Patriots’ Gordon suspended again, maybe for good
New England Patriots receiver Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely Thursday by the NFL for violating an agreement that allowed him to play after multiple drug suspensions, casting doubt on whether the talented but troubled playmaker would ever play in the league again.
League officials said Thursday that Gordon was returned to the reserve/ commissioner suspended list indefinitely for breaking the terms of his reinstatement under the NFL substance abuse policy.
The news came several hours after Gordon said he was stepping away from football to focus on his mental health. Gordon said on Twitter his decision was spurred by his own feelings that he could have a better grasp on things mentally. He thanked the Patriots for their support and vowed to work his way back.
“We support Josh Gordon in his continued efforts to focus on his health. His attempt to do so is a private and personal matter, which we intend to respect,” Patriots team officials said.
Gordon has been suspended several times by the NFL for violations of its drug policies since being drafted by the Cleve- land Browns in 2012, and missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons.
After being reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell in 2017, Gordon revealed in an interview with GQ magazine that he drank or used marijuana before games. “Probably every game of my career,” he said.
Gordon also said in a 2017 mini-documentary on Uninterreupted.com that he took Xanax, cocaine, marijuana and other narcotics.
Gordon’s outlook had improved with New England, where he landed in September in a trade after the Browns felt it was time to cut ties. He had 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns with the Patriots, five years removed from an All-Pro season in 2013 with 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.
New England officials had insulated Gordon and focused him on getting acclimated to the team’s highly disciplined culture, while also limiting his time with reporters.
Coach Bill Belichick said last week that Gordon was thriving on the field, developing chemistry with quarterback Tom Brady and learning the offensive system.
Gordon said earlier this month he thought he was settling in well with New England.
“It felt like home a long time ago,” Gordon said. “The atmosphere is very welcoming. It took me a little bit to get acclimated to the area. Other than that, it’s been pretty smooth so far, and that’s due in part to the facility, the organization, just everybody helping me along the way.” GURLEY SAYS HE’S READY TO PLAY FOR RAMS » Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley expects to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in spite of a knee injury. Gurley did not practice Thursday as he deals with inflamma- tion in his knee that flared up in the 30-23 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday night. Gurley, who leads the NFL with 21 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns, does not expect to practice before the Rams travel to Arizona.
Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday he would consider resting Gurley to make sure the second-leading runner in the league with 1,251 yards rushing is available for the playoffs, as the Rams (11-3) have already won the NFC West. PANTHERS LOSE LINEBACKER » The Carolina Panthers placed outside linebacker Shaq Thompson on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Thompson played in 14 games with 11 starts this season and was the team’s second-leading tackler. He also added 3 ½ sacks. The team signed undrafted rookie quarterback Kyle Allen to the active roster from the practice squad. Allen will serve as Carolina’s backup to Taylor Heinicke on Sunday when the Panthers host the Falcons. Cam Newton will be inactive with a shoulder injury.
• While Eric Reid said he is “not surprised” he has been drug tested by the NFL six times in the past 11 weeks, his Panthers teammates and coaches are growing increasingly annoyed at the frequency of the league’s “random” drug testing policy.
Reid has taken seven drug tests in all (one was mandatory) since signing with Carolina on Sept. 27 and fined three times for illegal hits. He said it all stems from his pending collusion case against the NFL. PLENTY OF IMPLICATIONS AT STAKE AS CHIEFS VISIT SEAHAWKS » From the time he entered the league in 2012, Russell Wilson for the most part has thrived late in the season with playoff berths or playoff positioning at stake.
What about potential MVP candidate Patrick Ma- homes? For all the brilliance he has shown this season in leading Kansas City to the cusp of a division title and possibly the No. 1 seed in the AFC, he’s never been in the situation of showing he can win a late- season game in a hostile environment that could ultimately help determine how far the Chiefs go in the postseason.
That unknown about Mahomes makes Sunday night’s matchup with Kansas City visiting Seattle fascinating. Should the second-year quarterback enter one of the most difficult venues in football and come away with a Kansas City victory, Mahomes will have answered those questions and put Kansas City potentially in position to never leave home during the postseason.
But a loss to Seattle and wins by the Chargers and Texans this weekend could put all that in peril for the Chiefs (11- 3). Kansas City could have made the importance of Sunday’s game significantly less if it could have held on at home last week against the Chargers. But the 29-28 loss to Los Angeles left open the chance Kansas City could miss out on the division title and fall all the way to being a wild-card team depending on how the final two weeks play out.