Silver lining: This process was abnormally and detrimentally long...or was it? I am now hearing that the arbitrator has issued a season long ban instead of a year long ban. It is being said that once the season ends, Gordon will be able to find out when he can be reinstated. That could very well be 12 months from today, but it could also be anything after the end of the season. Now, if they reinstate him say two months after the end of the season, it will be right around OTAs. If that is the case then the league actually did Gordon, the Browns and us fans a favor. He has had a complete off season to learn Shanahan's offense. He now has an opportunity to take what he has learned and find a WR academy to work with for the next 8-9 months and become a better receiver for this system. He also has 8-9 months to get his stuff together as far as his lifestyle is concerned. He could just as easily come out stronger as a person, as he could go down the rabbit hole, like many are concerned about. This next 8-9 months will be Josh Gordon's self-revelation for who this young man wants to be for the rest of his life. I see one of two things happening; 1. He curls up and becomes another could/have/been professional athlete and never recovers 2. He uses this time to fix his life outside of football, which in the end will ultimately help his NFL career in the long run. We have time to wait and see which path he chooses, I wish him well on this unfortunate journey.
When they ran the crawler along the bottom of the screen on NFL network, I thought it was odd that it said suspended "for the 2014 season" instead of for 1 year. Per the Cleveland Plain Dealer . . .
Josh Gordon's fate for 2014 has finally been decided. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport broke the news Wednesday that the NFL has suspended the Cleveland Browns wide receiver for one season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, according to a source. NFL Media's Albert Breer reports that there is no avenue for reinstatement, according to two sources. "I'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement. "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case." Last year's league-leading wideout has waited for word on his future since the second day of May's draft, when we first learned that Gordon faced a potentially lengthy suspension for a positive drug test. Gordon, who cannot be around team's facility during the ban, was also suspended two games by the league last year for violating the substance-abuse policy. In an effort to fight his punishment this year, Gordon's camp participated in a marathon appeal session earlier this month in front of arbitrator Harold Henderson. "Appeals officer Harold Henderson has upheld the suspension for the 2014 NFL season of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. The suspension is effective immediately," the league said Wednesday in a statement. Losing Gordon all but cripples Cleveland's meager passing offense, stripping the Browns of the most exciting playmaker they've employed since the team's return to the league in 1999. Gordon's monster 1,646-yard campaign came despite the then-second-year wideout playing just 14 games and catching balls from the likes of Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell. Without Gordon on the field, quarterback Brian Hoyer will lean heavily on Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron and a ground game led by Ben Tate and rookie Terrance West. Back in May, the Gordon announcement demoralized a fan base still riding the wave of drafting Johnny Manziel. With the rookie quarterback on the bench and Cleveland's most reliable target banished into the wilderness, it's shaping up as another painful autumn by the shores of Lake Erie.
yet the two steeler running backs will likely get zero punishment from all I have read . the team has no plans to discipline them. we will see both of them week 1 BULLSHIT !over a screwed up test *WALL* Just legalise it already
Suspended WR Josh Gordon can apply for reinstatement at the end of the 2014 season. It's technically just a season-long ban for Gordon, not a calendar-year suspension. It's a glimmer of good news. Gordon will be away from the Browns for roughly 5-6 months, as long as he keeps his nose clean. Gordon took and passed over 70 drug tests, but failed the one that led to this suspension by 0.01 nanograms per milliliter. Gordon's agent needs to surround him with good people while he's away from the game. He has a ton of football ahead of him.
Now that the Cleveland Browns have an official verdict and star wide receiver Josh Gordon is suspended for a year, the team can move on. About that... This is obviously the worst possible outcome for the Browns and for Gordon. Even if the team was braced for this -- to an extent -- it still let Gordon through much of training camp and the preseason. And though moves were made to address the receiver position, not much in the preseason has happened to settle any spot or provide hope that Gordon's big-play production can be replaced. So, now that Gordon's locker has been cleaned out and general manager Ray Farmer can point to Saturday's final 53-man roster, here are three issues to be addressed and questions to be answered. 1. Geting Gordon back is no guarantee He's gone for a year due to a level three violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, meaning regardless of what the circumstances of his exposure to marijuana were, he knew he was on his final strike. Then, he was arrested for DUI in July at 3 a.m., well after that final strike. That's not related to this case but points to a pattern of poor decisions. All those decisions will have to be addressed with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell before Gordon can come back. The NFL's statement said Gordon's eligibility for reinstatement will be determined after the 2014 season. So, in a worst-case scenario for both Gordon and the Browns, he's barred from team facilities and team activities until then. A guy who's clearly made a bunch of bad decisions not only isn't getting paid for 2014 but is being sent off on his own. The Browns can only hope Gordon surrounds himself with the right people and is focused on getting back. UPHELD Josh Gordon will be suspended for the entire season 2. The Browns still chose not to draft a wide receiver The first leak of a possible suspension came during the 2014 NFL Draft - specifically, it came on the second night of the draft, just before the second round. The Browns then took a guard. And then a linebacker. And then they traded up in the third round for a running back. On the draft's final day they ended up making only one more selection, a cornerback. Now, if finding receivers as gifted as Gordon is was easy, everybody would have them. Everybody would draft them. But the word is the Browns knew of the looming suspension before it leaked to the public, and they still chose to pass on a first-round receiver in three different spots and then keep passing. They chose to pursue an immediate future with Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin, Nate Burleson and two guys coming off of torn ACLs. PRESEASON REPLAY Catch a replay of the Browns taking on the Bears Thursday at midnight and Friday at noon on SportsTime Ohio Maybe they really didn't like any of the receivers past the top tier of the draft. Maybe that running back they traded up to get, Terrance West, will be really good. Maybe there's some sort of plan hiding behind the curtain. The Browns knew Gordon was flirting with an extended vacation, and now they have to deal with it. 3. Have the plans changed? Gordon went through all of the spring work. He started training camp working mostly with the backup groups but also worked with the No. 1 group at times. He still looked the same player when he was engaged, but he wasn't always engaged. After Browns coach Mike Pettine questioned his effort in a lackluster second preseason game performance, the Browns held Gordon out of the next game. First, Pettine said it was due to a minor injury. Later, that changed to "common sense" saying a suspension was coming. Now, the offense is searching for anything and the receiving corps scares no one. Common sense says the NFL was unfair to the Browns in waiting this long to render a decision and the Browns look rather reactive -- and slow at that -- in just now having him out of the mix. This is a bad situation all around, but it's been clear since the spring that the Browns would struggle to attack defenses vertically with or without Gordon. Maybe Travis Benjamin is healthy and can be a player who can run past defenders once the regular season starts. Maybe a trade is coming. The verdict is unfortunate for the Browns, who said all along they were waiting to hear like everyone else. It's unfortunate for Gordon who has to go away and might have cost himself millions of dollars. It's been obvious since May, though, that the Browns had a Josh Gordon problem looming. Now, 11 days from the season opener, the Browns still have a Gordon problem. They have to try to challenge defenses without him while hoping he can take care of himself well enough to eventually help the team again.
From what I read, it's against the collective bargaining agreement for teams to suspend players. It's solely up to the NFL offices.
Considering the offense has looked down right terrible this preseason do you guys think the Browns should try to trade a pick for a real WR? I read above Bluez comment about not drafting a WR. Farmer should of drafted one. I hope not but this team could have 2 top 10 picks next year. Which would give us a top 2nd rd. pick also.Cameron is going to get double teamed every pass play. Hawkins may be the man here in Cleveland. If so, this team is in trouble. I have said this before. Gordon is a basket case. You don't win with him. I know we dont have to pay him. But it is time finally right now today to move on. If he wasn't a pot head we wouldn't of had him anyway. If you take the stripes off a zebra he is still a zebra. That is Gordon. Next year I may draft 2/3 WR's. If he comes back then great if not, move on. The Cleveland Browns curse is alive and kicking! Without a true #1 WR this team will struggle to score points. We could be staring down yet another top 5 pick. Last years draft was the draft to get a WR! I will have to look at who pops up on my radar this year. Its going to be hard but go Browns!
Great idea, now show me the team that feels so sorry for the Browns situation they want to trade a wide receiver worth a first round draft pick. I am serious also, not being an ass. Is there a team in dire need of something that would trade a top wideout for say a defensive lineman and a first round 2015 draft pick?
The Browns shouldn?t be happy that it took more than three months for the NFL to resolve the status of receiver Josh Gordon. And they aren?t. ?While we may have strong feelings on the timing and the process of this decision, we have also consistently communicated that we will focus on what we can control in our day-to-day approach,? G.M. Ray Farmer said in a statement issued by the team. ?Right now that is preparing our team for the 2014 season and at the same time, supporting Josh however we are able under NFL guidelines during his suspension.? That?s a polite way of saying, ?We?re pissed that it took this long to get an answer.? But as the Browns focus on what they can control, the fact remains that the Browns could have controlled trading Gordon last year (they chose not to) or drafting Sammy Watkins in May (they chose to trade the pick). Without Gordon, the depth chart now features Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins, Nate Burleson, and a collection of no-names. The Browns possibly will find someone who is cut by another team, or maybe swing a trade. Either way, the receiver position quickly has become a weakness. Although the Browns arguably (if not actually) were jerked around by the league, they knew this was coming.
Why wuld u even think bout making a trade and give up a high draft pick....this team is going no where w Hoyer at the helm and will need all the help next yr....Hoyer is so scared bak there that his throws come out so fast and inaccurate cause he doesnt want defenders around his knee(s)....there is no way a NFL QB makes that throw that he did on the PA and just turn and throw right to a LB...it was impossible for Hoyer not to see him, but the clock was ticking in his head after the PA so he just threw it.
Why wouldn't you, if given an opportunity to improve the team? Obviously, I wouldn't give up a first round pick for a second tier wideout. I am saying what if a team was willing to part with a top receiver. Are there any teams we could identify that would be willing? I personally don't think so, but wouldn't hurt to try. we still have 11 days until the real thing begins and it could get ugly fast if what we have seen in the preseason is a reality.
We had Josh Gordon last year and only won 4 games and were 27th in points. How much worse could we get?
true .DEFENSE Wins championships but you need something that resembles a offense to keep them fresh . pound the ball this year and pound it some more .
Yes thats what I was talking bout, a high draft pick, but like u said no team is gonna trade a top WR at this time
One last post from me about Josh Gordon . . . And we are disappointed that you didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in your life.
