David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
For years, the Cleveland Browns have been the epitome of bad among NFL teams, but now the franchise is getting even further behind the eight ball.
Josh Gordon was undoubtedly the most productive Browns wide receiver last season, however, he tested positive for codeine in his most recent drug test. Naturally, Gordon claims the drug was in his system do to a certain cough medicine he took in February. Either way, the test will force the breakout wide receiver to the sideline for the first two games of 2013.
Gordon tested positive for marijuana while with the Utah Utes, but fortunately for Gordon, collegiate tests don’t carry over into the NFL because if they did, he would be out for four games rather than just two.
To make matters worse, the 22-year-old will be without pay for the first four games of 2013 — Gordon is hardly an All-Pro, yet the statistics from his rookie campaign are nothing to scoff at.
In particular, the Cleveland wideout caught five touchdowns in route to leading the club in receiving yards with 805. As a second-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, Gordon has excelled at a pretty high level. Even still, I suggested that the Browns bring in a guy like Danny Amendola this offseason just to provide more depth on the outside.
Now, second-year quarterback Brandon Weeden will be without his No. 1 wide receiver to start the season, which will surely throw the already shaky QB off of his game. Hopefully, the Browns can snag a win in either of their first two games, but the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens are sure to exploit the Browns glaring weakness at wide receiver.
A new regime is in Cleveland and they can’t take kindly to one of their supposed building blocks testing positive for drugs this early in his career.
