Dallas Cowboys defensive line gambles finally going bust
By Erik Lambert
If the Dallas Cowboys weren’t committed to paying up big for Demarcus Lawrence before, they certainly will be after what’s happened.
One of the vital keys to the Cowboys’ success on defense last season was the ability of their front four to provide consistent pressure on the quarterback. Lawrence was the leader in this regard with 10.5 sacks, but he wasn’t alone. Randy Gregory, their former 2nd round pick had a bit of a breakout run with a career-high six sacks. He showcased that immense talent he had at Nebraska and it finally appeared like he’d got himself straight.
Except a leopard never truly does change his spots. Word dropped from NFL insiders that the mercurial defensive end has been suspended yet again for substance abuse issues. It’s uncertain how long the suspension will but one can bet it will be considerable since he’s a repeat offender. If that weren’t bad enough, fellow defensive linemate David Irving, another man with a history of troublemaking, is facing a possible ban as well.
#Cowboys pass-rusher Randy Gregory has been suspended indefinitely for violating the Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse and the terms of his conditional reinstatement. Big blow for Dallas.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2019
Dallas defensive tackle David Irving is under evaluation from the NFL for a potential suspension, league sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Irving was suspended for the start of the past two seasons for a violation of the NFL's drug policy.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 26, 2019
Dallas Cowboys finally paying for their reckless gambles
It was no secret even at the time that the Cowboys were living dangerously when they acquired both Irving and Gregory. Both men already had established reputations for questionable off-the-field decision-making when they arrived in Dallas. The team banked that it was merely maturity issues and time in a structured environment under Jason Garrett’s coaching staff could help them grow out of it. Seems that method of thinking didn’t work out.
Now the Cowboys are suddenly in a highly dangerous position. Their best pass rusher is a free agent and likely to be franchise tagged. Their second-best pass rusher is suspended and one of their other top defensive linemen could be out for a long time as well. That is a grievous blow, especially for a scheme that relies so heavily on the front four.
This could drastically impact how the team approaches the coming offseason. Will they utilize one of their high draft choices to find help up front? It certainly seems like things might be headed that way. It’s hard to tell where their patience level for Gregory and Irving is at this point.