It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen wideout Josh Gordon on the field. After putting forth a record-breaking season for the Cleveland Browns in 2013, the troubled receiver couldn’t seem to stay out of hot water with the NFL. A drug-test failure brought him a 10-game suspension to start the 2014 season, and another violation of the league’s substance policy ended his entire 2015 campaign well before it started.
Upon news of his latest suspension breaking, many Browns fans claimed the team needed to cut Gordon loose. It certainly appeared as though he was never going to learn, and a year away from football would likely only spell more trouble for him.
However, Cleveland took the smart route of just waiting his latest suspension out. If a year passed and he was still making mistakes, the team could cut him. At the other end of the spectrum, if he were to get his act together and come back much more dedicated, the Browns would be more than happy to still have him under contract.
For obvious reasons, the latter scenario seemed unlikely. That said, as Gordon awaits official word regarding his application for reinstatement, he’s apparently been busy getting back on the right path. Though it’s understandable for many to remain skeptical, there’s no doubt a refocused Gordon would be huge for the Browns.
To the surprise of many, Gordon has spent much of his time away from football working on conditioning. Such a move is even more surprising when you remember he returned from his 2014 suspension looking more than a little out of shape, often seen loafing through his routes mid-game. Additionally, Gordon recently tweeted he was working on his personal life as well, vowing to change the circle of friends he runs with.
The latest example of his rededication came yesterday when a story came out saying he was training with Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. On top of this, word is Gordon is serious about staying focused on football, as he’s reportedly “all-in.”
If this is indeed the case, if Gordon truly is ready to take his career seriously and stay on the straight and narrow, it could be a huge break for Cleveland.
Right now, the cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to the Browns’ roster, especially on offense. The team’s past regime seemed too focused on receivers who didn’t have the size necessary to make big plays. So, when new coach Hue Jackson takes a look at what he has to work with, he’s seeing a significant lack of playmakers.
This all could change if Gordon’s reinstatement comes through and he’s ready to put the past behind him.
The last time Gordon was putting total focus towards football, he was breaking league records in just 14 games. If he really is as mentally and physically focused as it appears, he easily becomes the biggest offensive weapon on Cleveland’s roster. Suddenly, whomever the Browns have starting under center next season will have a Pro Bowl receiver to work with.
Obviously, it’s easy to hear all of this and roll your eyes. Quite frankly, Cleveland has been burned before when putting faith in Gordon. Though he certainly appears to be a different player, he has yet to prove it.
At the same time, he’s certainly saying and doing all the right things in his time away from football. If he’s able to get reinstated, who’s to say he can’t turn over a new leaf with the Browns.
It’ll certainly be a story to keep an eye on in Cleveland. The team is in yet another rebuild, but if it has an elite receiver at its disposal, it’ll certainly make the process much easier to deal with.
