DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Josh Gordon ... 3rd time.....the charm?

The way it’s working out IMO Josh & the Browns FO got with the NFL and Hard Knocks to protect his privacy and health and told him to come back when he feels ready to. Simple as that. And Hippa laws forbid employers to divulge any information of any health issues.

Agreed it's weird. On any other team JG would probably be the weirdest situation of all time, or at least near it.

On Browns dunno if he even cracks top 10.

Lest we forget Kellen Winslow's broken leg, followed by motorcycle accident followed by staph infection causing "grapefruit sized" testicles.

Orlando "Zeus" Brown getting stabbed in the eye by a ref flag.

Peyton Hillis getting cover of madden then faking strep throat.

Gardocki, a dang punter, being our best (sadly) player for years leaving for the Steelers on a bad note.

Donte Stallworth killed a man.

and that's just a quick list since the return. Gets even weirder if you go back further.

As I tell all my friends it's not that we lose, it's HOW we lose that makes the Browns torturous.

So true. I mean, if you send Gordon, Njoku and maybe even Callaway on deep routes, you'll need 4-5DBs running back to defend.

Then AT LEAST a safety will need to stick with Johnson slipping out of the backfield. If they put a LB on him that's a wrap.

So that leaves our 5 O-Line to block a bunch of D-line and LBers, I feel like Tyrod will have WIDE running lanes open. I mean, I honestly dunno how you will stop our offense IF (big IF), they execute and are healthy.

I must say.. a lot of these posts look very similar to ones back when we first signed RG3.

I say that to say.. I hope we perform well on offense, as its been lacking for a long time.

We have weapons now. We dont have Gordon yet. I think its 50 50 this guy makes it on the field this year. Or for a full year. If he gets busted again is he out of the NFL?

This time in 2016, We were very optimistic about the Baylor 3some with RG3 Gordon and Coleman; in addition to having Terrelle Pryor and Barnridge at TE who just had a 1000 yard season.

It's very rare that the problem on our offense is a lack of talent and not just a lack of a QB.

Very true. Really hoping this offense finally gets things going.

With Josh coming back, it seems the Dez Bryant front has gone cold which is a major plus.

j/c

Obviously we are coming from being a VERY bad team, but IMO this offense has enough talent to win some games.

If we can't squeeze out 5-6 wins there's something majorly wrong

we're going to the divisional round of the playoffs, losing 38-35 in OT to the patriots. book it.

haha okay

Why this latest Josh Gordon comeback is different from the others
12:14 AM ET

Tony GrossiESPN Cleveland

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Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Josh Gordon’s return to the Browns isn’t the end of his latest saga, another bout in a life-long battle with addiction. It’s only the beginning of the next chapter.

How long does he last this time before the next interruption of his career?

Will he get on the field in the regular season, or traipse off abruptly before the Pittsburgh game to another round of counseling?

Some fans are tired of the drama and fault the Browns for not separating from Gordon once and for all.

I think they are doing the right things – for Gordon and for themselves.

Gordon is a special football talent, still only 27, but also a human being with a health problem and now a father of two daughters struggling to provide for them.

“This is a difficult situation,” owner Jimmy Haslam said on July 28.

“We are going to continue to work with the person and try to help him out both personally and professionally until it does not make sense.”

Let’s face it, if Gordon wasn’t a transcendant wide receiver at a bargain price of $790,000, sticking by him wouldn’t make sense for the Browns.

The only reason Gordon has remained relevant despite missing 54 of the Browns’ last 64 games because of league substance abuse suspensions is because the organization hasn’t been able to build a competent receiving corps.

For going on six years now, the Browns needed Gordon more than he needed them.

But that has changed.

Right now, Gordon needs the Browns more than they need him. And that is a new dynamic that might be what makes this right.

An open book: It’s sad that Gordon’s life has become an open book, but he himself opened that book by publishing first-person accounts and filming documentaries detailing his struggles with addiction last year.

Now we know, via a report from WKYC.com, that Gordon also is facing child-support issues.

Three days before Gordon announced on July 23 that he would not be on hand for the start of Browns training camp, a Cuyahoga County judge issued an order requiring Gordon to make child support payments of $6,765 per month beginning Aug. 1 – or face 30 days jail time for each missed payment.

The problem is Gordon has not earned a steady NFL paycheck because of his multiple suspensions. He only receives his $46,470 game checks if he is active during the regular season.

This complicated life problem may have been the source of Gordon’s anxiety – and not the start of training camp, or the presence of the Hard Knocks’ all-seeing cameras – which led to his proactive end run to further counseling in Gainesville, FL.

It also may be why the NFL seems to be handling Gordon with more compassion than is written in the league’s intervention program guidelines.

I believe the NFL, particularly Commissioner Roger Goodell, has been sympathetic to Gordon since a face-to-face meeting in November.

When Gordon returned from two years of indefinite suspension in November, he said of Goodell, “He’s been with me side by side. Talking with him, he continued to show that love and support and I’m grateful to have him in my corner. I know I can lean on him and rely on him. He’s been open and available and just overall a real asset to me.”

What happened, in my opinion, is that Goodell personally heard from Gordon the backstory of his life of addiction and with no father to guide him. And in that conversation, I suppose the subject of Gordon’s daughters with two mothers came up, and the complications they added to his addiction problems.

So Goodell -- who can be compassionate, despite his Bad Sheriff image -- knows that the only way Gordon can take care of his personal life is by earning the income football provides him. And to do that, Gordon must stay eligible on game days to receive his game checks.

And that’s where we’re at. In order for Gordon to avoid jail time for missing child-support payments, he must be on the field to earn his paycheck.

At the same time, the Browns have finally begun to upgrade their receiving corps with the addition of Marvelous Jarvis Landry, the risky drafting of Antonio Callaway, and the palpable improvement of Rashard Higgins.

The net result is that Gordon – for the first time in six years – needs the Browns more than they need him.

“Let’s get to work”: That was the last line of Gordon’s breaking news on returning to the Browns on Saturday.

“We are glad Josh has reached a point where he can return to our organization, be in our building and be around his teammates,” GM John Dorsey said in a statement. “As he assimilates back to our team, Josh will initially participate in meetings and conditioning and will gradually resume all football activities as deemed appropriate.”

Gordon must be cleared by the NFL to resume football activities, which means he has to continue to pass drug tests and adhere to the guidelines set forth by the league medical advisors administering his ongoing rehab program.

The thought of Gordon joining Marvelous Jarvis and Callaway and Higgins – who needs Dez Bryant? – is so tantalizing, it almost seems an unobtainable dream.

“I thought about that scenario happening at some point,” said coach Hue Jackson. “I think I will be even more excited once that really happens and once he is out there playing and he has earned the trust of his teammates and coaches and he is out there contributing to our football team, then I will feel really good about it. There are still some steps to go as we said every day. We are going to keep working at it.

“I am confident that he is here. I think that is the most important part. How long he stays, only Josh knows that.”

But Gordon also knows this: For the first time, he needs the Browns more than they need him.


http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland/post/_/id/5327

Grossi makes a valid point IMO ... I do think the NFL is cutting Gordon a break here (he probably "messed up" again).

But, it seems like we've been on the way to field a team without Gordon ... Landry, Callaway, Higgins, Njoku, bringing in Dez, etc.

JG NEEDS this one to work out.

IMO, figuring out the left side of the OL is our offense's biggest thing right now ... we need to get that solidified.

Most likely Bitonio will be LT and Corbett at LG

RGIII was/is horrible and we have a new offensive coordinator.

"You're never gonna bless em at this rate."

Gordon looks super thin. He basically has zero body fat.

So whtat's the chance he plays week one ???

I would say he'll play. He's in shape, he should have a good grasp of the offense because he was in OTAs, there isn't much holding him back.

100% ...

How much ... now, thats a toughie ...

I have to say it.

Gordon will put up Megatron numbers this season.

Depends on which WRs need disciplined that week.

Are you kiddin?
I think it's ZERO percent!

He hasn't been on the team since July 23rd, he hasn't played a down in any of (well it seems like, in my recollection, but don't know) .. of the first 10 reg seasaon weeks of Any of the last FOUR years.

And the NFL is saying there's no timetable for his return, subject to league approval,
(We've certainly heard that before)

My wonder is how anyone is counting on this guy for one snap. He was only eligible during the offseason?; What a crock.

And everyone else's fan favorite, Callaway, is already on pace to be more suspended than Josh who at least waited until about week 5 of his rookie year to get his first incident after college.
Callaway already had the stuff in his car incident a few weeks ago, before the season even starts.

(Again ^ that's only from my vague recollection of history).

Thing is, is 8 or 10 weeks ago, with Louis and Corey Coleman still possibilities, and before I had seen the unproductive performance of Nick Chubb, ( I let this board convince me of other than what I knew, that that he can't cut, move, juke, overpower, stiffarm, or breakaway, and he was awful in college and will be awful in the NFL,

When that wasn't fresh in my mind, 8 weeks ago, I had more hope.
Now I'm back to thinking this team wins 0, 1, or 2 games. And they probably Still won't fire the head coach.

And Jeff Janis isn't looking good either.

The Dez Bryant thread is locked. I looked here to see if I could post about Dez Bryant.
If he wants a long term deal, it's not my money, but I'd wish the Browns would give him one,
The Browns cut anybody for any given reason, at anytime anyway, so what does a longterm vs shortterm contract matter.

Absolutely. We should bet the entire season on Josh Gordon. No way that would bite us on the ass. *snicker*

New offense that Gordon hasn't played or practiced in. Check
New offensive coordinator that is trying to fit an Offense to players on the team who knows very little about Gordon now that camp is over. Check
New quarterbacks that have exactly zero chemistry with Josh Gordon. Check

So meathead is going to start game one against the STEELERS having zero practice in camp and no game time in PS. He really must be the greatest WR to ever live. Jerry Rice PRACTICED. He WORKED at the game. If meathead can play at such a high level with no practice... in a new system with a new QB... WOW lmao I'll believe it when I see it. Until he actually takes the field and plays like that it's all just talk. For all we know, the league may suspend him again. He hasn't played good football in four years.

Landry is the one we should all be celebrating. He WANTS it. He's willing to work his but off to EARN it. He is the best WR we have had in decades.

no argument about Landry ... he's been everything you'd want thus far

I'm not opposed to giving JG another shot here ... he's THAT good

Swish, between the Patriot playoff game comment and this one, what did you put in your pipe?

Whatever gordon was about to smoke.

A true hero.

In that case, I sure hope you do not get tested.

Seriously, how can we make the playoffs with a weak OL, and a very suspicious secondary, just to name two of our weaknesses.

teams make the playoffs with weaknesses all the time.

If u care to wager just let me know how much ...

Whatever amount makes you uncomfortable.

Only reason I disagree is because he will open a lot of things up for Landry cause he will get the double teams or coverages rolling to him .... add that to Taylor doesn’t like to take chances deep and he trusts Landry who is reliable and a great route runner ....

I see Josh having a monster year but not as good as Vice Grips ... for one main reason ... Josh can take it to the house on every single play ... Vice Grips ain’t gonna outrun the db’s to the end zone any where near like Josh ...

I expect monster years from both these guys ..

They need each other and make each other even better ...

This O could be EXCITING!!!!

Good Luck with all the demons Josh and Mr. Corbett PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t be a bum ... PLEASE ...

The other pieces are there ...

W/o Josh we have real good options ... with Josh its almost unfair ... think about it ....

Josh/Landry/Calloway or Higgins/Njoku and last but not least Mr. Johnson ... your spreading any D really really thin ...

Were 3 weeks out ... hopefully Josh can start practicing next week ... that’d give him two weeks to get ready for the opener ...

I wasn't concerned about him being ready to take some snaps , as I was , will the league let him play ????

Signing the "bigger" name free agent WRs hasn't worked out well for us either. AKA, Kenny Britt and Bowe stand out the most.

Rather play the young guys without Dez, and with or without JG.