Cleveland Browns Can’t Trust Josh Gordon Will Solve Receiver Problem
By Erik Lambert
Perhaps it could be argued that the Cleveland Browns have held off on drafting wide receiver high lately because they believe they have a superstar in their midst in Josh Gordon. His Pro Bowl campaign in 2013 was clear evidence of it. Problem is he hasn’t repaid that faith of late with his long list of off-the-field issues. Now signs point to him being reinstated after a suspension that spanned all of 2015.
"“Gordon, suspended for violations of the league’s substance abuse guidelines, applied for reinstatement in January. Commissioner Roger Goodell has 60 days to rule. Gordon has been suspended in each of the past three seasons, and Goodell stressed at the Super Bowl that the All-Pro receiver will have to convince him he’s not going to slip up again.”"
Not much has changed for the Browns, who seem all too eager to have him back.
#Browns Sashi Brown said there's a spot for Josh Gordon the roster if he's doing the right things. Says signs are pointing to reinstatement
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 25, 2016
The issue at hand is whether Cleveland is ready to stop hinging their entire passing attack on whether Gordon is in the starting lineup. Can they really justify making due with guys like Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and Travis Benjamin? Hue Jackson, their new head coach seems to have a somewhat less rosy view of the situation. While he doesn’t dismiss the idea of Gordon returning, he’s not going to let history be taken off the table.
"“It’s like any other player,” Jackson said. “I’ll go through the process of spending time with him and see if it’s the right fit for us. Obviously he’s a very talented individual, but at the same time, it’s got to fit right for us as we move forward in this situation.”"
Jackson has already pretty much put an end to the Johnny Manziel experiment and plans to find a quarterback this off-season. Given such a hardline on a player known for bad decisions off the field, it’s hard to see him taking a different approach to Gordon who has been just as big a headache. The only difference is he led the league in receiving for a year, so people know he can play.
Moving forward their operation should center around one thing: preparing for the possibility he screws up again. Like it or not, people who continue to make mistakes after being warned have a hard time not making those mistakes again. Some just don’t have the self control. Until Gordon proves he can stay out of trouble, the Browns are obligated to make a serious investment at wide receiver to counteract that possibility.