After four seasons with the New England Patriots, Bradwell Institute graduate Gary Guyton could see action today in a Dallas Cowboys uniform.
Guyton signed with the Cowboys on Tuesday evening and may see the field today when Dallas plays in Philadelphia.
Guyton was a free agent this year and trained with the Miami Dolphins, but was not selected for the final 53-man roster. In the last two weeks of October, he worked out with the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans.
Janice Guyton said her son recently called to let her know he had just signed with the Cowboys and said he was overjoyed.
“He was so excited about it,” she said. “It was looking a little bleak for him for a while, but he just bided his time and we are so glad he is with the Cowboys.”
The Cowboys signed Guyton after losing Orie Lemon to a hamstring injury and Dan Connor to a neck injury.
In addition, Cowboy linebacker Sean Lee had a season-ending injury last week.
The injuries left the Cowboys with only two healthy inside linebackers, Bruce Carter and Ernie Sims, who signed with Dallas just two weeks ago.
Guyton could help solidify the Cowboys by providing a third healthy linebacker for the inside spot in a 3-4 defensive alignment he said he knows well.
“I’m comfortable in this defense,” Guyton told reporters of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’ve done it when I was in New England. I’m comfortable inside, outside. I did both things out in New England, so I’m comfortable with the 3-4 defense.”
According to Guyton’s agent, Robert Klass of Klass Sports LLC, the Cowboys flew Guyton to Dallas on Monday. On Tuesday morning, he tried out against former Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga. By Tuesday evening, Guyton was signed.
During his four-year stint with New England, Guyton tallied 229 total tackles, four sacks, defended 15 passes, had three interceptions for 89 yards and recovered three fumbles.
At Georgia Tech, played in 12 games for special teams as a freshman, made 19 tackles, one sack and one defended pass as a sophomore, had 29 tackles as a linebacker in 12 games his junior year and finished second on the team in total tackles as a senior with 78. He also had five sacks and 14 tackles while starting in all 13 games.
At the 2008 NFL combine, he posted the fastest time in the 40-yard dash out of all the linebackers, clocking in at 4.47.
Should Guyton see play time today against the Eagles, he will be wearing jersey number 98.
On Friday, Guyton’s dad Gary Guyton Sr. and his mother Janice Guyton were at the final Bradwell home game where Guyton’s high-school jersey and number were retired.
“This is truly an honor,” Janice Guyton said. “I am very excited about it. It is a once in a lifetime type thing. He is a hometown boy and for this to happen for him is an honor.”
Gary Guyton Sr. echoed those senitments.
“This is a privilege and an honor,” he said. “To know that the flesh of my flesh is going off and doing things that, 39 years ago, I was unable to do. And now he is back on track. When we say prayer changes thing … God knows in our heart … Gary knew that.”
A very good week for Gary Guyton
Former BI star signs with Cowboys, has Tiger jersey retired
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