Daily Dawg Tags: Josh Gordon is not coming back
By Thomas Moore
Spanning the virtual globe to bring you the latest news about the Cleveland Browns and the NFL – these are your Daily Dawg Tags for Friday, Sept. 30.
While the news was not entirely unexpected, it was still disappointing.
Wide receiver Josh Gordon will not be returning to the Cleveland Browns following Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins. Instead, Gordon has decided to enter an in-patient rehab facility.
“After careful thought and deep consideration I’ve decided that I need to step away from pursuing my return to the Browns and my football career to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility,” Gordon said in a prepared statement. “This is the right decision for me and one that I hope will enable me to gain full control of my life and continue on a path to reach my full potential as a person. I appreciate the support of the NFL, NFLPA, the Browns, my teammates, my agent and the community through this extremely challenging process.”
The announcement means that Gordon’s career in Cleveland is very likely over as the Browns continue to rebuild the team without him. Whether or not the latest move also signals the end of Gordon’s NFL career remains to be seen.
Here’s the latest news on the Browns and from around the NFL in today’s Daily Dawg Tags.
Cleveland Browns news:
Josh Gordon’s latest setback bigger than football
"The Cleveland Browns drafted four wide receivers in the 2016 NFL Draft with the mindset that while Josh Gordon could come back, it was never a guarantee. That belief was validated Thursday when Gordon announced he would be entering a rehab facility, just a few days before he was set to be reinstated for a Week 5 return."
Can Josh Gordon finally face the reality of his problem? (cleveland.com)
"On Thursday, Josh Gordon announced he was going into a rehabilitation center. If he actually is doing this because he admits he has a problem — and not because he was about to flunk another drug test — that’s a good sign. For years, Gordon has been flunking drug tests, and for years he has been denying he has an addiction problem."
With Josh Gordon news, it just keeps getting worse for the Browns (Washington Post)
"How is it possible that it just keeps getting worse for the Cleveland Browns? Remember back in the offseason when Browns players said things already were different under the team’s first-year head coach, Hue Jackson? So much for that."
Austin Reiter may be the next man up
"The Cleveland Browns have a problem bubbling up along the offensive line and may need Austin Reiter to help turn down the heat before things boil over."
"Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Austin Pasztor has been the subject of much angst for Browns fans. He has problems in pass protection. Can they be fixed?"
RG3’s forgotten quest for revenge
"The Cleveland Browns are taking on the Washington Redskins this Sunday without Robert Griffin III, who was supposed to be seeking revenge against his former team."
Terrelle Pryor eager to test himself against Josh Norman (ESPN)
"Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson said last Sunday that Terrelle Pryor is a bit of a hothead and needs to control himself. If ever that were true, it would be Sunday in Washington, where standout cornerback Josh Norman awaits. Norman, Pryor said, is “awesome,” a guy he has great respect for."
NFL news:
The NFL in London is working (ESPN)
"If you’re sick of the London games, too bad, because from the NFL’s standpoint it’s a rousing success and should only get bigger. The London series is a microcosm of the league itself. From a quality-of-the-product standpoint, it hasn’t exactly been dazzling anybody the past few years. But it’s thriving anyway."
QB index: Carson Wentz hits top 5? (NFL.com)
"This won’t prevent the deluge of hate tweets, but this top five looks bizarre in part because of small sample size. The rankings are now only based on grades from the last three weeks, which means each game played takes on an outsized importance. That’s why Jimmy Garoppolo and Dak Prescott are both ranked in the top four of ESPN’s QBR, while Wentz is ranked first by Pro Football Focus."
Can the Texans compete without J.J. Watt? (Toro Times)
"Today the Texans know they will likely play the remainder of the 2016 season without J. J. Watt. That means there is no hope for the Texans this year…Right? Wrong!"
Randy Gregory’s drug suspension lengthened to 14 games (dallasnews.com)
"Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory had his drug policy-related suspension lengthened from four games to 14 Tuesday, the NFL announced. Sources said earlier this month that the NFL Players Association had withdrawn an appeal of Gregory’s suspension."