Cowboys Rumors: Randy Gregory to Meet with League, Seek Reinstatement into NFL

Randy Gregory may soon learn what his chances of playing in the NFL again are.

According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Gregory is expected to meet with NFL officials, which may include commissioner Roger Goodell, this week in New York as he looks for reinstatement.

The lineman himself let it be known that he was in the Big Apple on Monday:

Gregory was suspended in January 2017 for at least one year for violating the league's substances of abuse policy. David Moore of SportsDay reported back in March that the 6'5", 245-pound defensive lineman was looking to apply for reinstatement as he was "adhering to his program."

The 25-year-old has played in just 14 career games since being drafted back in 2015, last seeing game action during the final two weeks of the 2016 season. He recorded eight total tackles and one sack over those pair of contests.

Coming out of Nebraska, he was viewed as a first-round talent—but his off-field issues caused his stock to drop. The Dallas Cowboys felt like he was worth the risk at No. 60 overall, but he has yet to reward them for taking a chance on him.

TMZ Sports reported in April 2017 that Gregory had failed his seventh drug test and had also "blown off" NFL officials. As a result, he found himself on the outside of the league looking in.

Although Cowboys Vice President Stephen Jones is on the record saying it would be a "wonderful situation...to get him back," the team has been going about its business as though Gregory will not be available, per Archer:

"We assume worst-case on any situations, whether it's the money or availability, especially if players are facing suspensions. Obviously last year when we knew (Ezekiel Elliott) faced a possible suspension we kept extra running backs, assuming worst case. So we have to move forward, assuming that Randy is not going to be here. If he is here, obviously it's a big deal. First and foremost for him if he could get himself in a situation where he feels like he could actually play football."

Having a meeting with the NFL should allow Gregory to see where he stands with the league. He has already been out of football for the mandatory period of time, so now he will have to convince Goodell and Co. that he is deserving of another chance.