The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided to part ways with Randy Gregory, a player with a complex history both on and off the field. Gregory, who signed a one-year, $3 million free-agent contract with the Buccaneers in April, never officially suited up for the team in practice or competition.
A Short-Lived Buccaneers Tenure
When Gregory inked his contract earlier this year, there was hope he could find a place within the team’s roster. However, the reality turned out to be vastly different. The 31-year-old defensive end not only missed the Buccaneers' minicamp in June but also never reported for the first 24 days of training camp. This consistent absence led the team to make a decisive move on Sunday, opting to release the veteran player.
Head coach Todd Bowles summarized the situation candidly: "No, I never found out. I wish him the best. We'll move on from there. You can't miss what you never had."
A Rocky NFL Road
Gregory’s journey in the NFL has been anything but smooth. A second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, he has shown flashes of potential but has been overshadowed by a series of setbacks. His stint with the Denver Broncos was notably turbulent; Gregory was released halfway through a five-year, $70 million contract. To compound matters, he sued both the Broncos and the NFL earlier this offseason, adding more uncertainty to his professional trajectory.
One of the controversies surrounding Gregory involves his testing positive for THC, which led to fines exceeding $500,000 last year. It was disclosed that THC had been prescribed to him for social anxiety disorder and PTSD, shedding light on some of the personal battles Gregory has faced throughout his career.
Limited Field Time and Legal Struggles
Though his talent has never been in question, Gregory’s commitment and availability have been recurring issues. Before his short-lived association with the Buccaneers, Gregory had a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers during the latter portion of the 2023 season. Despite these opportunities, his inability to stay on the field has been a significant hindrance. The Buccaneers, in need of reliable roster spots as the new season approaches, ultimately decided that Gregory’s repeated failures to report for team activities outweighed any potential benefit he might have brought.
As he leaves Tampa Bay, one question hangs heavily in the air: What does the future hold for Randy Gregory in the NFL? With a string of releases, legal battles, and disciplinary issues haunting his career, Gregory now faces an uphill battle to remain relevant in the league.
For now, the Buccaneers move forward without the defensive end they once hoped might bolster their ranks. The clock is ticking for Gregory, who must soon determine his next steps if he hopes to continue playing professional football.