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Josh Gordon
troubled tenure with the
Browns Cleveland
has finished.
The team is no longer going to help him. He dropped them for the last time.
The Browns announced Saturday night that they were planning to release the old
Pro Bowl
wide receiver, whose immense talent was overshadowed by addiction that derailed a promising career.
The startling news came just hours after the Browns said Gordon would miss Sunday's game in New Orleans with a mysterious hamstring injury. Gordon was suspended by the
NFL
for most of the past four seasons due to multiple drug violations, and the Browns have supported the 27-year-old for years while he was trying to pull himself together.
Not anymore.
"This afternoon, we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we were going to release him on Monday," said Executive Director John Dorsey in a statement. "Over the last six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally, and they wanted the best for him.Unfortunately, we have reached a point where we think it's best to separate us. " Josh well. "
The team did not provide any details on what prompted their decision to separate from Gordon. He went to the team's headquarters earlier in the day and the spokesman said that Gordon had been evaluated by doctors and that the decision had been made to keep him at home because hamstrings.
Gordon posted a message on his Instagram account thanking the city of Cleveland.
"This place will always be like home," Gordon said. "I'm extremely honored and blessed to grow up and start a life among a group of such passionate and motivated individuals." It was a hell of a journey with you guys. </ P> <p> I wish you all except the best.
Gordon went on to thank the Browns for "having me with them, I will never forget them here, same book, next chapter."
He ended the message with, "P.S. Someone needs a deep threat WR ??"
It is unclear what its imminent release means for Gordon's future. Gordon was participating in the league's addiction program and if he failed another screening test he could face more discipline.
It is possible that the Browns are trying to exchange Gordon before Monday so they can recover something for a player who wasted his huge potential. If Cleveland releases Gordon, he will be a free agent and will be able to sign anywhere.
Losing Gordon is a blow to the Cleveland offensive. The Browns have receivers Jarvis Landry, rookie Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins, but none of them represent the same threat in depth as the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Gordon who has a breakaway speed.
The Browns had negotiations with the former Dallas star
Dez Bryant
but the parties have not been able to reach an agreement.
Gordon missed three weeks of training camp this summer for counseling and treatment, and recently said he was well placed mentally and physically.
Gordon participated in last week's opener against Pittsburgh, his first appearance in a Week 1 match since 2012, when he was a rookie.
On Wednesday, Gordon, who played 69 times last week, said he was happy to have the first game behind him.
saints
.
"Physically, I felt good," he said. "It was good to have this experience and feeling under me, especially overtime, the weather and everything, the amount of snaps and reps, it's good for my body to feel that. feel good now, play, it was just good to see that my engine was at a decent level at the end of the game. "
Gordon was to play a bigger role this week against the Saints after being targeted three times in a 21-21 draw against
Steelers
. He caught a 17-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but was mostly used as a decoy.
Gordon started the match despite the coach
Hue Jackson
saying that he would not be on the ground for the first time as a punishment for losing the camp. Jackson accused Gordon's appearance in the first play of being a "mistake" and a "lack of communication," and Gordon said he was shocked to be on the ground.
Jackson declined to give details on the situation this week, saying he and the coaches wanted to "continue."
Gordon became one of the most dynamic players in professional football in 2013, when he led the league with 1,646 yards passing and scored nine touchdowns. However, he has been spiraling ever since and Gordon by the Commissioner
Roger Goodell
for all seasons 2015 and 2016.
He missed the first 11 games last year before coming back for Cleveland's last five games, and had 18 assists for 335 yards and one touchdown.
His teammates had been encouraged by Gordon's commitment to staying clean and changing his life. In addition to his unexpected absence from the training camp, Gordon had been a strong teammate and there was hope that he had finally turned the corner after so many setbacks.
The Browns chose Gordon in the 2012 Supplementary Bill despite his history of drug use at the university.
___
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