Josh Gordon practices with the Patriots for the first time on Wednesday. The troubled wide receiver was acquired in a trade on Monday.
Steelers enduring another bumpy patch
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree just smiled earlier this month when asked what would happen if the “Hard Knocks” cameras decided to spend a month embedded with the team during training camp. “We’re too real for TV,” Dupree said with a grin. Dupree meant it as a joke. Two weeks later, nobody is laughing. The Steelers (0-1-1) are winless heading into next Monday’s visit to Tampa Bay and the distractions they stressed the importance of avoiding in 2018 only seem to be multiplying. The latest arrived in the aftermath of a loss to Kansas City when All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown opted to skip work on Monday, though he did find the time to hop on Twitter and respond to criticism by a former team employee who believes Brown should be thankful that he plays alongside quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. No one took Brown’s suggestion of “trade me let’s find out “seriously. Coach Mike Tomlin’s bigger concern was Brown’s absence from a mandatory day of meetings, a misstep that led to an extended sit-down between the two on Tuesday. “I’ll leave the nature of that conversation between us,” Tomlin said Wednesday. “There was discipline involved for his missed meeting for Monday. Some of the other things we talked about extensively, he’ll speak for himself in some of those things. Really our focus is preparing to win this game on Monday night.” Tomlin did not outline Brown’s punishment. The only player in NFL history with five consecutive seasons of at least 100 receptions practiced alongside his teammates on Wednesday and there appears to be no plans to have him sit when the Steelers play the Buccaneers (2-0).
Veteran John Greco starting at center for injured Halapio
After joining the New York Giants as a late-season addition, veteran offensive lineman John Greco came to training camp as somewhat of a bubble guy on the roster. Both a guard and center, the 33-yearold seemed to be the odd guy out at both spots. Jon Halapio and Brett Jones were the top centers, and rookie Will Hernandez and free-agent signee Patrick Omaneh were the top two guards. Greco and long-time starter John Jerry were fighting for a roster spot. Funny thing happened. New York traded Jones to Minnesota in training camp and Greco beat out Jerry because of his ability to play center and guard. Two-plus weeks into the season, Greco is now a starter. The 11-year veteran is getting an unexpected chance because Halapio broke his right leg and ankle in the third quarter of the 20-13 loss to the Cowboys. “Any time you lose your partner in crime, one of your buddies in your room, you feel for him,” Greco said Wednesday. “We know that he’s going to come back stronger than ever, but at the same time we just have to do everything we can this week to try to get a win.”
Foxborough, Mass. — Josh Gordon arrived at a Patriots' team facility that was abuzz with excitement about what he could potentially bring to their depleted receiving group.
There was also just as strong a sentiment in the building to keep any lofty expectations in check — at least for now.
Gordon practiced with the Patriots for the first time Wednesday since being traded by the Browns on Monday.
New England worked out a deal with Cleveland for the embattled receiver about 48 hours after the Browns announced their intention to cut ties with him, saying they had “reached a point where we feel it's best to part ways and move forward.”
It never came to that, with the Patriots offering a fifth-round pick for a freakishly athletic player on the field, who often has been less than dependable off it.
Gordon has been suspended multiple times by the NFL for violations of its drug policies since being drafted by the Browns in 2012. He missed the entire 2015 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy and hasn't come close to duplicating his All-Pro 2013 season, in which he had 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.
He's appeared in only 11 games since then.
It may be why coach Bill Belichick remained coy Wednesday morning when asked about what Gordon could add to New England's offense, saying that the trade was yet to be finalized.
An hour later Gordon took the practice field wearing the No. 10 jersey once occupied by former Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who was traded to San Francisco last season.
Gordon was a limited participant in practice with a hamstring issue and didn't speak with the media afterward.
But his new teammates said he has been welcomed with open arms. It's up to him to fit in on a team that demands discipline.
“I think the slogan kind of stands for itself — ‘Do your job' is kind of the big mantra that's preached around here. I'm sure he's had that conversation with coach,” linebacker Dont'a Hightower said.
“I think it's just more about him getting comfortable . ... Whatever he needs, whatever questions he has, obviously we're all here to help him.”
While there's uncertainty about just how Gordon will fit into New England's strict culture, it is a gamble the Patriots appear willing to take.
They've been trying to plug holes at receiver after starting the season without Julian Edelman (suspended for first four games), Danny Amendola (signed with Miami in free agency) and Brandin Cooks (traded to Los Angeles Rams).
The Patriots have brought in several new faces since the season began, creating a constant jumbling on the depth chart.
Quarterback Tom Brady has compensated by spreading around passes to nearly everyone in the offense. In the season-opening win over Houston, he completed passes to eight different players. Seven different players caught at least one pass in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville.
Adding a big-play threat such as Gordon could bring some better balance.
Still, during a radio interview, Brady said that he hates to “make projections and expectations” about how Gordon can help.
“That's not fair. I've never met Josh, personally — just like I hadn't met some of the guys who have come in the last couple of weeks. We'll see how it goes this week,” Brady said.
“Hopefully, he can work hard, put the team first and end up helping us in a role that he can find for himself on the team.”
• Starting DE Trey Flowers and S Patrick Chung both missed practice with concussions. Chung appeared in all 16 regular-season games each of the past two seasons. He hasn't missed a regular-season game with the Patriots since Week 16 of the 2015 season... RB Sony Michel (knee) and DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (finger) were both full participants in practice.