[ad_1]
COSTA MESA, Calif. – Formerly considered a long shot to play Sunday, running back Melvin Gordon of the Los Angeles Chargers could face the Miami Dolphins on the road, said head coach Anthony Lynn on Friday.
Lynn had originally announced that Gordon, who announced Thursday after a 64-day lock, would be uncertain for this week.
However, the Chargers ruled out Justin Jackson's injury on Friday, leaving only two healthy halfbacks, Austin Ekeler and Troymaine Pope, on the roster.
The NFL has added Gordon to the list of exempt players to two games. The Chargers should put Gordon on the active player list before 4 pm AND Saturday so that he is eligible to play Sunday.
Chargers could also promote running backer Detrez Newsome from the Active Alignment Training Team.
Lynn said Gordon seemed in great shape during his two days of training, but he has reservations about the Wisconsin product playing for the first time in pads and dealing with the mental part of the game.
"We understand that Melvin has been back for a day and a half, so we have to be careful if he plays, how much he plays and even plays at all," Lynn said.
For his part, Gordon stated that he was ready. The Chargers had a padded practice on Thursday.
"I'm fine, man," said Gordon. "I did not really measure myself as I wanted, but as I said when they call my number [I’m ready]. I've crushed it. It is not like I was sitting and that I was coming in with excess weight or something of the kind. But it's not like I have a warm-up game to warm up. You somehow enter the fire. "
The Chargers go to Miami outnumbered. Alongside Jackson, catcher Mike Williams (back), kicker Michael Badgley (in the right groin), Hunter Henry's tight ends (knee) and tight end Virgil Green (at the back) Stomach) have all been excluded for Sunday.
Receiver Travis Benjamin (hip) did not train on Friday and is doubtful for the Dolphins game. Punter Ty Long will also be kicking for a fourth consecutive game.
Gordon stated that he had decided to return because his teammates had missed him and that the booty had not yet reached his goal: to get a new contract.
Gordon wanted a contract extension that would reward him for some of the league's top halfbacks, such as Todd Gurley, David Johnson and The Veon Bell, who earn an average of $ 13-14 million a year.
The Chargers had offered Gordon a new contract that doubled his annual salary to about $ 10 million.
"Nothing came out, so I try not to think about it," said Gordon. "Obviously, there is no contract, so it's obviously something I do not want to talk about, all I can do is come here and play ball and let somehow my talent will come true and determine my future. "
Gordon said that when the Chargers suffered their first loss to the Detroit Lions, he is surprised at his anger. And when his team suffered the second consecutive defeat, he felt compelled to return.
Gordon said that he had frequented good team friends such as Mike Pouncey, Melvin Ingram and Keenan Allen during his match, while staying in touch with players like Philip Rivers and Ekeler.
These intimate relationships facilitated Gordon's return. Gordon also stated that he had chosen to stay and train near San Diego because he knew Todd Durkin well coach and that there was always a square. It also allowed him to spend time with his teammates during their free time.
"They were nice about it," Gordon said of his teammates. "No one hated me or was angry at me, they just said: Do what's best for you, know we're missing you and we'd be happy to see you here again."
Gordon also said that shippers have reduced his fines by half. According to the league 's collective agreement, Gordon can be fined up to $ 30,000 a day and his check of close to $ 330,000 per game for pre – season and regular season games. he missed. Gordon lost nearly $ 1 million in base salary after missing the first three games.
"This has consequences [of] he said. "To think that the fines would be completely erased, I knew that if I found myself in this situation, it would not be.You do something against the rules, you pay the consequences, but I think that they did what they could to help me satisfy myself and feel better about living there. "
Gordon thinks there were no bridges burned with the Chargers. He is the one who drafted the project and he maintained good relations with the general manager Tom Telesco during the process.
According to Gordon, Telesco is one of the first people he spoke to on his return Thursday. So a chance remains that Gordon could stay with the team beyond this season.
"Business is business, football is football," Gordon said. "I've had conversations with Tom during this process, we've talked about it several times, he made it clear that he wanted me back, that he had no problem and that he understood the point of view of a player .. feel better about everything. "
Gordon also said that he had retained his same agents, Fletcher Smith and Damarius Bilbo.
"I was the reason I did not come in," said Gordon, questioned about his portrayal. "They wanted me to come and I was like 'No'.
"During this process, no one was really disrespectful, I think we took care of it. [OK]we simply could not understand things. But as I said, I think we have more time than necessary. It's not like I hated being a Charger. I like being a charger. They changed my life and I hope we can find a solution from now on, and I do not have to be part of another team. "
[ad_2]
Source link