According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the NFL has suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon for one season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Gordon lost his appeal and is now scheduled to miss the entire season as there is now no chance for him to return.
Gordon and his camp participated in an appeal session in front of arbitrator Harold Henderson earlier this month and he felt he has posed some serious issues that would lead to his suspension being reduced if not lifted entirely. Gordon was wrong on both counts.
Steven’s Take:
There goes the Browns offense, literally. Gordon WAS the offense for the Browns last season. In just 14 games last year, Gordon hauled in 87 passes for 1,646. That was over 40 percent of the Browns offense through the air. Over 40 percent!
His absence is going to be sorely missed and regardless of it is Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel under center, the Browns are not going have the same aerial attach from a season ago. They will now need to rely on the running skills of Ben Tate and rookie Terrence West. Their best threat in the passing game now is tight end Jordan Cameron.
How can Josh Gordon get at least 12 months and Ray Rice get 2 games? It is a shocking endictment of the lack of transparency shown by the NFL. This decision reflects poorly on league and those at a high level making the choices that guide the course and future of the game we all love. Disgraceful!
The Commish and the league answered you today. They know they made a mistake with the Ray Rice situation and now a player will get 6 games for 1st offense and be banned for life for 2nd offense. A little late, but step in the right direction.
Steven, thanks for the reply. Notwithstanding the leagues changes announced today, the offences committed by Messrs Gordon and Rice are at very different ends of the criminal spectrum (being a Brit I not entirely familiar with the State/Federal criminal justice system) and the punishments doled out to them do not appear to be representive of the public feeling on the unlawful acts of those men or bear much, if any, correlation to the non-NFL sanctions either could receive.
That being said a published tariff of penalties for players and to bind Goodell can only be a good thing.
In summary: Gordon stupid but unlucky; Rice stupid and very lucky. Transparency and openness better.