NFL suspends Gordon indefinitely

WR violates the league’s drug policy again

RENTON, Wash, Dec 17, (AP): The troubles that have followed Josh Gordon throughout his career continued Monday as the Seahawks wide receiver was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league’s drug policy again.

Gordon tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and “substances of abuse,” the league said in a statement.

Gordon was reinstated by the NFL in August after having been suspended indefinitely in December 2018, missing the final three games of last season for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.

“My heart goes out to Josh having to face this again. The fact that he is up against it and all, it poses a great challenge to him,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “Fortunately he’ll have the great benefit of all of the league’s resources to

Gordon’s brief stint with Seattle likely finished with 11 targets, 139 yards receiving and one incomplete pass attempt on a trick play against the Panthers. Carroll was unclear of when the positive tests happened and said learning of Gordon’s suspension was a surprise.

“We saw Josh really at a really high level the whole time he was here. The work ethic he brought was one, but his getting along with people and being good to work with and to talk to and deal with on a regular basis he was great,” Carroll said. “We were not aware that there was anything to be concerned about, other than the history, which we knew about.”

Gordon spoke last week with reverence about being given another chance by Seattle and the culture he stepped into with the Seahawks. He said it was a “great transition” from his release in New England to being quickly added into the fold by the Seahawks.

“I think I’m fortunate in general to have landed in a place like this with coaches like this,” Gordon said. “The coaching staff, the organization from the top down, the guys, it’s real family-like. It’s real close, real tight-knit, real energetic group and real competitive. They love the game of football. You can see it and it’s a great feeling to come back to football and enjoy what you do and then be able to have fun with it.”

A 2012 second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns, Gordon was also suspended for the first two games of the 2013 season for a substance-abuse policy violation but still caught 87 passes for nine touchdowns and a league-leading 1,646 yards and was voted to the All-Pro team.

He has been in and out of the league since, was released by New England earlier this season and signed with Seattle in November.

This is the eighth time in his career Gordon has been suspended by the league or by his team. (11-3) and Green Bay (11-3) for one of the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs.

“There’s a lot at stake right now relative to these games when you look at the top of the NFC,” Payton said. “It’s about winning and winning and winning and trying to give yourself the best chance in the postseason.” The Colts (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention after losing their fourth straight and sixth out of seven.

They were also left struggled to explain their lack of competitiveness in a game they needed to win.

“I wish I knew all the answers,” Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said. “I hate losing more than I love winning.” Jacoby Brissett struggled at times with accuracy and finished 18 of 34 for 165 yards against a Saints defense looking for redemption after allowing 48 points in a loss to the 49ers a week earlier.

Meanwhile, Colts defenders had no answer for Michael Thomas, who caught 12 passes for 128 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown. Thomas’ eighth game this season with at least 10 catches give him 133 for the season, which is also the fourth-highest single-season total in NFL history.

With four more catches, Thomas will pass Antonio Brown and Julio Jones for second most in a season. He needs 11 to eclipse Marvin Harrison’s record of 143 from 2002.

Tre’Quan Smith caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for New Orleans.

Jordan Wilkins scored the Colts’ lone TD on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.

While Brees holds the career touchdown pass record for now, the Patriots’ Tom Brady is only three behind at 538.

“It’s a fluid record,” Payton said. “There’s still another quarterback in New England, so that will go back and forth as long as those two are playing.” The next-closest active player is Rivers with 395.

Brees wasn’t about to underestimate Brady’s ability to keep pace.

“He’s such a stud. He’s got a lot of rings and records,” Brees said of Brady. “He’s awesome.” Brees said the ball with which he threw his record-breaking TD would go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and also sounded particularly pleased by who caught it.

“I love the fact it was Josh Hill,” Brees said, noting that Hill made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2013 and has been reliable both on offense and special teams ever since.

“The epitome of a great teammate, kind of an unsung hero,” Brees said. “He’s done an unbelievable job. I have so much trust and confidence in him.” Colts Reserve safety Rolan Milligan left the game with a foot injury in the first half. Cornerback Quincy Wilson left with a shoulder injury.

Saints: Right guard Larry Warford needed help to the sideline with a left knee injury early in the third quarter. Defensive back C.J. Gardner Johnson left the game with a concussion in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile the Pittsburgh Steelers are sticking with rookie quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Hodges will make his fourth straight start on Sunday when the Steelers (8-6) visit the New York Jets (5-9). Hodges threw four interceptions in a 17-10 loss to Buffalo last weekend, including picks on each of Pittsburgh’s final two drives. Tomlin said the undrafted rookie free agent – who is 3-1 as a starter – had earned the right to bounce back.

“It’s reasonable to expect him to learn from those negative experiences and apply it to this next opportunity and hopefully not make those same mistakes twice,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin pointed out his decision was much in line with his thinking after Mason Rudolph’s bumpy night in a loss to Cleveland on Nov. 14, a game in which Rudolph tossed four interceptions before getting into a brawl with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett that ended when Garrett ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and hit the quarterback in the head with it.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates his touchdown pass to tight end Josh Hill, which broke the NFL record for career touchdown passes, surpassing Peyton Manning, in the second half of an NFL football

game against the Indianapolis Colts in New Orleans, Dec 16. (AP)