Randy Gregory: Tyron Smith “Makes Me Better”

Back in January, at the Pro Bowl, Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith recalled getting whipped in practice as a rookie by DeMarcus Ware, adding that those daily losses to a future Hall of Famer helped mold him into the player he is now--widely regarded as one of the best left tackles in the game.

“He kicked my butt,” Smith said of Ware. “But he kicked my butt into the shape that I needed to be.”

Now it’s Smith who is the veteran, whipping a rookie on a daily basis, and the Cowboys are hoping that that rookie, second round pick Randy Gregory, translates those practice losses into quick development as Smith did four years ago. Gregory himself knows that these losing practice battles are making him better each day.  

“He’s just been doing it at this level a lot longer than I have,” Gregory said. “He knows a lot more of the game than I do, but I think I’m catching on as the days go. Hopefully he’s noticing it. He makes me better. I haven’t really told him that, but he definitely makes me better.”