Rumor: Browns will look to trade or release Josh Gordon

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly not moved from their position that Josh Gordon’s time in Cleveland is done if he is ever reinstated by the league.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is reportedly under the impression that the NFL will make a ruling on his bid to be reinstated from his latest suspension sometime near or after the 2017 NFL Draft.

Gordon, who has not played in a regular-season game since late in 2014, is working out in Florida while waiting for the NFL to act on his petition to return to the league, according to ESPN:

"Gordon began the process of applying for reinstatement earlier this month, and sources said the expectation is that the NFL will make a decision by late April or early May. There’s no guarantee of reinstatement, considering Gordon’s history, but one source close to Gordon said he “embraces his role in his poor decision-making, which is half the battle.”"

That news set off another round of “the Browns should give him another chance” because “this time it will be different” from some Browns fans, who still seem to think that Gordon’s 2013 season happened just yesterday, while ignoring that he has only played in five of Cleveland’s last 48 games because of repeated suspensions.

Related: Time to accept that Josh Gordon is not coming back

Gordon was poised to potentially return from his latest suspension in Week 5 of last season, only to enter a rehab facility and remain on the NFL’s suspension list.

At that time, head coach Hue Jackson made it crystal clear that the Browns have better things to do that wait around for Gordon.

"“What’s best for our football team is that we move forward and move on. He’s not going to be with us and we wish him well, but we’re moving forward. We’re going to move on. Obviously Josh is not here and doing what he thinks he needs to for his life which we support 100 percent and after today, today is really the last Josh Gordon comment I want to make about that.”"

That position has not changed, according to ESPN, which reports that while the Browns still have Gordon under contract for two years, that will soon change:

"Gordon is still under contract with the Browns, but sources with knowledge of the team’s plans have said they intend to move on from the troubled former star wideout and would either release him or try to trade him if he should be reinstated by the league."

It is no surprise that the Browns have not changed their position on Gordon. There is no reason to believe that they can rely on him if he is reinstated and reliability is just as important of a trait as talent.

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There is also the misguided notion that simply because Gordon had one good season in 2013 that he will, of course, pick up right where he left off.

That conveniently overlooks the fact that he was not good when he returned from his suspension in 2014, and has done nothing since then.

The odds of Gordon coming back after almost three years away from the game and playing at a high level are equal to the odds of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady playing at a high level for “three to four years” after turning 40.

Basically, it’s not happening.

We’ve always hoped for the best for Gordon as he has struggled with his demons, and the best news from the ESPN story is that he is reportedly accepting his role in his problems. Gordon has never come off as a bad person, but rather someone who makes bad decisions or is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Hopefully this latest news truly means that Gordon is another step toward pulling his life together.

Next: Corey Davis should be on Browns draft radar

It’s just not going to happen in Cleveland.