Seahawks’ Gordon is suspended again
Troubled wide receiver has been banned eight times in his career
RENTON, Wash. — 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 league policies on performance enhancers and substances of abuse.
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 support him and help him and we’ll wish him the very best in taking care of business. It’s really unfortunate.”
Gordon signed with New England and was among the leading receivers for the Patriots with 20 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown through six games. But he was placed on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries and was released in late October.
Seattle stepped in and claimed the oft-troubled receiver off waivers. His first game came in Week 10 against
San Francisco when Gordon made a pair of key catches late in Seattle’s 27-24 overtime win. Gordon had seven receptions over five games with the Seahawks. All seven seemed to have significance, including his 58-yard catch in Sunday’s win over Carolina.
Gordon’s brief stint with Seattle likely finished with 11 targets, 139 yards receiving.
This is the eighth time in his career Gordon has been suspended by the league or by his team.
CHIEFS: The Chiefs claimed veteran pass rusher Terrell Suggs off waivers on Monday, filling a massive hole at defensive end after losing Alex Okafor to a torn pectoral muscle a day earlier against the Denver Broncos.
The 37-year-old Suggs spent the first 16 years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens before spending most of this past season with the Arizona Cardinals. He had 5½ sacks for the Cardinals before he was waived last week, driving the seven-time Pro Bowl pick’s total to 138 sacks for his career.
JAGUARS: Tom Coughlin tried to fine former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler more than $700,000 for missing “mandatory” appointments with a team trainer or physician.
It was just one example of how Coughlin has run roughshod over players since his return to Jacksonville, according to the players’ union.
The NFLPA filed a grievance on behalf of Fowler and other Jaguars players, challenging the club’s right to discipline players in those circumstances. An arbitrator recently ruled in favor of the NFLPA, negating the fines levied by Jacksonville in 2018.
The union responded by blistering the Jaguars in a statement.
“This is just one of the many grievances we had to file to protect our players from the Jaguars’ actions,” the NFLPA said. “The decision puts a stop to the blatant overreach by the Jaguars and emphasizes the voluntary nature of almost all football activities during the offseason.”
The arbitrator affirmed that the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement does not allow teams to require rehabilitation or medical appointments be held at team facilities during the offseason.
Coughlin and the Jaguars allegedly tried to require injured players to rehab at the facility. When players failed to attend the sessions, the club disciplined them.
GIANTS: The Rabbit has resurfaced in the Big Easy.
The New Orleans Saints claimed Janoris Jenkins off waivers on Monday after the Giants cut the veteran corner on Friday. So the Jackrabbit is going to the playoffs.
Jenkins, 31, rejoins former Giants teammate Eli Apple in New Orleans.
The Giants released Jenkins due to his second use of the word “retard” on Twitter and his ignorance in refusing to apologize.
PANTHERS: The Panthers plan to make a quarterback change on Sunday, starting rookie Will Grier in the team’s Week 16 game at Indianapolis instead of the struggling Kyle Allen, according to a source.