Cleveland Browns: Two former phenoms on list of wasted potential
The Cleveland Browns have seen some talent pass through since 1999, and two players made a recent list of the biggest wastes of potential in NFL history.
The 2017 NFL offseason has been a great one for Cleveland Browns fans, with the only real notable problem being the loss of Terrelle Pryor.
Aside from that, the only other thing fans may be upset about is the fact Josh Gordon was denied reinstatement by the NFL. In case you forgot, he is still indeed on the roster.
Gordon was recently included in a NFL Spin Zone article detailing the 25 biggest wastes of potential in NFL history. He came in at No. 3.
As Browns fans already know, Gordon hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2014 and is associated more with disappointment than on-the-field success. He is still able to reapply for reinstatement in the fall, but it would be hard to imagine him ever playing another game in a Browns uniform.
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At this point, his personal problems are far more of a liability compared to his potential on the field. It seems like an annual exercise for fans to place their faith in Gordon, only for him to let everyone down, which is why he appears so high on this list.
Yet he was not the only Browns player to appear, as an infamous former Brown also graced this list.
Johnny Manziel came in at No. 16 on this list, as the hype he built up in college fizzled out as soon as he reached the NFL due to personal problems.
He may have never even had what it takes to be a successful NFL quarterback, but fans will never know because of his sad exit from the league.
There are some casual debates of whether Manziel or Gordon will return to the NFL first, but that is just a sad argument not worth the time of any Browns fan. Whether either of the two ever make a return, it is unlikely the Browns will give either player any consideration.
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Gordon’s value now lies in a potential trade, if he can even be reinstated. As for Manziel, he is relegated to the dark place known as a Browns draft bust.