Cleveland Browns: Patience with Josh Gordon runs out

For six years the Cleveland Browns have been patient with the often suspended Josh Gordon, but that patience ran out as the team released him Saturday

Taken in the 2012 Supplemental Draft, Josh Gordon has been a lightning rod for the Cleveland Browns both on and off the field. He led the league in receiving yards in his second season but has been on the field for just 11 games since then.

Gordon followed that 2013 season up with a year-long suspension in 2014 for violating the substance abuse policy. Later that season, his suspension was reduced and he played in five games. He didn’t make much of that second chance as he was then suspended for all of 2015 and 2016 — again for violation of the substance abuse policy.

The talented receiver made it back to the field at the end of the 2017 season, again playing in just five games and hopes were high for him this year after a quiet offseason. Things did get bumpy though once the Browns went to training camp.

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Citing personal health concerns, Gordon didn’t join the rest of the team for camp. He showed up near the end of the preseason though and ended up playing in Week 1. He even caught the game-tying touchdown from Tyrod Taylor.

Then out of nowhere, word broke that Gordon would miss the Browns Week 2 game against New Orleans. Things smelled funny as he didn’t travel with the team like the other injured players and Aaron Goldhammer of ESPN Cleveland even tweeted a lot (in all caps) was going on now with Gordon.

He wasn’t wrong as soon after Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Gordon was being released by the Browns. General manager John Dorsey issued the following statement in regards to the move.

It’s a stunning move that hardly anyone saw coming but obviously means something happened to make the Browns suddenly run out of patience — although nothing has been reported by the team or the league.

This franchise has been beyond forgiving to Gordon throughout the years and it appeared they would finally be repaid for that loyalty this season. Unfortunately, that won’t happen. With Gordon gone, the team will rely heavily on Rashard Higgins and Antonio Callaway to work alongside Jarvis Landry and tight end David Njoku. They could even revisit Dez Bryant in free agency.

We wish the best for Josh Gordon moving forward after this sudden news.

UPDATE: Reports are emerging now that Gordon could be traded, but will not be with the Browns any longer. Whatever led to the move apparently won’t affect availability.