AzorAhai
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The agonizing wait until he hears his name, the way he handles the public flogging brought about by his actions, tells a lot about Randy Gregory.
Randy and his parents return to their Chicago hotel after the first night of the NFL draft. Kenneth and Mary ache for their son. They think back to the moment nearly 16 years earlier when both caught a glimpse of Randy’s love for the sport. The idea of one team after another passing on their son the next night as the cameras capture his reaction to each painful slight is almost too much to take.
“Randy, do you want to go back out there?’’ his father asks. “I don’t know if I want to go back out there.’’
The Nebraska star is arguably the best pass rusher in this draft, but he let his affinity for marijuana overshadow years of hard work and preparation. He accepts responsibility for his slide and refuses to be bitter.
“We have to go back out there,’’ Randy responds. “I earned this. You earned this. We have a right to be here.’’
The next evening, long after every other prospect and family are gone from the green room, the Cowboys use the 60th pick of the draft on a player who ranks fourth on their board. Randy kisses his mother. His eyes lock with his father’s, and they embrace.
No words are spoken.
“That was a life-altering moment for all of us,’’ Kenneth Gregory recalls. “It was powerful.
“There is a greater story to be told than Randy failed a drug test.’’
Randy Gregory controls his story. His behavior and performance going forward will show whether he fell victim to youthful indiscretion, prove his mistakes were blown out of proportion by fearful general managers and scouts, or confirm they are part of a bigger problem he can’t shake.
Those close to Randy describe him as intelligent and thoughtful. He recoils at being known as another dumb jock who squanders a golden opportunity by testing positive for marijuana at the scouting combine. This is why he looks Jerry Jones in the eye during a predraft visit and tells the Cowboys owner he wants and needs help because he knows he’s lost control of his narrative.
Image is important to the rookie.
“It starts with me,’’ Randy says. “I made a couple of bad decisions and at that point, everyone took it and spun it however which way they wanted.
“Right now, I’m just trying to rebuild my image, trying to focus on being the best professional I can, make as many plays on the field as I can, keep the coaches happy, keep Mr. Jones happy.
“The past is the past. I’m trying to look forward to the future.’’
Continue Reading At
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...ave-many-reasons-to-think-he-ll-be-a-star.ece
Randy and his parents return to their Chicago hotel after the first night of the NFL draft. Kenneth and Mary ache for their son. They think back to the moment nearly 16 years earlier when both caught a glimpse of Randy’s love for the sport. The idea of one team after another passing on their son the next night as the cameras capture his reaction to each painful slight is almost too much to take.
“Randy, do you want to go back out there?’’ his father asks. “I don’t know if I want to go back out there.’’
The Nebraska star is arguably the best pass rusher in this draft, but he let his affinity for marijuana overshadow years of hard work and preparation. He accepts responsibility for his slide and refuses to be bitter.
“We have to go back out there,’’ Randy responds. “I earned this. You earned this. We have a right to be here.’’
The next evening, long after every other prospect and family are gone from the green room, the Cowboys use the 60th pick of the draft on a player who ranks fourth on their board. Randy kisses his mother. His eyes lock with his father’s, and they embrace.
No words are spoken.
“That was a life-altering moment for all of us,’’ Kenneth Gregory recalls. “It was powerful.
“There is a greater story to be told than Randy failed a drug test.’’
Randy Gregory controls his story. His behavior and performance going forward will show whether he fell victim to youthful indiscretion, prove his mistakes were blown out of proportion by fearful general managers and scouts, or confirm they are part of a bigger problem he can’t shake.
Those close to Randy describe him as intelligent and thoughtful. He recoils at being known as another dumb jock who squanders a golden opportunity by testing positive for marijuana at the scouting combine. This is why he looks Jerry Jones in the eye during a predraft visit and tells the Cowboys owner he wants and needs help because he knows he’s lost control of his narrative.
Image is important to the rookie.
“It starts with me,’’ Randy says. “I made a couple of bad decisions and at that point, everyone took it and spun it however which way they wanted.
“Right now, I’m just trying to rebuild my image, trying to focus on being the best professional I can, make as many plays on the field as I can, keep the coaches happy, keep Mr. Jones happy.
“The past is the past. I’m trying to look forward to the future.’’
Continue Reading At
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...ave-many-reasons-to-think-he-ll-be-a-star.ece
