Josh Gordon is looking to get back on the field. Sources tell veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer that the Patriots wideout has filed for reinstatement from suspension (Twitter link).
Back in December, Gordon was suspended indefinitely for violating terms of his reinstatement under the substance abuse policy. We learned at the time that Gordon’s drug use went beyond marijuana, an indication that the troubled receiver was dealing with issues that were much bigger than football. We know that the 28-year-old was at a rehabilitation clinic for at least part of the offseason, and if he’s looking to make an immediate return to the field, we can only assume that he’s clean.
The Patriots retained Gordon‘s rights on via RFA tender earlier this offseason, and the suspended wide receiver was recently spotted training with Tom Brady. While the defending Super Bowl champions would naturally welcome back the talented receiver, he’d have to prove to be a “better version of himself” off the field than what showed up in New England last year.
The Patriots knew the risk associated with the ultra-talented Gordon when they acquired him from the Browns in September. The rest of the league knew the risks involved as well, which is why the Pats were able to land the former All-Pro for a fifth-round pick, with a seventh-round choice coming back. Gordon’s ultimately compiled 40 catches, 720 yards, and three touchdowns across eleven games.
Even after adding Cameron Meredith yesterday, the Patriots could still use some reinforcement at wide receiver. Julian Edelman is dealing with a thumb injury while Demaryius Thomas is working his way back from the PUP list. This leaves the team with a healthy grouping that includes first-rounder N’Keal Harry, former first-rounder Phillip Dorsett, Maurice Harris, Jakobi Meyers, Braxton Berrios, and Dontrelle Inman.
Fitting that Howard Blazer would report this story
Don’t reinstate him!
nope he has been given soo many chances and pissed em away . they should keep giving him chances
Yay another chance for a career screw up
Cody Parkey is still the king of missed opportunities though.
I think as long as it’s clear he’s never coming back if he’s suspended again, he should be reinstated this time.
Agreed. Someone has to lay it down that this is his last chance. I know it’s tough for him, but he should get a trainer to stay with him and watch him.
What’s the point? He’s just going to screw it up again.
This is his 4th time breaking the drug policy. Why isn’t he suspended for 2 full years. It sounds silly to reinstate him, knowing that he’ll play maybe 3 to 5 games and just do it again.
Eventually, it is too late…let him fry if he needs a babysitter
It’s sad, the world we live in, people just don’t understand mental health issues or the disease that is drug addiction. So easy to sit on here and say stupid crap like he he’s a screw up or he’s going to mess up again but that just goes to show what type of people y’all are. Instead of hoping for the best for the guy and hoping he’s made progress finally with such a terrible problem you’re saying he hasn’t changed and he will use drugs again. Let’s hope you’re wrong because next time the guy could end up dead instead of a suspension.
Seriously. I’m far from a bleeding heart but how can anyone feel anything other than empathy. Imagine being so addicted to something that even knowing that it could cost you your career, or in the case of the average person, your family or your life if you use it again and still can’t stay away. Imagine that hell. And then compound with having person after person tell you, someone who has addiction issues and most likely the self worth/image issues that accompany it, that you’re a worthless POS and you don’t deserve to have however many chances it takes to live a normal healthy life.
And I’d guarantee that the majority commenting on this site arent the perfect, straight edged, unflinchingly angelic saints that they like us to believe. It’s ridiculous.
What does that have to do with anything? Everyone has something. It’s just a little ridiculous that the NFL keeps falling for the “I’m gonna change” story. None of us non saints would get any where close to this many chances
Look, my parents died of a drug addiction. They tried OVER and OVER again to get off of it. It is very hard, and I think Gordon should get another chance. It’s bad that a lot of these people don’t have any sympathy for him, because it is a disease!
There’s a big difference. You don’t bring the skills to your job that he brings to his. If you had more talent than .01 percent of people in this world, you would get several chances also. Stop the hate, it does no one any good.
It’s not hate it’s the truth. Stop claiming his talent excuses his ignorance and stupidity.
It’s not a disease. It’s a choice
You’re not very smart
I agree with sunsetstripper! It is a choice! Everyone is born with the cognitive development to know what’s right and wrong!
Look, its a disease! My parents both died of drug addictions! It’s a disease and very hard to get off of!
Users are losers
Doesn’t matter who they are who they play for etc…
its certianly worth noting the mental aspect of addiction, and for that reason i cant fully fault anyone who has come to that point. that being said, he made the choice to use drugs in the first place, so he cant be absorbed from the consequences. There are rules in the NFL; he broke them. He’ll be able to rebab better if he focuses on that rather then trying to stick in the NFL. Playing pro sports is a privilege that few are lucky to have, and id you are willing to play your cards right, perhaps you can get both your career and life back on track because of it.
Well said!
It is easy because some of us have to work in cities where some dumb ass is shooting someone across the street as we walk to work because they are too messed up to realize the consequences…the stray bullet could be yours or mine because of a bad drug deal…i say good bye
Very well stated.
It’s difficult to draw the line between addiction and decision making. One thing we do know, is that Gordon has every resource available to him, to stay clean and on track. He has facilities that most every day people would never get for even a day. But in going through these, he still makes bad decisions while he’s clean, and falls off.
Eventually, there needs to be consequences. Every successful story about recovering drug addicts, starts and ends with that person choosing to do better and being held accountable. If Gordon can’t get there, then wave him goodbye.
Well said!
Gordon will enter the HOF as the leagues all time leader for “indefinite” suspensions
No question he has had many chances, but if he has worked to get back on the field, who does it hurt to reinstate him.
It hurts our youth who look up to these athletes and teaches them it’s okay to do drugs and if you’re good enough, you’ll get away with it.
Really? How about all these other athletes that do drugs, beat their wives, beat their kids, have sexual harassment and sexual assault cases, etc.
Last time I checked this article was about Josh Gordon who was suspended for drugs. I don’t think any of the other offenses you mentioned are acceptable either.
And those players should be punished accordingly but Roger Goodell and the NFL do not have uniform policies.
Let him play a season clean in the XFL or CFL. The NFL has given him plenty of chances. I’m not saying he doesn’t have demons – we all do in some form, but at this point he’s got to prove he’s serious.
Gordon should probably smack around some women and kids. Then he would not only get re-instated but likely be offered a contract extension as well.
I think for the reputation of the NFL and the health of Josh Gordon another year would be a good idea. Let him live a low profile life another year before allowing him to return and take on the pressures of the NFL.
The NFL is pathetic with their suspensions. Not a uniform policy and they pretend that they are “concerned about the health of these young men…” while they pump them full of opioids
Agreed! That’s my biggest problem in this all is that the punishments always differ depending on the person. Ray Rice beat his wife and he is indefinitely suspended. But everyone else who beat their wife or kid is allowed to play after their suspension was over. So odd.