After being conditionally reinstated by the NFL yesterday, wide receiver Josh Gordon is still on “thin ice” with the Browns’ leadership team, and the club’s new coaching staff will be watching him closely, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), who adds that Cleveland has become “weary” of Gordon’s antics. Nevertheless, Browns executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown was supportive of Gordon in a statement issued yesterday.
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“With the league’s decision to afford Josh the opportunity to resume his career, he will be with us for the start of training camp,” said Brown. “At that time, we will discuss directly with Josh the direction of our team, our expectations of our players and a plan to support him on and off the field.”
Brown was placed on the non-football injury list today with a quad injury, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, but he should be able to return to practice in a few weeks. In a somewhat unprecedented move, the league will allow Gordon to not only play in all four preseason contests, but permit Gordon to attend team meetings during his suspension. Meanwhile, Gordon’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is confident that the Browns are willing to welcome the former star wide receiver.
“I do believe the Browns are a big part of Josh getting reinstated,” Rosenhaus said today on Pro Football Talk Live. “I do believe that Sashi Brown …had a lot to do with this. I believe that Hue Jackson is very committed to working with Josh Gordon. I believe that Jim Brown, who’s an integral part of this process who got to know Josh and has served as a mentor in some respects had a lot to do with this. I really do think that the Browns are committed to Josh and want to see him succeed.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Is this not a double standard here? Gordon gets chance after chance from the NFL and the Browns but Manziel gets cut? Guess the Browns show that as long as you have talent do what you want. Both should either be there or neither should
Gordon smoked a plant that has medical benefits such as easing pain. Manziel is a lush that hires reporters to follow him around to report how cool he thinks he is. Gordon played lights out after his rookie season due to commitment and hard work, Manziel was horrible his rookie season and drunk his second season. Johnny Foosball wrecked the Q.B. position.
Who cares.. Both wasted talent!!! Move on
Gordon’s situation is not like Johnny’s. Yes, both are troubled, but Johnny is a straight up coke addict and alcoholic. Gordon is neither. Gordon’s suspension was the result of a few drinks on a plane, which was not allowed under his drug prevention plan. Apparently neither he, nor his coaches who were sitting with him knew of the restrictions. The more resent issue wasn’t even an offense under the new drug restricts. The amount in his system was under the threshold when he tested positive back in April. It’s quite ridiculous that they didn’t reinstate him then. This is just the NFL fighting the Players Association.
There is a slight double standard, but their “offenses”/red flags are for different reasons. Gordon was an idiot who kept violating the substance abuse policy while Manziel was an idiot who kept acting like an immature frat boy who showed no signs of willing to change. What also doesn’t help is that Manziel’s play was terrible but Gordon actually played well when he wasn’t suspended.