I'm not sure how to go about "firing it up"...(first time I ever said that. lol!) Maybe if Irish can get us started, I'll do the leg work in trying to establish a draft time that works for everyone?
OK rainbows and unicorn time. So Josh Gordon returns. I didn't have the guts to make that prediction, but I've felt he would come back when Hard Knocks wound down. I actually thought they'd keep him away until HN left, but it appears they are doing the next best thing, keeping him off the practice field, and I suspect as far from microphones as they can manage, until HN goes away. At the same time they are getting him back in the fold, so he doesn't fall too far behind, and can be coached up and football ready. It almost seems dare I say it "planned". Now that impresses me, if that's the case. I know Josh had legal issues to deal with, while he was away, but I suspect most teams would have provided some "assistance" to their star player could stay with the team, and I'm just speculating here, but maybe someone reasoned that his delicate psyche might crumble under the glare of HN, and suggested that a little time away, to deal with personal things might be pretty good for him, and ultimately for the team. Conspiracy theory indeed. Is it possible that the new HC, Hue Jackson, is seeing things from a longer perspective, and having turned over day to day operations of the O and D, is actually making some intelligent moves? Perish the thought! I've heard many point out the apparent disconnect between "resting players" and making Callaway play, but I'm not buying it as cross purposes, rather treating a special case, special. Does anyone believe Hue paid any attention to the analytics of injuries last season? I don't, but not being responsible for daily O practice, and assuming the Big Chair, has perhaps opened his eyes to some larger picture issues, where he "is" the man. I feel the same way about the apparent feud with Haley over "resting players". I can sell it as Hue is willing to allow the senior guys to say what's on their minds, but retains the right to over rule. That's the head coach's perogative, and given that he has turned over control to Haley on O, I don't think it's a fight, it's just the appropriate set up. Hue isn't a stupid man, and has to know he's in a win now position, yet he has released control of the O, and has towed the line about Mayfield not starting. I believe part of that is the absolute "need" to start winning early, or there may not be a later. Tyrod should give him a better shot at that early in the season, and he's not making the idiotic "love" comments about Baker, which I believe is by design. So those are my "rose colored glasses" at work. I'd really like to believe there is a plan at work and that Hue is actually "being" a HC. It's a leap of faith, but I'm a Browns fan, and what else have I been living on but faith, for years. Kinda feeling like my reward is just ahead. Hope so.
As much as I am a fan of the team, you can give them 0 credit for holding Josh out of practice. The NFLs statement showed that they are calling the shots. That as a part of the program they will determine when he is allowed to take the next step for which there is no timetable set.
This is where I admit I'm confused (more than normal). The NFL already cleared him to return to full participation, including games, last season. To my knowledge, there hasn't even been a "click-bait insider report" about Gordon being remotely connected to substance abuse since he returned in week 13 last year. He's a big enough story that if he had a suspect test result (he still gets routinely tested), someone would have rushed to get the story out. Where does the league come in now?
I understand the concern for Gordon, and I'm just crossing my fingers with him. I decided a couple years ago that I'm never going to "count on" Josh Gordon, or lose any sleep over whatever news is coming out of JG camp... I'm much more concerned with the way this team is handling the #1 pick of the draft. Hue talks about Tyrod Taylor like he is "Joe Montana" in his prime. Baker Mayfield gets NO reps with the #1's. Instead the FO would rather see Mayfield out there getting hit hard, because he has no starters protecting him, and he's throwing passes to the likes of Devin Cajuste, Damion Ratley, CJ Board, Da'Mari Scott and Derrick Willies...WTF??? Why not just see what our HUGE investment (Baker Mayfield) can do when he gets on the field with NFL starters?? It just makes no sense. Everyone always talks about how we ruined Tim Couch's confidence because we surrounded him with a bunch of sub-par shlepps. I sure hope they aren't doing the same thing to Bake...It would be nice to see the #1 overall pick get some time with our vastly improved starting line-up, but I guess that's not happening. Just stop acting as if Tyrod is a great NFL QB....He's a conservative QB that won't kill you, but he'll leave you wishing you had someone better at the position. We might have that someone now, but evidently we won't even try to find out until 2019... Get Mayfield some time with the #1's, and stop being so fucking close minded about it. I can't stand Hue Jackson... Sorry Lym. I think he's one of the worst NFL coaches in the league, and he proves it weekly....Hue just keeps telling us how great Tyrod Taylor is, and that there is no QB competition. As if nobody is aware of the caliber QB Tyrod is.. Never mind that the Bills tried to replace him with Nathan Peterman last year...I think Hue feels that, as long as he's better than Kizer, we'll be okay... That's not good enough....Lets see what the kid can do.
Personally, I think everyone is confused. I don't think there are league mandates that isn't allowing Gordon to practice, etc... The Browns placed him on the Active/non football injury list. THAT is why he isn't allowed to participate in any team activities for the time being. He needs to come in and be evaluated by the medical staff, cleared, then after he passes his physical, he needs to pass his endurance tests. Since he missed all the mandated things to open training camp, he now needs to do all of those AND pass the non football injury protocol in order to get back in the fold. I haven't heard or seen anything, other than some obscure tweet about commenting on him at the appropriate time, from the League Office. Everyone assumed that they were going to make some grand announcement. Truth is, at the time of the release, NO ONE knew anything about what was going on with Gordon. There wasn't a comment to be made because there wasn't any information to comment on. When/if they received word on any particular issue, THAT would have been the appropriate time to write and announce a comment on the situation. As it turns out, it is just more Josh Gordon drama, unrelated to any league rule issues, so I would be surprised if they comment at all, other than to announce he has been officially added to the active roster for the Browns. (EDIT) If there was any league issue at all, he would not have been allowed to be added to the Active/Non football injury list. He would have been held in limbo until a league ruling on what ever issue there was. Until I hear otherwise, I am assuming this is Josh Gordon drama and it will be over when it's over... Honestly, I'm over the camera/internet time he receives. When he's here, great, utilize his talents. But as TD said above, he isn't a player to count on or build an offense around. Play with what you have at any given time. In his case, it's the same as any other player with an injury history, when healthy/available, use him..when he isn't forget about him.
We just have two different opinions on this subject. I don't see them throwing him to the wolves playing with 2's and 3's. He is also playing AGAINST 2's and 3's which will allow for his development. I haven't seen him getting eaten alive in the two games thus far. I have seen him progressing the way you hope a rookie does. As much as I love Baker Mayfield and AM STILL grateful and ecstatic he was the #1 overall pick of this draft, I also believe Tyrod Taylor TODAY gives this team the best opportunity to win on Sept. 9th. Right now, that is all I care about is beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on opening day. If Tyrod gives us a 10% better chance at that happening, then I want him getting 100% of the reps in practice and preseason with the 1's. I understand and appreciate your opinion on this subject. I really do! I just have a different opinion.
Yes, as I explained above, he is on the active/non football injury list...if you are on this list, you cannot practice
Happy B-Day Lyman...I always forget yours is just a couple days before mine....I'm gonna hit the BIG 5-0 this Friday. Yikes! Irish, we don't have to agree. I always respect your opinions as well... Well we will never know. The Browns decided before mini-camp who the starter was going to be....Mayfield won't even receive an opportunity to show what he can do with the starters, and that's that. I'm not saying that the Browns should start Mayfield over Taylor. I'm just saying, why not have a fair competition? Why leave the #1 pick of the draft and so called "future of the franchise" out of the mix in getting reps with the #1's? It's ridiculous IMO...Lucky for Russel Wilson that Pete Carroll wasn't so stubbornly close minded. To bad for Baker that Hue is...
No offense TD, but you are talking about giving Wilson the chance to compete with Matt Flynn, who had 2 starts in a 5 year career. That is in comparison to Tyrod Taylor who has 43 starts and just led his team to the playoffs in his 3rd year as starter... A team mind you that arguably had a less equipped roster than the current Browns to make that playoff run. I'm not arguing with you, it's just that the Russell Wilson comparison if a little off imho. I wouldn't worry too much about it, Taylor has never started/played in 16 games in his career. My guess is that Baker will get his chance to shine at some point in this season...Honestly, I hope he doesn't, because that means a) we are healthy and b) we are winning...If the Browns are losing, I don't think it will matter, Baker will get his shot sooner than later.. At that point, all we can hope for is that he is ready.
Irish no offense but you are not an a position to explain anything and neither am I. Without first hand information we can only speculate and what you are speculating sounds backwards to me. They have a 90 man roster. There was no need to put him on the NFI list if the delay was as you described above. Guys go on the NFI all the time without needing the league office to weigh in. The more likely scenario is the team was instructed that he is only eligible for the NFI at this time and they will update everyone when he is eligible to practice.
