologies … from his team.
Conditioning, you could say that, ” Jones said. “Not wearing him out. These are things – maybe situational, but what (the coaches) may not have seen is how he is progressing in progression and how he is getting better and better. ”
Jones told us about a long-term plan involving Gregory, something that would be a blessing to everyone involved.
“I’m really excited,” said Jerry. “I have visions of a future for Randy here with the Cowboys who can deliver on the promise we really expected when we called him up for the second round.”
But this is for “then”. “What about” now “?
Jerry Jones has a demand from Randy Gregory. And he is not demanding anything from Gregory; it’s a demand for Gregory.
“We need to have him there, ” said Jerry, eyeing Sunday’s pre-playoff game at the Giants,” every time we get a chance. ”