NFC Notes: Randy Gregory, Cowboys, Eagles, Washington

Cowboys

Dan Pompei of The Athletic looks at the precarious situation involving Cowboys’ DE Randy Gregory, who has been suspended for 52 of the possible 96 games he could have played since being drafted. He has also failed several different drug tests administered by the NFL.

Gregory has seen dark times as well, including rehab, divorce, the inability to see his children, and enduring a period of time where he lived in his car. His mental state and marijuana both have had a negative impact on his career.

“We would have to leave or I would get a panic attack,” Gregory told The Athletic. “Weed wasn’t the problem. It was the solution to my problems, which was another problem in itself. I was talking to myself, calling myself every name in the book, telling myself I amounted to nothing. It was all day, every day, to the point there was no chance I was going to be doing anything in my life. During those times when I was like that, if I smoked, the negative talk would go away. I would relax, calm down.”

For the time being, Gregory is trying to kick a cigarette habit as he enters the 2021 season, and is trying to avoid old triggers such as songs or the smell of weed permeating from a teammate who has recently smoked.

“I start feeling like I want to smoke,” Gregory said. “I’m always in recovery. There is never a day that I’m not in recovery until the day I die. I honestly believe I will always have that addictive mindset and am one step away from doing something that’s going to get me high. Have I made mistakes? Yes. Am I going to let that hold me back? No. In the past, I would have made a mistake and then made it worse.”

Eagles

• Mike Kaye of NJ.com evaluates the Eagles’ tackle situation, noting that while RT Lane Johnson should hold down the right side, it will be Andre Dillard and Jordan Mailata who will compete to protect QB Jalen Hurts‘ blindside.
• The battle between Dillard and Mailata should be an interesting one throughout training camp, according to Kaye. Mailata is in the final year of his deal, and Dillard’s status as a former first-round pick may no longer be enough to cement his status in Philadelphia.
• Kaye notes that while Mailata has a high potential, it is Dillard who may be the best choice for now. Kaye says that it will be up to OL coach Jeff Stoutland and the rest of the Eagles’ decision-makers to decide who will anchor the left side of the line.
• Kaye thinks that while second-year T Jack Driscoll will make the team, others such as T Brett Toth and Le’Raven Clark are on the roster bubble. 
• According to ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, the Philadelphia Eagles are a likely trade destination for QB Deshaun Watson due to the fact that they have three first-round picks in the upcoming draft. Tannenbaum believes that the Eagles will be extremely aggressive in their pursuit of Watson when the time comes where his legal situation is resolved.

Washington

• According to Ben Standig of The Athletic, Washington guards Wes Schweitzer and Ereck Flowers will compete at left guard, with second-year G Saahdiq Charles, who made one start at left guard last season. Standig thinks that Washington could groom Charles to replace Scherff, in the possible scenario that the team is forced to part ways with him at some point in the future.
• Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reports Washington has fewer than 50 percent of their players vaccinated.