Gordon set to return to the Browns
Josh Gordon’s personal journey, from star to suspended outcast to sobriety, has reached a new dawning.
He’s getting yet another chance to resurrect his football career and life.
Cleveland’s gifted wide receiver has been conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who met with the Browns former Pro Bowler on Wednesday in New York and is allowing him to return after a nearly three-year absence.
Gordon, who hasn’t played since the 2014 season, can immediately join the team for meetings and engage in conditioning work and individual workouts. He has to comply with requirements set forth by Goodell and can begin practicing with the team on Nov. 20.
The 26-year-old will be eligible — at the team’s discretion — to return to active status on Nov. 27 or remain on the commissioner’s exempt list for an additional week before returning to active status.
Goodell said Gordon’s “commitment to sobriety and to reaching his goals in football and beyond will determine his success. It ultimately is up to Josh.”
If he abides by Goodell’s stipulations, Gordon could play in Cleveland’s final five games this season, beginning with a Dec. 3 matchup against the Chargers.
Gordon has been in and out of rehab over the last year.
Siemian benched
Brock Osweiler knows just how to turn the Denver quarterback switch into more than a temporary gig.
“Ball security is job security,” Osweiler said.
Doesn’t Trevor Siemian know it.
Siemian’s six turnovers during Denver’s three-game skid cost him his starting job 48 hours after his three ugly interceptions wasted a strong defensive effort in a 29-19 loss at Kansas City.
Osweiler started seven games in place of an injured Peyton Manning two years ago, going 5-2 in helping the Broncos secure home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs on their way to their Super Bowl 50 title.
“It’s hard to really put in words just because of how much love I have for this organization, my teammates and this city,” Osweiler said. “This week is solely about our football team trying to get a win.” McCarron ‘lost’
AJ McCarron was getting his son ready to trick-ortreat when his agent called with shocking news: The Bengals were trading the quarterback to the Cleveland Browns.
Then came another jolt: The trade fell through because paperwork wasn’t filed with the NFL office in time.
McCarron was still processing the whirlwind events Wednesday, a day after a paperwork mistake meant he’d stay in Cincinnati as Andy Dalton’s backup. The AFC North rivals agreed to the trade shortly before the 4 p.m. deadline. The Bengals say they filed their paperwork on the deal, holding up their end of the bargain.
He doesn’t understand how the trade was botched. “There’s no telling,” McCarron said. “I’m lost like everybody else.”
He’ll be on the Bengals sideline Sunday when Cincinnati (3-4) plays at Jacksonville (4-3).
McCarron hasn’t played this season even though Dalton has been limited by a sprained left ankle for a couple of games.
Etc.
The Patriots signed former 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer on Wednesday to fill the role of Tom Brady’s backup, a day after Hoyer was released by San Francisco following its acquisition of Jimmy Garoppolo in a trade with New England. Hoyer began his career as Brady’s backup in New England in 2009, and has spent time with seven NFL teams during his nine-year career. ... Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has recovered from the concussion he sustained last week and expects to start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.