The only reason the Cowboys have defensive end Randy Gregory is because other teams saw character issues, including a failing a drug test for marijuana at the NFL combine.
A projected first-round pick, Gregory fell late into the second round before the Cowboys scooped him up. Gregory has vowed to learn from his mistakes, even if it was tough to wait a long time before being draft.
"It was frustrating, but I dug my own grave and I owned up to it," Gregory told the Bleacher Report. "The best thing I could was learn from it. I think I have learned from it, and I think I'm with a great organization, the Dallas Cowboys where they can help me. In just the couple of months I've been there, they've done a lot. I mean, my head coach is kind of a tool but I have a support group there and they believe in me. I'm glad they believe in me."
Gregory was speaking at the NFL's rookie symposium. There, former NBA player Chris Herren spoke to the group about his promising career was lost due to a drug addiction. Gregory told the Bleacher Report he learned from Herren's presentation.
"He had to hit rock bottom before he could change," Gregory said. "He lost his whole career and still couldn't change. He had to lose his whole family for him to change. His story is something we can all look at, even if you've had a problem like I had in the past or you're one of these guys who don't have a problem. Don't wait until you lose something to make a change."
Gregory also said he's had some heart-to-heart talks with his parents during trying times. He referred to his mom as giving him "tough love."
"It seems like no matter what you do, nothing is ever completely right for her," Gregory said. "You can't satisfy her. She always wants more, she always expects more out of you. I think my dad is a little different. Again, my dad is the type of guy who will sit you down, tell you what you did wrong, pat you on the butt and say: "Well, your mom is going to tell you that you messed [up], I taught you better than that, but now you have to learn the hard way." She grew up that way, and that's what she tries to say by example."
A projected first-round pick, Gregory fell late into the second round before the Cowboys scooped him up. Gregory has vowed to learn from his mistakes, even if it was tough to wait a long time before being draft.
"It was frustrating, but I dug my own grave and I owned up to it," Gregory told the Bleacher Report. "The best thing I could was learn from it. I think I have learned from it, and I think I'm with a great organization, the Dallas Cowboys where they can help me. In just the couple of months I've been there, they've done a lot. I mean, my head coach is kind of a tool but I have a support group there and they believe in me. I'm glad they believe in me."
Gregory was speaking at the NFL's rookie symposium. There, former NBA player Chris Herren spoke to the group about his promising career was lost due to a drug addiction. Gregory told the Bleacher Report he learned from Herren's presentation.
"He had to hit rock bottom before he could change," Gregory said. "He lost his whole career and still couldn't change. He had to lose his whole family for him to change. His story is something we can all look at, even if you've had a problem like I had in the past or you're one of these guys who don't have a problem. Don't wait until you lose something to make a change."
Gregory also said he's had some heart-to-heart talks with his parents during trying times. He referred to his mom as giving him "tough love."
"It seems like no matter what you do, nothing is ever completely right for her," Gregory said. "You can't satisfy her. She always wants more, she always expects more out of you. I think my dad is a little different. Again, my dad is the type of guy who will sit you down, tell you what you did wrong, pat you on the butt and say: "Well, your mom is going to tell you that you messed [up], I taught you better than that, but now you have to learn the hard way." She grew up that way, and that's what she tries to say by example."
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