NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Well, first and foremost, the Browns chose to draft five receivers. Nobody forced them to, and I doubt drafting five players at the position was due to not knowing Josh Gordon's exact fate (especially since any reasonable person largely doubts Gordon's future in the league).

Second, I am all on board with the notion that the NFL should update every team on player statuses. But I do recall Gordon continuing to have issues - are we certain that his path back to the NFL has gone flawlessly since his last incident? I'm happy to yell for Goodell's head for another reason, but I also wouldn't trust Gordon with a free pen I got from Walgreens.

 

First, it was four WR's, not five. At the time (without Gordon) they only had one viable WR on the roster. So, yes, they were forced to overdraft the WR position.

Second, his last "incident" was he checked himself into rehab. Shame on him.

But, again (sigh), I'm not calling for him to be re-instated. I only said the league should treat all teams in the same manner.

 

I don't think its about treating the teams differently, I think they are treating the players differently, and rightfully so.

Gordon has been suspended twice for a year, having one reduced to 10 games, and been denied reinstatement once for failing another drug test while being suspended! Not to mention he admitted himself into rehab only a week before he was to be reinstated last September.

I don't understand the problem here? Doesn't it make sense for the league to take a more cautious approach to a player with Gordon's history?

I understand that it would help the Browns to know if he might be available to them this year, but that shouldn't be, and thankfully isn't, the league's priority here. The priority should be making sure that Gordon is ready to be reinstated. He certainly hasn't shown that publicly over the past 3 years, so I have no problem with the league taking their time this time.

 

I think it was 5 WRs with one immediately being switched to TE.

 

http://live4sportnetwork.com/interview-with-western-kentucky-offensive-guard-forrest-lamp/

 

Does anyone know what "conditionally" means in their case? It seems pretty vague and would seem to indicate a policy applied uniformly, but really don;t know if that's true in this case or not.

 

Tim I can't see that article on the front page. Is it delayed or a category error?

Great article though once again by Matt!

 

Refresh the page and it should be available.

Matt did an excellent job with these. He laid the foundation down for something to build on throughout the year.

 

The NFL didn't drag their feet last year. Gordon failed yet another test in March as he was waiting to here about his reinstatment. And it was reported weeks before the draft so surely the Browns were aware of his failed test.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/josh-gordon-fails-another-nfl-administered-drug-test-041116

A better question might be...

How do you get suspended for a year, fail another test during the reinstatement process and only get an additional 4 games (while also being allowed to practice and play in pre-season games)?

 

It would seem the conditions vary by the charge yielded against the player, but what I gather is a system of off the field protocol has to be met. That's all I got for now.

 

...and there's this;

 

All right . . . I give up.

One last time. I wasn't saying Josh Gordon should be re-instated. Clearly, he shouldn't be (thank you Beach for the year old article). I was merely suggesting that the NFL office should treat their employers (the teams) in a fair manner when announcing their results of extended investigations regarding player's statuses prior to the draft. Rather, they choose to let playoff contending teams know of their decision prior to the draft but keep the bottom feeders guessing.

 

What other players have the Browns been waiting on word from the commissioners office as of whether or not they would be reinstated? That's why everyone keeps talking about him. But I would like to see the league put dates on the beginning and ending of players suspensions. If the players stay clean the whole time then they would be automatically reinstated on that date. They test me hell out of these guys after they fall a drug test anyways. If you can stay clean to pass their testing you are good to go on that date.

 

And I wasn't arguing against his re-instatement. I was merely pointing out that:

1) You're not comparing apples to apples.
2) There are circumstances you may not be aware of.

And because of one and two and I think it's a pretty big leap to suggest they are treating the Browns differently than other franchises and borderline outrageous to suggest it could be guided by wins and losses.

 

And just to add a little history to this narrative. I'm sure many don't remember but according to Gordon's agent (Rosenhaus) Josh was originally supposed to meet with Goodell last Aug. 1st and after speaking with Sashi Brown and Jim Brown Goodell not only agreed to move the meeting up until July 19th (prior to the start of training camp) but he also agreed to allow Norman to stay with the team during his 4-game suspension so that he could have the support of his teammates. Not 100% sure but I think it's the first time he's ever done that. Rosenhaus called it a huge development. So basically the notion that the Browns are getting crapped on is a lot of BS.

 

Beach,

I said I give up. But continue to flap your gums as if your paycheck depended on it.

 

LOL you "gave up" followed by another paragraph.

 

NFL creating another officiating job, replacing Dean Blandino with?two

Almost-former NFL senior vice president of officiating Dean Blandino is leaving?just as the league was about to give final say on real-time replay from every game.

And after a moment of surprise, perhaps they?ve realized it might take more than one man to do the job.
According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, the NFL has posted a new job which sounds like the guy who will be the eyes and face of replay, in addition to?the vacancy Blandino?s creating by going to FOX.

The posting for the newly created vice president of replay and administration says that person will be responsible for ?accuracy and consistency in all areas concerning in-game reviews and communication with [the] on-field officiating crew,? and said the job would require the??ability to make decisions in situations that are time sensitive and potentially public facing.?

That new title will report to the senior vice president of officiating, meaning they?re effectively splitting Blandino?s?job in half.
Creating a new position does nothing to change the perception that centralizing replay was done with Blandino in particular in mind, and that his leaving left them in a state of pants somewhere other than up. And it also suggests that the lure of more money for less work was something Blandino was interested in, unless the league was offering to double his salary and we just haven?t heard about it.
________________________________________

You'd think they would get this right... afterall, it is the NFL. The league should have a 'war room' like the NHL and get the calls right. Too much is at stake in only a 16 game season.

 

Browns cut veteran tight end Gary Barnidge

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed that the Browns on Friday informed Barnidge that he would be cut by the team just 16 months after inking a four-year, $13.5 million extension. The team later confiremd Barnidge's release.

That new contract came on the heels of his 1,000-yard, nine-touchdown season in 2015, but Barnidge came back to earth last year with just 612 yards and two scores off 55 grabs. It didn't help that he played with roughly 22 quarterbacks, but coach Hue Jackson said in March of his tight end group: "That position needs to upgrade."

It's mildly surprising -- the Browns could have kept both players -- but Cleveland obviously has high hopes for Njoku, the 6-foot-4, 246-pound first-rounder out of Miami. The Browns traded back into Round 1 for the rookie, who prompted NFL Network's Mike Mayock to say: "He doesn't even know yet how good he can be. All the talent in the world."

The Browns hope that talent bubbles to the surface immediately in 2017. As for Barnidge, the 31-year-old veteran shouldn't have a problem finding work elsewhere before camps launch this summer.

 

Cowboys DE Randy Gregory fails 7th drug test...

I'm beginning to think he may never play again in the NFL.