Suspended Browns WR Josh Gordon applies for NFL reinstatement
For all our conjecture on the future of Johnny Manziel, there’s a more talented, established and — yes — still troubled player on the Cleveland Browns who might have a brighter future in the NFL.
Remember Josh Gordon? You know, the guy who wrecked the league with an NFL-best 1,646 yards despite only playing in 14 games in 2013. Well, he’s applying for reinstatement to the NFL after being suspended indefinitely following multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy, per ESPNCleveland.com.
Last February, Gordon was suspended for a third violation, failing an alcohol test after the 2014 season in which he was suspended 10 games for his arrest in July 2014 for DWI. By league rule, he was allowed to reapply for active status to the NFL within a 60-day span of one year from his suspension date.
New Browns head coach Hue Jackson could use a talent such as Gordon to help kick-start a sputtering offense, and Jackson has a patterned history of working with troubled players to help get them back on track. But he remained quite non-committal on the status of Gordon when asked about him at his introductory press conference.
“What I’m anxious to do is evaluate him just like we’re going to evaluate every player on our roster and see if they are the right fit for the Cleveland Browns,” Jackson said. “That’s what we have to do with every player, whether that’s Josh Gordon to whoever the last guy is on the roster.”
Gordon, 24, has had a rough ride in the NFL, seldom able to stay out of trouble, but also has been a blistering talent who currently ranks fifth among active players in receiving yards per game (see below) and who has he kind of size at 6-4 and 220 pounds (last we saw him) to be a monster under Jackson’s watch.
Will the Browns give him a chance? Gordon reportedly was on the trade block before, pulled back by owner Jimmy Haslam. And contract-wise, Gordon is attractive option because his rights are controlled by the Browns for 2016 (his contract tolled a year during the suspension) and wouldn’t be a restricted free agent until 2017. But first, he must pass the league’s tests.
Here’s the league policy on what Gordon faces:
“The Player will execute appropriate medical release forms that will enable the Commissioner’s staff and NFLPA Executive Director’s staff to review the Player’s substance abuse history, including but not limited to attendance at counseling sessions (individual, group and family); attendance at 12-step and other self-help group meetings; periodic progress reports; and all diagnostic findings and treatment recommendations.”
Gordon has pledged his sobriety in the past several months and has vowed to come back even stronger. We’ll see if that can happen, and even if the Browns are the team with which he can achieve that.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
