After playing just five games since 2014, Cleveland Browns All-Pro Josh Gordon returned to the NFL for the final five games of the 2017-18 season after suspensions for repeated marijuana infractions stifled a burgeoning career.
Gordon handled himself well despite Clevelands winless season, proving that he can still be an attribute and has matured from past transgressions and at the tender age of 26, the lethal receiver has too much potential for the Browns to give up on him. As Cleveland tries to finally get it right this season with two first-round draft picks and high hopes for a new QB with one of those picks, they took another huge step towards boosting their offense by re-signing Gordon for $790,000.
Cleveland Browns on Twitter
We’ve signed four exclusive rights free agents Details ” https://t.co/70YQ4x8KDM
This year, hell play alongside Corey Coleman and the newly-acquired Jarvis Landry,forming a dangerous aerial attack and lots of options for whoever will be tossing the pigskin in Cleveland.
If you add Penn State multi-faceted back Saquon Barkley to that mix, the Cleveland offense has a chance to be something special and if that is hyperbole than at the very least the O will be seriously upgraded. Gordon can’t be double teamed and will provide the consistent deep threat the Browns have been truly lacking.
It’s been a tumultuous road for Gordon dating back tohis college days at Baylor. In October of 2010, Gordon, then a sophomore, is found asleep in the passenger’s seat of a car belonging to teammate Willie Jefferson, who also is found passed out, outside of a Taco Bell. Both Gordon and Jefferson were cited on misdemeanor drug possession charges after marijuana was found in the car. Jefferson was kicked off the team with his second such violation, while charges were later dropped against Gordon.
In July of 2011, Gordon was suspended indefinitely from the program by Baylor coach Art Briles for a violation of team rules. It was reported later that Gordon had failed a drug test, as it showed up positive for marijuana.
The Browns select Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft and he signed a four-year, $5. 3 million deal. In 2013, Gordon became the first NFL player to post consecutive 200-yard receiving games, ripping the Steelers for 237 and then racking up 261 more against the Jaguars. He was becoming a bonafide NFL star. One drunk driving arrest and four failed drug tests later and Gordon found himself out of the league with his future in serious doubt.
Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter
Browns Josh Gordon signed his Exclusive Rights Free Agent contract today. At $790,000 for 2018, it’s $74.71 million less than the 5-yr extension signed by Jarvis Landry on Friday night https://t.co/NuGfcl4wUP
He laid off the la la and fought his way back and this season he will get an opportunity to play 16 games for the first time since his rookie season. Its refreshing to see the Browns organization stick with Gordon through his youthful troubles and be around to receive the blessings of his talent now that he has seems to have his act together.
