DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Josh Gordon Reinstated Part II

Even the dead horse wants to know that.

Thanks guys.

I wish Josh the best, but unfortunately I have a nagging suspicion that if he does flourish again, it will be with a team like the Patriots or Cowboys.

That would be just our luck. Right now our Browns are not the place to go to straighten out problem players. Teams like the Pats, Steelers, Cowboys and a couple of others can do it but not here.

Well after the dead horse beats you so many times, what do people expect?

This is just battered fan syndrome. No reason it can't happen here.

No, you go to rehab. Just like he did.

I've lost faith, and I hope I'm wrong.

Hue Jackson watched Josh Gordon 'earn the right' to reunite with Browns

Patrick Maks
Staff Writer

Jackson challenged himself this past year to understand Gordon's battle

CLEVELAND — Browns coach Hue Jackson was all smiles this week as he answered questions about wide receiver Josh Gordon, who took another step toward ultimately playing in his first regular-season game in almost three years.

Gordon, who was reinstated on a conditional basis earlier this month after multiple suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, returned to practice Wednesday and is on track to play against the Chargers in Los Angeles next week.

That had Jackson, who has been looking for a spark to jolt the winless Browns, beaming as a young team hopes to salvage a disappointing season. And Gordon, who led the league in receiving in 2013 and became one of its most electric players, looked as if he hadn’t missed a beat.

“You can just see there’s a different spirit at practice,” Jackson said. “Josh is just a different talent. I think we all recognized that and appreciate that. I think his teammates see it … There are a lot of things he has to continue to do and work through, and I think he’s willing to do that.”

It wasn’t always this way.

When Gordon, who was conditionally reinstated in July 2016 before a setback led him to enter an inpatient rehabilitation center, Jackson said he’d had enough of the talented but embattled player.

“I was (done with him). I want you to know that,” he said. “I was in the fact that for the football team a year ago, I thought it was important to really establish a culture here that was right and strong. If somebody was not going to be here, then I need to move on beyond that and we did. I was [done] based on what the situation was at that time."

In between then and now, Jackson said he challenged himself to learn more about Gordon, who has had a long and public struggle with addiction. “Let’s be honest,” he said, “what this man has dealt with is a disease. It happens and it affects a lot of people in the world. I had to first educate myself and what he was going through and what he was dealing with.”

“I haven’t had a lot of exposure to him other than what I knew. Then once I understood it better and watched him earn the right to be back in this building – again, I was able to monitor, wasn’t able to talk to him but was able to monitor what he was doing and understood what he was going through; I felt more comfortable of understanding what was going on,” Jackson continued.

“If this was just another one of those fly by situations where he was going to be in and then back out again, I wouldn't want any part of that. I don't think that's fair to the team, I don't think it's fair to the staff; and I don't think it's fair to the fans. I really don't because he is a very talented player.”

Jackson believes Gordon, who has spoken of being the best version of himself on and off the field, has turned a corner.

“I truly believe this young man is working at it. He still has to earn that from his teammates, from the coaches, from the fans and from (media),” he said. “That’s what I think he understands now. He’s in a lot better place now and a lot better place to have people assist him through this process.”

Beyond football, that offered Jackson a reason to smile.

“I think he’s in a really good place just as a person, first and foremost, and then in good shape [physically],” he said. “I think he’s eager to continue to learn and to get better. He has done everything that we’ve asked him to do.”

Link

I think Hue is very open and telling regarding Josh. Closed the door on him, but had to research what Josh was/went through and now, hopefully, both can get on a positive track with the help from each other, the city and the team.

I love hearing that Hue thinks he's in good shape as a person now. I don't think he's just fluffing there either. I hope he's right. We (the fans) earned something extremely bright and positive here.

Can someone create a photoshop of Josh Gordon as Obi Wan Kenobi and Hue Jackson as Princess Leia?

Browns’ Gordon Feeling Forgiven In Return From Suspension
November 24, 2017 7:10 PM

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — As he builds his body into football shape and develops trust with his teammates, Josh Gordon feels forgiven.

Since returning to the Browns following an indefinite drug suspension by the NFL for numerous abuse violations, Gordon doesn’t sense any resentment or anger directed at him.

Only love.

“I do love this environment, these guys here, these coaches here from top to bottom,” the former All-Pro wide receiver said Friday. “It’s been an all-around conducive environment in what I’m trying to do. There hasn’t been any type of negativity or any kind of energy being sucked out of the room or anything like that.

“I’m in a good mental space for me. As long as I feel that myself, the rest doesn’t affect me as much. It’s all good right now.”

Gordon practiced this week for the first time in 14 months, and as long as he continues to abide by guidelines established in his conditional reinstatement by league Commissioner Roger Goodell, the 26-year-old can play next week in a regular-season game for the first time since the end of the 2014 season.

That’s the next step. Until he can take it, Gordon has to stay sober.

Earlier this week, coach Hue Jackson said when Gordon left the team on the eve of last season to enter rehab, he and the Browns were ready to move on from their troubled star.

Jackson, though, had a change of heart when he learned more about Gordon’s addiction and background.

Gordon was warmed by Jackson’s compassion.

“That just shows the humanity of it. People can make a turn,” Gordon said. “People can make a change at any given moment just depending on the situation and the variables in place. For him, it was just being enlightened on the situation. I think that can happen for many people, many fans, and whoever that may have thought they were done with me or wanted to be done with me are giving me another opportunity.

“They kind of just wanted to see it through and I’m glad that he was patient enough to do so, so I appreciate him for doing that.”

Early in his return, Gordon has wowed teammates new and old with his supreme skills, positive outlook and a renewed commitment.

On and off the field, No. 12 has been spectacular.

“He’s a playmaker,” said rookie defensive end Myles Garrett, the top overall pick. “We want to win and he’s one of the best receivers out there. It’s been a while since he’s been here, he’s been off for a while, but he came in with his head up and he wasn’t making any excuses for himself.

“He took it face on. He’s ready to roll. He’s ready to go. And he hasn’t lost a step. He came in and he immediately went into the weight room and he was working from Day 1. So that’s why we accepted him back so quickly because he’s ready to go. He wasn’t out of shape, he wasn’t taking any time off. When they said he could be back in meetings and practice, he was the first one there.”

Gordon has missed Cleveland’s past 43 games and 53 of 58 because of suspensions. While he was away from football, Gordon worked out when he could at a rehab facility in Florida and returned in tip-top physical shape.

Jackson put him with Cleveland’s first-team offense earlier this week, a tease for what’s to come when the winless Browns (0-10), who visit Cincinnati this week, play the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 3.

Gordon said rust hasn’t been a problem.

“None that I felt, and none that I was told about, so I felt pretty good,” he said. “I think I knocked that rust off prior to getting back into the building.”

He hit the ground flying.

“It’s different when you’re watching him than actually being on the field with him,” rookie safety Jabrill Peppers said. “You can feel the speed going by, and I think us having him back for this week, he was doing what (Bengals receiver) A.J. Green does when he goes against our defense.

“I don’t think we can get a better look than that. We’re definitely grateful to have him back. I can’t wait to see him in action next week.”

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2017/11/24/browns-gordon-feeling-forgiven-in-return-from-suspension/

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/arti...66-5a2f1aeaf488

Recent Gordon interview.

Whether you like Josh or not, whether you think he should be on the team or not let's just wish him well and hope he can be at least close to the player he was. It will benefit the team and our Browns future. JMO

Oh yeah, we need to be in his corner. He also must ball out and stop screwing up.

If we were winning and etc, I'd love to see Josh get cut. I would wish him well and hope somehow he finds or maybe found his way, the right way. However, as bad as we are - who even cares? We could sign Vontaze Burfict and I probably wouldn't blink an eye and that dude is as dirty as the underneath of an oven or something. If that's not a sign of someone desperate, who knows what is...

J/C

Some slight news on the drama front. Going mildly-viral around Cleveland that Kenny Britt liked a tweet showing Josh Gordon returning to practice, reading:



Some saying that's an indication that Britt doesn't want to be here anymore. To Britt's credit, a lot of athletes like such tweets. Motivation, let's the person know it's seen and the message received.

I found it interesting while watching Gordon's return presser, he was asked about Kizer's arm compared to Weeden's and getting on the same page. Gordon said;



Gordon's answers were very smooth throughout, except for that one. A lot of pausing, and stopping to consider what he was saying. Some have pointed out Coleman has been similar - Basically, it sounds like both guys want to get out there and show what real receivers do.

I'm not suggesting they're attacking their team mates, far from it, but I think they're both really excited to get out there. That's for sure.

I Gordon eligible to play this weekend or will it be next? He will make a huge difference. I hope personally for him he's turned a corner. Selfishly, I hope he plays like the guy blowing past Patriots a few years back. It would mean one less hole to fill next offseason. Good luck Josh!

He is eligible but not yet ready to play.

Next weekend. The first game he can play for us is the Chargers game.

Thanks

Josh Gordon Still not allowed to play this week.

Yeah, Goddell’s Christmas gift to the Browns. Josh can’t accrue a full season with only 5 games this season so we’ll still hold his rights through next season. Trade him or keep him, we still have an opportunity to benefit from backing him through all his troubles.

What if Josh Gordon is still good?

Just watched the Uninterrupted feature on him.
Wow.
I mean, the Browns season is obviously over, but Gordon's return, and his life, isn't!
How could I not root for this guy? How could anyone not root for him?
So, just for his sake, if he can shine these last 5 games, and stay clean, I'll consider that a nice consolation.

Let's just hope they can keep him a Brown, and healthy!

About the only thing I am interested in seeing. Five games should be enough to see what we have here.

Whether Kizer improves or not, take the best QB available. Period. Just necessary.

Yeah, I'd probably agree. Unless we somehow get Kirk Cousins in FA or something (which is a LONG shot), don't see why we wouldn't.



These NFL starting QBs are getting old. Teams will need to replace them. At the worst, we draft a guy, and trade him (or another) to a QB needy team.

Looks like McCarron is going to be our off season target.

That would make me ill !

That's the most realistic option for us. McCarron with Kizer competing behind him. Hopefully drafting a QB too.

That is assuming of course that Hue Jackson is still around.


But the way I saw Jackson and Haslam greet McCarron made me think that he might end up being the guy.

Why wouldn't we be able to keep him a Brown?

Josh will only have 5 eligible games this year for us. So, he's signed on the team for next year no matter what (he has to be eligible for 6 games or more to accrue a season toward completing his rookie contract).

The year after that, he's a RFA (from my understanding). We can go ahead and throw whatever tender we want on the guy.



I've said this all along. I want Gordon playing for us or no one at all. Trading him or cutting him just to do it makes no sense. Gordon is better than any 4th WR on our roster. #4 WRs come and go all the time. Josh Gordon's don't. When he's not on the team, he doesn't count as a roster spot. So it's not like he takes up a spot on the roster we can't use on someone

He's on a rookie contract. He's fairly cheap and he owes us two years. We shouldn't be fooled into counting on him for ANYTHING. Don't even plan to have him. But he's interchangeable with any #4/#5 receiver

I like the idea of McCarron/Kizer and a QB with one of our first round picks if we like them ...

A few days after i calmed down I actually thought trading for McCarron wasn’t near as bad a trade as i initially did ...

Each situation is different ... with all the picks we have and cap space we have coupled with the fact we could use a few wins ... Not as bad a trade as i initially thought ..

Oh well ... water under the bridge now ...

This will be the most interesting off season we’ve had yet ....

More picks than ever ... more cap space by far than anyone else ... and the FA’s aren’t stupid .. they see all the talent here ... they see were not far away ... they can get paid and be a part of an up and coming team ...

Its not near as bad a destination as one would think ...

Interesting times coming once we get through this nightmare ... *L* ...

lol. You don't think they're gonna just see a team that won like 0 to 1 games two years in a row that had a front office that failed to get a McCaron trade done (that they theoretically wanted to do) even though Cincy sent in the correct paperwork to make the trade.


I don't hate the FO. But we're looking to have won 0 to 2 games over the past two seasons. Before that, we weren't much better.

We have absolutely no track record to give any free agent hope.



I don't think we're going to be a hot destination at all. We're just gonna have to figure out a way to keep developing our own players (and re-signing) and drafting well.


Luckily we have two first round picks and three 2nd round picks (which we can trade or do whatever we want with, besides all the cap room)

During the game they showed a clip of Hue jogging about 40 yards to greet McCarron with a hug that was kind of uncomfortable in its length. Apparently, Haslam came along and they all had a nice chat. I wonder how that whole scene made Deshon Kizer feel.

Deshone should feel fine. If he can't go into camp next year and beat out AJ McCaron, then he's meant to be a backup.

And I like DeShone, so I don't think it's phasing him at all. Because that's exactly it. He has the confidence in himself to not worry if McCaron comes over here next year or not. That he can't do anything about. All he can do is become a better QB, which he's trying to do

And it's not like McCaron is the next Roger Staubach. It's AJ McCaron. Kizer should be excited that it's only AJ they bring in and not Kirk Cousins

For DB’s .. there going to see a chance to play behind one of the best front 7’s in the league ... witch includes Myles Garrett .. someone who can alone make there jobs easier ...

On O ... they will see were a QB away from being pretty damm good ...

We have a pretty good OL ... young tight ends with a bunch of upside ...

Were a QB away from being close to a 500 team right now ...

And he maybe on the roster ... it could be KIZER ...

More than one player from opposing teams has talked about how much talent we have here ... its YOUNG and INEXPERIENCED ... even with that if we had a QB we could have 4 or 5 wins right now ...

There’s TALENT HERE ... its just young and inexperienced like i said in my last post ... and the players around the league see it ...

Add that to ALL the HIGH DRAFT PICKS we have and the CAP SPACE we have ...

It might not be a place U think is a good destination ... but the players see things differently ... especially when we can PAY MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ...

It didn’t work last year with the two safeties we went after .. but going after them with mORE THAN ANY OTHER OFFER THEY RECIEVED coupled with the fact we made Zietler one of if not the highest paid guards n the league and we re-signed Collins and locked Kirksey up with LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS proves they will pay ...

We’ll find out in a few months ... like i said ... interesting times ...

I guess you're right, but I still think its a crappy look by Hue and Jimmy. Shake the guy's hand, wish him well, and walk away.

We definitely will. I just am gonna have to see it to believe it. Cause us being a hot FA destination will certainly be something new, lol.


I just think we have a reputation for being a joke of a franchise, and we're going to have to prove that we aren't before that changes.

And I love my Browns, but I'm just thinking with honesty here. From the outside, we're embarrassing. And not all players agree with your assessment. I mean, look at Pac-Man Jones' review of the team (for what that's worth).



Of course, maybe bringing in a bonafide O-Coordinator, could inspire some confidence. Maybe Mike McCoy or something?