Randy Gregory Fielded a Punt to Send Cowboys Home Early

Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive end Randy Gregory came through for the team in a big way on Thursday when he lined up deep to field a punt. On the line? An early departure from training camp.

Gregory was one of six linemen, three offensive and three defensive, selected to try to catch a punt off the foot of Chris Jones at the end of Thursday’s practice, which had been moved from late afternoon to mid-morning by head coach Jason Garrett. If one of them could do that, camp would be over a day early--they were originally supposed to depart Oxnard on Friday.

Gregory was the first lineman up, and he secured the punt, drawing cheers from his teammates.

“Just at least get a hand on it,” Gregory recalled thinking, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I didn’t want to overrun it or not go up to it far enough. I’ve done it before. It’s really not hard, but lost my footing there a little bit. Just trying to make sure I got under it. I did well.”

The Cowboys got back to North Texas yesterday afternoon and will host the Vikings at AT&T Stadium for this year’s dress rehearsal game on Saturday.
 
“It’ll be good to get everybody back home, sleeping in their own bed tonight,” Garrett said. “We’ll go into Valley Ranch tomorrow and have a regular day before the game schedule and then play Saturday night.”