Josh Gordon Facing His Last Shot With Cleveland Browns

By Casey Drottar @cdrottar19 on November 20, 2014

The Cleveland Browns are likely spending the week figuring out how to bounce back from quite a dud of a loss this past Sunday. Hosting a Houston Texans team missing their best offensive player and giving Ryan Mallett his first career NFL start, it certainly appeared as though Cleveland had a great chance of keeping their winning streak alive.

This, of course, would not be the case. There were failures on both sides of the ball, resulting in a 23-7 loss which gave more than a few concerns to a fan base hoping to finally see a quality football season. However, at 6-4, the Browns are still in the hunt for their first postseason appearance since 2002.

One thing which may help the cause for Cleveland is the return of a familiar face to the practice field this week. Wide receiver Josh Gordon, fresh off both a record-setting 2013 season and a ten-game suspension, is making his long-awaited comeback for the Browns this Sunday, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Gordon, who was initially set to miss the entire season thanks to his second failed drug test in two years, was able to take advantage of the league’s new substance policy. Somehow, the Browns were able to survive without him, and his return certainly makes things interesting for the final six weeks of their season.

Now, make no mistake, Cleveland is likely thrilled to have Gordon back. Who wouldn’t be? He led the NFL in receiving yards last year despite missing the first two games of the season. But, while the Browns are sure to be stoked about what Gordon brings with him in his return to the field, you can bet everything you have they don’t trust him. Not yet, at least. If there is any faith from the higher ups, it’s about as thin as it gets.

This is something Gordon has to be aware of. The team believed in him enough not to cut him upon his latest suspension, but the last thing Gordon should even consider is taking advantage of whatever waning trust his bosses have in him. Make no mistake, as Gordon prepares to suit up for the first time this year, he’s also preparing for what could be his last chance in the NFL.

It sounds like a weird thing to say, especially with someone who’s so incredibly talented. Again, Gordon’s numbers last year were astonishing. The way he essentially just glides open, separating from cornerbacks almost without breaking a sweat, is something any coach would kill to have on his roster.

At the same time, Gordon is walking a paper-thin line. It doesn’t matter how revamped the NFL drug policy is now, one more slip up and he’s gone for a year. There’s no appeal process he could make, no defense he could utilize which would prevent this. If you break the rules as often as he has, then do it again, you’re hard-pressed to find anything remotely close to sympathy.

It’s because of this the Browns are likely proceeding less with excitement upon his return, and more with caution. They’ve dealt with his off-the-field issues so often now, and still kept him around. Gordon got in trouble last year, failing a drug test thanks to, at least in his words, codeine cough syrup, yet the team stood by him. They didn’t trade him and cut their losses, and he rewarded them with a record-breaking year.

However, he got in trouble again, despite knowing what circumstances awaited him if he failed another test. While waiting for the results of his appeal for said suspension, he got in trouble again…and again. Each and every time, the Browns refused to give up on him, saying they supported him and stating the worst thing they could do was cut a troubled player loose.

With this in mind, it’s clear he’s out of lives here. The Browns can stand by their guy through all of this; that’s fine, admirable even. But if he takes this veiled trust and makes another stupid mistake, that’s it. There’s nothing left he could say, or do. What could he honestly tell his employers, who watched him go through a career’s worth of blunders in one calendar year, which would make them feel the need to stand by him yet again?

On top of this, one more mistake, and it’ll likely end his tenure in the NFL. Another run-in with league drug policies, and he’s banned for a year. No ifs, ands, or buts. And, sure, you could argue there may be a GM out there willing to take a flyer on Gordon upon his return from such a punishment. But, I guarantee he doesn’t make anywhere near the amount of money someone as talented as him could earn. Why risk millions on someone who just returned from banishment, who hasn’t proven he can learn anything from numerous disciplinary problems?

Gordon has a chance this week to start anew, to prove to the entire league he’s finally learned from his mistakes. He can show everyone these past ten weeks, and the tumultuous offseason which preceded them, have given him plenty of time to realize he had to get his life in order. That the days filled with drug issues, dating all the way back to his time in college, are behind him.

If he doesn’t cash in on yet another chance, he risks throwing away what could be an incredibly successful NFL career. One more slip up and the team who has refused to give up on Gordon will eventually wash their hands of him, sending him off to banishment from the league. There’d be no more fanfare, no more tours on ESPN’s First Take – yes, in this scenario, missing out on hanging with Skip Bayless is actually a bad thing – and no more setting fantasy football ablaze.

Gordon’s redemption journey begins this Sunday, where he’s hoping to make an immediate impact. However, he has to make his mark both on the field and off it. Cleveland has stuck with him through thick and thin, and it’s time to reward them for it.

If he can’t, it’ll be a long time before we see him again.

Casey Drottar is a Featured Columnist for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @CDrottar19 or “Like” him on Facebook