Jackson says it’s time to move on from Gordon
Coach Hue Jackson BEREA — acknowledged Friday the Browns are done with receiver Josh Gordon and he’s out of chances in Cleveland.
The coach is so done, in fact, he announced he won’t answer Gordon questions after Friday.
“What’s best for our football team is that we move forward and move on,” said Jackson. “He’s not going to be with us and we wish him well, but we’re moving forward. We’re going to move on.”
Gordon decided to check himself into rehab Thursday instead of pursuing his return to the Browns. He was set to rejoin practice Monday and play Oct. 9 against the Patriots.
“Obviously Josh is not here and doing what he thinks he needs to for his life, which we support 100 percent and after today, today is really the last Josh Gordon comment I want to make about that,” Jackson said.
So why are the Browns moving on if he’s taking the positive step toward in-patient rehab? It’s unknown if Gordon violated the substance abuse policy again.
“For me and for our team, for everybody involved, my goal is to make sure that we take care of the players that are here and the players that are practicing and working,” he said. “I care about everybody. That’s the seat I’m in, but at the same time, he’s not here, so that’s why we
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“I think what we need to do is just close that chapter right now. He’s doing what he needs to do and we need to do what we need to do, which is continue to move forward.”
After the third question on Gordon, Jackson slammed the door on any more.
“I’m not going to answer any more Josh Gordon comments or questions,” he said. “I’m done with it. I’m going to coach our team that’s here and that’s what I want to do. So no more questions about Josh Gordon.”
Jackson vowed Gordon’s departure would not be a distraction heading into Sunday’s game against the Redskins. “The guys have had a really good week of practice,” he said. “They’ve been focused.”
Gordon left Cleveland on Thursday and headed to an undisclosed facility. It ends his four-year career in Cleveland, one that included suspensions in each of the past four seasons. All told, he’s been suspended for 30 of his past 35 games, and the Browns have run out of patience.
Gordon is entering rehab for at least the third time. The first was in 2014 after a DUI and the second time was this offseason.
The decision came on the same day the results of Gordon’s paternity test came back. The test revealed Gordon is the father of a 1-yearold girl, according to attorney Joseph Stafford.