The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns to part with Josh Gordon
Receiver expected to be traded or cut by Sept. 17
The team announced Saturday night that it intends to release the former Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Josh Gordon has disappointed the Browns over and over since 2014. He won’t be disappointing them anymore.
General Manager John Dorsey, around sunset Sept. 15, announced the Browns will release Gordon on Sept. 17. Earlier in the day, the team announced a hamstring injury is preventing Gordon from playing the Saints on Sept. 16. Gordon did not fly with the team to New Orleans.
“This afternoon we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we are going to release him on Monday,” Dorsey said in a statement.
“For the past six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally and wanted the best for him. But unfortunately we’ve reached a point where we feel it’s best to part ways and move forward. We wish Josh well.”
Without saying it in so many words, the message is clear. The Browns have concluded they have no reason to trust Gordon.
By announcing his plans when he did, Dorsey opened up the possibility of at least salvaging something for Gordon in a trade.
Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting teams are already calling Dorsey. Even if all they can get in a deal is a conditional sixth-round or seventh-round choice, it’s better than nothing.
Deciding to cut ties with Gordon opens the door for the Browns to go hard after
Dez Bryant, the eight-year veteran cut by the Cowboys in April. Bryant visited the Browns early in training camp, but he reportedly turned down the one-year offer in the neighborhood of $5 million. Bryant remains unsigned.
Gordon showed up late to the Browns’ facility Sept. 15, according to a league source. He complained of a hamstring injury, even though he practiced all week seemingly with no problem. Schefter reported Gordon was injured in a promotional shoot that was unrelated to anything with the Browns.
Browns doctors also were concerned Gordon might have had a relapse in his struggle with substance abuse, according to a report on Cleveland.com.
Gordon missed 54 of 59 games from the start of the 2014 season through the 11th game of 2017 because of suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policies. He returned from his latest suspension to play the final
five games of the 2017 season. He caught 18 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown.
All offseason reports about Gordon from Coach Hue Jackson were positive. But then three days before training camp was to begin July 26, Gordon informed the team and Browns fans that he would not be in Berea for the start of camp because he was dealing with personal issues as part of his treatment plan.
The Browns remained patient and supportive. He showed up in Berea on Aug. 18, more than three weeks after camp began. A hamstring injury set him back and he did not start practicing until the Monday before the Sept. 9 opener with the Steelers.
Gordon caught only one pass against the Steelers, but it was a dazzling grab on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor.
The maddening part of the six-year ordeal is Gordon is more talented than any player the Browns have
had since he was a rookie in 2012. But time and time again a situation like the current one left them with only frustration to show for their support. They might have run out of patience sooner, but they did not want to give up on the player who led the league with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013.
Whoever the coach or general manager happened to be when Gordon was suspended or entered a rehab clinic always said the same thing: “Our biggest concern is about Josh Gordon the person.”
That might be very true, but they also have to make the team a priority.
As the Browns get ready to play the Saints, they have fifth-year veteran Jarvis Landry and thirdyear veteran Rashard Higgins leading the group of wide receivers. The rest — Antonio Callaway, Damion Ratley and Derrick Willes — are rookies.
That is a difficult way to end an 18-game winless streak.