Cleveland Browns: Sashi Brown taking the right approach with Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon has been disappointing Cleveland Browns fans for several years, but Sashi Brown kept the door open for a possible return.
After losing their best wide receiver in Terrelle Pryor, the Cleveland Browns could sure use the talents of Josh Gordon in 2017.
Hoping he will not only be reinstated, but will actually play in a game in 2017 is about as much wishful thinking as one can handle, but it is still a possibility.
There is a group of Browns fans out there who want the team to release Gordon, but that would be pointless. He is not affecting the team negatively on the field, except for the fact he isn’t active.
If he was a Johnny Manziel-like distraction, that’s one thing. But cutting a player who is essentially just a name on the roster makes no sense, especially one as talented as Gordon.
Luckily, Sashi Brown seems to feel the same way, as he expressed Wednesday at the NFL owners meeting. Per Tony Grossi:
Browns EVP Sashi Brown on Josh Gordon: We’re not in position at wide receiver to turn down a guy like Josh if we feel he’s settled himself.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) March 29, 2017
This mindset should be one that the entire organization shares. Gordon is not taking up a roster spot when he is suspended, so letting him go only allows for the potential of him helping another team.
Brown does state that the team isn’t in a position to turn down Gordon, but that could change if the team targets a receiver early in the NFL Draft. They would still welcome Gordon back, but he could be included in trades if the team decides to move forward with the new receiving corps. It would still be beneficial to see if he could return, but this front office craves draft capital and Gordon can bring some to Cleveland in a trade.
The smart thing for fans to do is not get hopeful about a Gordon return. It could happen, but the team is preparing without him, and his presence would serve as a bonus. No team, not even the Browns, would turn down his talent, but he has crushed so much optimism it is better just to wait and take his potential return one day at a time.
But this is Cleveland, so all of us are going to be all over any news that comes up surrounding Gordon. Let’s just (casually) hope he has things figured out and is ready to return for good.
Next: Complete 6-round Browns mock draft
That Corey Coleman, Kenny Britt, Gordon combo doesn’t sound too bad. Now if only the team could find a quarterback.