Latest On Cowboys’ Randy Gregory
Randy Gregory is changing agents, a family member tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), and that process could help him stay on the field for the postseason. Gregory was scheduled for an appeal hearing today (Tuesday), but his lack of representation could result in a postponement. If the hearing is delayed, that could drag out the process and leave us even further from a resolution to his case. And, if he continues to stay in limbo, that could mean that he is free to suit up in the playoffs. 
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The agent dropped Gregory and not the other way around, a source tells Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter). However, it went down, the net effect is likely the same: Gregory has a right to a representative in an appeal hearing and it sounds like he can effectively stall until a new rep is in place.
The Cowboys, of course, have a first-round bye. Gregory hopes to be in uniform for Dallas when the divisional round gets underway.
Randy Gregory To Have Appeal Hearing To Determine Playoff Eligbility
- Could Cowboys DE Randy Gregory really be back for the playoffs? According to Jon Machota of the Dallas News (via Twitter), the embattled defender will have an appeal hearing in the next week or so to determine whether he’ll be eligible for the postseason. Gregory recently appealed his year-long ban.
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Cowboys Promote Ryan Seymour
- The Ravens have claimed wide receiver Vince Mayle off waivers from the Cowboys and placed linebacker Zach Orr on injured reserve, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com was among those to report. Mayle hasn’t been a factor as a wideout, having gone parts of two NFL seasons without a catch, but did get 94 special teams snaps in Dallas this season before it cut him Thursday. Orr, meanwhile, had already been declared out for the Ravens’ season finale against Cincinnati because of a neck issue. He piled up 132 tackles (47 more than any other Raven) and three interceptions this season.
- The Cowboys have promoted offensive lineman Ryan Seymour from the practice squad, reports Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter). The former seventh-round pick last made an NFL appearance in 2014, when he played 11 games (three starts) for the Browns.
Tony Romo Expected To Play This Weekend
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will likely make his season debut this weekend against the Eagles, reports ESPN’s Todd Archer and Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The veteran signal-caller hasn’t taken the field since Thanksgiving of 2015.
According to Archer and Schefter, the 36-year-old will see the field for only a series or two before handing off to Mark Sanchez. The Cowboys are presumably hoping to limit the chance of an injury as they look to shop the veteran quarterback this offseason.
Romo missed the first several months of the season as he recovered from a back injury. By the time he returned, rookie Dak Prescott was in complete control of the Cowboys’ starting quarterback gig. The last time the veteran played in at least 15 games was 2014, when he threw for 3,705 yards, 34 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Cowboys Cut Vince Mayle
- The Cowboys cut receiver Vince Mayle, who went without a catch for the second year in a row. Most of Mayle’s work (94 of 130 snaps) came on special teams.
Smith Expects To Play In Divisional Round
- Tyron Smith expects to be ready to go by the time the Cowboys are due to play their divisional playoff game, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The cornerstone left tackle said he did not have knee problems before spraining an MCL on Monday night.
Cowboys Place Ryan Davis On IR
Ryan Davis‘ 2016 season stabilized to a degree after being a surprise training camp cut, but he will not have a chance to play for the Cowboys during the playoffs. The team placed the pass-rusher on IR and signed Richard Ash off the Jaguars’ practice squad to fill the roster spot.
Davis did not see the kind of playing time in Dallas as he did in Jacksonville in recent years, but he saw action in nine games for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Mostly used as a special-teamer, Davis recovered a fumble and made just four tackles in his fifth season.
A knee injury suffered Monday night ends his season.
The Jaguars made Davis a rather curious camp cut after placing a second-round tender ($2.55MM) on the then-RFA in March. He played in 30 games for the Jags in 2014-15 and combined to record 10 sacks in that span. Jacksonville moved Davis to linebacker this offseason after using him as an off-the-bench defensive end previously. He signed for $675K to play for the Cowboys in September.
Ash resided behind Davis in the Jags’ defensive line hierarchy, spending most of his two-year stay in Jacksonville on the struggling teams’ practice squads. The second-year UDFA has played in one game in each of the past two seasons.
Cowboys Activate Randy Gregory
The Cowboys have officially activated Randy Gregory. To make room, defensive end Zach Moore has been waived.
Gregory is now set to make his 2016 season debut against the Lions on Monday night. The move was expected after owner Jerry Jones hinted that Gregory would see lots of playing time as a part of the team’s effort to rest Demarcus Lawrence.
Gregory’s return was not expected after his latest substance abuse policy violation drew a one-year ban. However, Gregory opted to appeal the suspension and he is now free to play while things get worked out. It sounds like the Nebraska product could be able to play as long as the Cowboys stay in it. Given the way Dallas has looked this season, Gregory could be in for a long postseason run with his team.
The Cowboys, of course, have clinched the NFC East, a first-round bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Cowboys To Rest Demarcus Lawrence
- The Cowboys will rest Demarcus Lawrence in the next two games, as Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News tweets. “It wouldn’t surprise me if [Randy Gregory] gets a lot of snaps,” owner Jerry Jones said.
- Brandon Williams, Mario Addison and Ronald Leary are among the looming UFAs who can expected to be paid handsomely, at least when compared to their public perception, Field Yates of ESPN.com writes. Kelechi Osemele helping catalyze the Raiders’ offensive line points to the Cowboys’ left guard being a sought-after player. Leary reclaimed this job after La’el Collins‘ foot injury and has been a top-20 guard in the opinion of Pro Football Focus, and the fourth-year player has seen far more work than well-paid Jaguar right tackle Jermey Parnell was during his time in Dallas. Williams became a space-eating 3-4 nose man despite a Division II background, and Addison now has three straight seasons of at least six sacks. The Panthers’ 40 sacks match the Broncos for the league lead, and Addison’s 7.5 bests their group.
Latest On Cowboys’ Randy Gregory
The slow wheels of the NFL disciplinary system may favor the Cowboys. Randy Gregory’s appeal of his year-long suspension won’t be until January, at the earliest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That means he’ll almost certainly be on the field for at least the start of the playoffs. 
Initially suspended for the bulk of the 2016 season, his latest slip-up threatened to keep him out of the game for the rest of this campaign and the majority of the 2017 season. However, he’ll be permitted to play while the appeals process plays out.
Of course, not every player benefits from the current system that is in place. Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith is still in limbo although he has been eligible for reinstatement for some time now. Smith, understandably, is frustrated with how things have played out, though it is possible that he has not satisfied all of the parameters of the league’s substance abuse program requirements.
Next up for the Cowboys is a Monday night showdown against the Lions. If they win, they’ll clinch the division and a first-round bye.