DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum It's official, Gordon suspended for 1 year

I say we hang onto him because we've got him by the balls. Punishing him for missing that meeting cost him a year, and the new suspension cost him another. We've got him for two additional years, and that's two years he doesn't get paid.

By. The. Balls.

If the Brown's FO would have cut him before the 2014 season started he would have signed with another team and embarrassed them instead of the Brown's yet again. Keeping Gordon's rights for another year will only end in more embarrassment, mark my words.

That's a fair assumption to make when you're talking about the Cleveland Browns.

Good point.

I don't know if they should release Gordon or not. I see reasons for both.

However, why the hell did they talk so tough if they weren't willing to back up their threatening words w/action?

Why say anything at all? Why not just shut the hell up?

The real message to the players is loud and clear. We may talk tough, but it's just a PR stunt. When push comes to shove, you will be cut if you are a guy like Bess, but you will be kept if you have big-time talent.

That's a great message.

I guess that is what they mean when they say: "play like a Brown."

Hmmmm........I am wondering about this. It really isn't Haslam and Farmer's fault for making those comments publically. It isn't the fault of Gordon, Manziel, and Gilbert for being such selfish jerks.

Nah............I blame LaCanfora and Shanny! Freaking guys made all this up and ratted the Browns out.

All this crap about sending a message is BS. Him being suspended means he is not part of the team. I doubt any player will even be thinking about him come training camp. He costs nothing and we own his rights, even though he is not part of the team.

IMO, letting him out of his contract is the most foolish thing the FO could do. They own his rights, and have paid him for them. The most financially sound thing to do is keep him under contract, until you can recoup some of the investment, either through a trade, or getting back some of what was paid him.

His agent would love for the Browns to cut him now. Then he waits a year, and cashes in on another team willing to give him a chance, and another nice payday for the agent.

This is a business, not some social club. He will not be part of the team in any manner next year, and a non factor to anybody. People act as if others on the team would look at his situation and think he is being treated special, that is nonsense. These players know his situation, they know he is not getting paid, and not going to take anybodies roster spot next year. I doubt anybody on this team even cares about his situation, much less think he is getting special treatment.

Anybody who thinks that cutting him will set a precedent is not looking at the situation in reality, they just are tired of hearing about him and want to punish him. Cutting him is not punishment, it would be a gift to him and his agent in 12 months.

general reply...

I think everyone needs to take a step back for a second..

There is no msg that the team needs to send.
Josh is the one that has sent the msg.

People die from drugs and alcohol. This kid has a serious problem, and everyone knows it...Everybody but him.

Cut him...keep him? That really should be the last thing any of us are thinking.

We all should be hoping that in light of all that has happened that he wakes up and realizes that he has a problem, and it has destroyed his life. Then and only then he might be able to be helped.

He could just as easily drink and use more to forget about what as transpired, and we will be reading about his death.

Guess that would release him from his contract

This kid needs to hit bottom..small suspensions didn't' do it...10 games didn't do it...16 might not do it either. He has lost a ton of money....maybe he wakes up one morning and realizes why and gets help.

If we cut him, then in a year he might get some more money, and now his life got a bit more manageable. That won't help him at all.

Former Browns player engagement director opens up about Josh Gordon
February, 10, 2015
link
By Pat McManamon | ESPN.com

During the 2013 Cleveland Browns season, receiver Josh Gordon was on the sidelines tying his shoes when a 10:30 a.m. practice was supposed to begin.

Gordon took his time, so coach Rob Chudzinski called over Aaron Shea, the team's director of player engagement, and let Shea know he wasn't happy.

After practice, Shea went up to Gordon and thanked him "for me getting an ass chewing from the coach."

Gordon, perplexed, asked why Shea had been yelled at. When Shea explained listening to the coach is the job of the director of player engagement, Gordon apologized.

[+] EnlargeJosh Gordon
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Josh Gordon can be funny and engaging once he believes he can trust someone.
"The rest of the year," Shea said this week, "he was not late one more time."

Shea worked closely with Gordon for two years. He was by Gordon's side during Gordon's rookie season and during his second season when Gordon led the league in receiving despite missing two games to a league suspension.

"Josh is a good kid," Shea said. "He really is. He's a good kid. He's a quiet kid. He's inconsistent with his work ethic. He had respect for me, but it took some time to get it."

How that happened and how Shea worked with Gordon illustrates what a team must do to work with players to gain trust and develop rapport — all geared toward making the player the best he can be. Shea's job entailed everything from going to a player's house to make sure he would be at work on time to hooking up players with Cavaliers tickets to holding seminars or talks about financial planning and away-from-the-facility behavior.

"I would show up at work early," Shea said. "When I pulled into work I would look for two cars: Josh's and T-Rich's [Trent Richardson]. If I saw those cars, it was a good day."

Shea played for the Browns from 2000-2005 then returned to work for them in 2009. He moved into the player engagement role in 2012 and earned the respect of almost every player on the team. He tried to run the job understanding the demands on the players (he was one) while also requiring them to be accountable.

He was replaced last May in one of those moves that have become so common to the Browns. A new general manager wanted his own guy, so Ray Farmer brought Jamil Northcutt, whom he knew in Kansas City.

To say that Gordon's most recent yearlong suspension for failing an alcohol test is the result of a change in the director of player engagement would be absurd. Gordon is responsible for his actions, and part of Farmer's statement when Gordon was suspended read: "Throughout his career, we have tried to assist him in getting support like we would with any member of our organization. Unfortunately our efforts have not resonated with him." But in replacing Shea, the Browns made a move not because of incompetence or problems. They made a move made as part of the constant cycle of change, and in doing so replaced a guy Gordon liked and trusted.

Shea's advice to Chudzinski and Pat Shurmur before him about Gordon: Be consistent, hold him accountable, fine him the maximum if he earned it.

"If you come in hard right away, you shut him down," Shea said. "But if you come in and gain his respect then after that you can come in hard on him."

Shea said he did that with private talks with Gordon about his future and his ability, and with blunt talks about being responsible and accountable.

Shea described Gordon as quiet, reserved, almost afraid to trust people initially. But once Gordon warms up to people he's funny, insightful and good to be around.

"He's misunderstood," Shea said. "I can see why people are down on him. Josh really needs to grow up because this is it. He's heard that enough, but I think this is really, really it."

Shea said if he were with the Browns he would do all he could to ensure Gordon comes back a more complete person by providing as much structure as possible. The problem: During this yearlong suspension Gordon is not allowed in the building or to have contact with the team, though he can be in touch with his treatment coordinator.

"I really hope for the best for Josh," Shea said. "But the way he played this year you could tell just by watching there was something clearly wrong with him."

As for the organization he cares about as a former player and employee, Shea admitted there was some dysfunction when he worked in Berea, with people trying to do too many jobs instead of their own. He also reads what is happening now and shakes his head, some of it is discussed publicly (Farmer being investigated for illegal texting) and some not as noticed. An example: Shea called excessive criticism of Brian Hoyer on the team's in-house radio show "classless."

It all makes him shake his head — and brings to mind what Bernie Kosar said in December about the organization flailing at trying to build a winning culture.

"The bottom line is Browns fans deserve better," Shea said. "Some of the stuff Bernie said was spot on. Hard-working people around here pay a lot of money to come watch an average team, at best."

I just saw this online. I agree, it was a good read.

Fantastic read.

Kudos to the author, Shea and Mourg.

I just want to reiterate that this is great journalism.

May 9, 2014, was the date that everyone found out about Gordon's latest failed marijuana test. The timing is coincidental and begs the question as to whether this had anything to do with Shea's release...

Very good read - thanks for sharing.

The single biggest take away for me - and I have thought this before with athletes who are suspended..... What is the NFL thinking or hoping to achieve by restricting these suspended athletes from contact with the organization?

If the NFL was serious about wanting to help these troubled individuals then I would have seen great benefit in letting the athletes continue to be exposed to the organization, whether they are allowed to use the training facilities (not on the practice field) or meet with and talk to players and coaches .... to me that's an environment where you give the player a chance to respond positively and within the 'family' - not alienate him and treat him like an outcast. Sure it wouldn't make a difference in every case - but to me it would maximise the chance of success and a change in behavior.

Maybe Farmer should've kept Shea.

Sometimes guys just trust somebody who has been around a while. Shea clearly had respect from a lot of players.

Well reading this type of article is lightyears better than what we have been, lol... solid read, thanks for posting this!

This line stuck out to me the most lol:

I agree. It's the only structure a lot of these kids have in their lives. Without the team, they are 100% idle with a bank account full of cash. Gee, who could see anything going wrong there....

They talk about the team needing to support Josh and guys like him. Cris Carter has been very vocal about it, evidently that support is limited to before you make a mistake, after that you are on your own. It's a stupid policy.

For a team that has struggled in all facets to find some stability, they absolutely should have kept Shea. This team needs to find consistency from the ball boy to the roster to the staff to the front office... so replacing a guy who evidently was doing a good job just to do your old buddy a favor and surround yourself with your old cronies is just stupid.

I'm confused. Other than the story about the shoelaces, what's new here?

Perhaps they felt he failed with Gordon (see my post above). Sheer speculation, of course...

We found out that this whole mess is Jamil Northcuttt's fault (j/k)


Heck, if it was Dennnis Northcutt we could at least say he dropped the ball on this one.

I liked Shea. Good post, great read. Thanks for this.

The article was interesting and well written. It seems Shea agrees with Bernie and to some degree what others have written.

If I'm an executive and two underlings are pointing at each other and saying "It was his fault" and one of those men in Josh Gordon, it would take an O.J. Simpson or a Don Quixote on the other end before I don't blame Gordon.

j/c:

I enjoyed the article, but I have a bit of a different take.

Why does anyone w/the Browns NEED to earn Josh's trust? Do your employers have to earn your trust? Or, do you have to earn theirs?

Gordon was getting paid more money than most ever see. he was afforded multiple opportunities. He actually got busted while Shea was there.

I look at it like this: if you are getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, it is your JOB to do all you can to perform at your highest level and stay clean.

No one has to earn your trust. You need to earn theirs.

Also, I wanna know about the radio station. Which station? Do the Browns really control a radio station? And did they really bad-mouth Hoyer on air?

If there is any truth to that........it's even worse than I thought.

Never cut the guy. IF and that's a big if...he makes it through this one year suspension....keep him because he doesn't count against cap or roster. Then, IF, he makes it through maybe we could get at least an 8th round pick for him in the 2016 draft.

Vers I completely disagree with your take. Gordon is a 24 year old with a 13 year old mindset. Norv and Chud were able to squeeze greatness out of him. I think it really goes back to the Jimmy Johnson philosophy of findng a way to extract that greatness from the player. If a guy doesnt have it in him, then u dont put up with any of it but if he does, its the coaches job to figure out how to reach him.

I have seen some guys that you yell at and they respond instantly. Yell at me and you might as well yell at the wall, I am immune to it. Talk to me with respect and treat me with respect and I will return it in kind.

Gordon failed himself but the Browns failed to reach Gordon and thats on them

As I said almost one year ago when Aaron was fired

#859952 - 03/08/14 10:15 AM Re: Browns Fire Aaron Shea [Re: BADdog]
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This pretty much sums it up. "The mission of Player Engagement is to optimize and revolutionize the personal and professional growth of football players through continuous guidance and support before, during and beyond their NFL experience. The unique needs of our players are met through five areas of programming: Career Development, Career Transition, Continuing Education, Financial Education and Player Assistance and Counseling Services.

NFL Player Engagement prepares and supports players mentally, emotionally and physically for life on the gridiron and after their NFL experience. Utilizing programs such as NFL Prep, NFL Life, and NFL Next, the NFL Player Engagement department assists players in adjusting to life within the NFL, while challenging them to prepare for their post NFL career. "

Aaron was very well liked and respected by the players. It's a shame that the Browns let him go
_________________________
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.

There are only 7 rounds.. do you know something we don't or were you just kidding around?

Why would it embarrass the Browns? For what, because the protected their investment and because the gave the kid more chances?

Might be able to land The Last Man Taken for him if we handle it well enough. Mr. Irrelevant: That intrigues me every year.

We are beyond "messaging" to Josh. He is dead in the NFL waters for now and beyond it. Seems like we had accountability forced on us with the choices he made.

I hope this helps him as an individual. But lock him into this set of conditions. And take action to replace him.

The show is Cleveland Browns Daily on WKNR; yes it is run by the Browns. It is truly cringeworthy radio. The team could be 1-14 and headed into the final game and Nathan Zegura would have you believe a Super Bowl is right around the corner.

There's less propaganda on a North Korean radio broadcast.

I disagree with this. Zegura has been highly critical of Gilbert. He constantly complains (even to this day) that the Browns didn't draft "Theodore Bridgewater." He has been critical of Terrance West even when he plays well because he prefers Crowell. He complained for months in-season that Crowell wasn't the feature back. He opined, along with almost everyone else, that Manziel needed to be put in after the Buffalo game (which everyone seems to forget he came in and played well.) He then relented and criticized the coaches for bringing in Manziel when he clearly wasn't ready. He was critical of Hoyer because, frankly, Hoyer was terrible in his last few starts. He was calling out Athyba Rubin all year for not playing up to par. It's really not a homer show, despite what one would think being actually broadcast from inside Browns' HQ in Berea.

What has made the show cringeworthy is Matt Wilhelm coming on board. He has interesting takes from a player's perspective but I swear you could make a college drinking game out of "how many times is Wilhelm going to use words he doesn't understand in today's broadcast?"

The show is played from 1-3 Eastern on 850 AM ESPN Cleveland and also live broadcast on clevelandbrowns.com. The segments are uploaded commercial free later in the day to the team's website as to Vers's question.

And I'll add that the radio show is actually on-air at Berea HQ. They have a radio booth room (for a lack of a better word)inside the facility.

WKNR is not owned by the Browns but the show is.

At the time Shea was released wasn't it because there were leaks to the media and it was said that Shea was telling the media things that were not supposed to be out there?

Yeah, I seem to remember that floating around.. Never found out if it was true or not. Probably never will

Haha. I always think the same thing about Je'Rod Cherry on the RBS. I think he just throws out random big words he may have heard before. Always mispronounces the word too.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. At some point, being fooled over and over does become embarrassing.

Who said the Browns control WKNR? I simply stated the Browns control Cleveland Browns Daily which airs on WKNR.