Josh Gordon has been dealing with suspensions due to the problems that he has had off-the-field with marijuana in particular. He has broken the NFL substance-abuse policy many times and is coming off of a full season suspension this year. According to Tony Grossi, however, the Browns are still expected to keep him for the 2016 season once he is reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell.
Keep him. https://t.co/QVKxLI8n26
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) February 15, 2016
Keeping Gordon around is a huge decision for the Browns and certainly isn’t an easy one.
Any time a player makes as many mistakes as Gordon has, the immediate reaction for most teams is to cut ties with them. That type of distraction is not welcome and can seriously damage team chemistry. Gordon has a lot to live up to with the Browns next season, but he has the talent to be the No. 1 wide receiver that the Browns are in desperate need of.
During the 2013 season when he was able to play the majority of the games, Gordon put up huge numbers. He caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. Those numbers are likely a big part of the reason why the Browns are hanging onto him.
At 24 years of age, Gordon still has plenty of room to grow as a person and player. He is a dynamic playmaker when he is on-the-field and will be a huge addition to the Browns’ offense.
Giving up on him now would be a huge mistake and there is no surprise that the Browns are expected to give him one more chance.
Hue Jackson is the new head coach for the Browns and is hoping to get Cleveland’s offense back to a dominant level. They have a lot of young talent on their roster, but finding a new starting quarterback will be a top priority this offseason. Gordon is going to be able to help the new quarterback in a huge way and the Browns’ fan base should be prepared for much bigger production from the wide receiver position.
All of that being said, it will be intriguing to see what kind of numbers he puts up in 2016. He will likely come out looking to prove the Browns right for giving him another chance, which will help give him just a little more motivation.