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The Cowboys knew they were taking a risk when they drafted Randy Gregory, at a time when many teams backed off.

That risk has now been realized.

Gregory has been suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse. He can still participate in offseason programs and the preseason, but won’t play in the first four regular season games.

Gregory tested positive for marijuana at last year’s combine, causing the Nebraska pass-rusher to fall to the second round. The Cowboys insisted they had the right kind of support in place for him, though he apparently slipped through the cracks.

He was part of an offseason splurge on pass-rushers that included free agent Greg Hardy, now it seems unlikely that either of them will suit up for the Cowboys, at least for the first month of the season.

Gregory didn’t have a sack last year, derailed in part by an early ankle injury. But now, there’s another obstacle in the way of his comeback.