Josh Gordon - Pro Football Rumors

Sunday Roundup: Manziel, Marciano, Chiefs

August 10th, 2014 at 12:54pm CST by Rory Parks

As teams try to improve upon their performances from the first week of preseason games, let’s take a look at some links from around the league:

Citing a team source, ESPN’s Bob Holtzman tweets that Browns‘ rookie QB Johnny Manziel has overtaken Brian Hoyer in the team’s quarterback competition after Manziel’s promising performance in last night’s preseason opener in Detroit.
Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com believes the NFL will hand down an indefinite suspension for Browns‘ WR Josh Gordon, but he also believes that the league will allow Gordon to apply for reinstatement in less than a year; perhaps after eight games.
Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes that Joe Marciano will serve as the Vikings‘ interim special teams coordinator during Mike Priefer‘s suspension.
Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union writes that Jaguars‘ QB Chad Henne will continue to work with the first team offense, as the team wants to get Henne into a rhythm before allowing rookie Blake Bortles to get reps with the starters.
Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer provides five takeaways from the Panthers‘ preseason opener and projects the team’s 53-man roster.
Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune offers his predictions on the Saints‘ 53-man roster.
The Falcons are planning to get running back Antone Smith more involved in the offense, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune details what went wrong for the Buccaneers‘ offensive line in the team’s preseason contest against Jacksonville. The unit’s performance prompted Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com to write that Tampa Bay should trade for 49ers’ holdout Alex Boone.
Adam Teicher of ESPN.com tweets that the Chiefs will look for veteran safety help after the abrupt retirement of Steve Gregory.
Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star says there is a reason that Cyrus Gray is one of only 16 Chiefs players from prior regimes, but he wonders if Gray will still be on the team when the 2014 regular season opens.

No Settlement Talks Yet For Josh Gordon

August 7th, 2014 at 3:31pm CST by Luke Adams

As we’ve written in recent weeks, following Josh Gordon‘s appeal hearing earlier this week, hearing officer Harold Henderson will have to make an all-or-nothing judgment on the Browns wideout — either he upholds the year-long suspension for Gordon or eliminates the ban entirely, allowing the star receiver to take the field in Week 1. If a settlement is agreed upon by the league and the NFLPA, Gordon’s penalty could fall somewhere in between zero and 16 games, but according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, no negotiations on a settlement have taken place so far.

A compromise would seem to be in Gordon’s and the Browns’ best interests, since as Florio points out, even if he suspension is reduced to 15 games, that would allow the 23-year-old to rejoin the club by the end of the season and for the offseason — if he receives a year-long suspension, he wouldn’t be allowed to rejoin the team until next August. The fact that no negotiations have occurred could mean any number of things, but perhaps Gordon’s camp has confidence in its case, and expect the appeal to win out.

The NFL’s leading receiver in 2013, Gordon is facing a year-long ban for repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy. However, his lawyers argued at his appeal hearing that his positive test was a result of second-hand smoke, calling into question the results of his test, in which one urine sample passed and one failed.

If no agreement is reached on a settlement, a decision from Henderson is expected within the next couple weeks.

Browns Notes: Holmes, Gordon, Manziel

August 6th, 2014 at 8:49am CST by Luke Adams

While the Browns addressed most of their positions of need this offseason, wide receiver remains an area of concern, with Josh Gordon potentially facing a lengthy suspension. A Gordon decision is expected within the next couple weeks, but in the meantime, the club continues to explore its options at the position. Last night, we heard that former Richmond wideout Ben Edwards auditioned for the Browns, though he didn’t sign with the team. Here’s more on Gordon, Cleveland’s receiving corps, and anything else Browns-related:

A Tuesday report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggested that veteran wideout Santonio Holmes had drawn interest from the Browns, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link) hears that the team is not currently interested in the former Jet.
The longer the league’s decision on Gordon’s suspension is delayed, the more hope the Browns and their fans will have that his penalty will be reduced, and the crueler it would be if the NFL upheld the original year-long ban, writes Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.
Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report polled six NFL general managers on which rebuilding team they were most optimistic about, and five of the six picked the Browns. Per Freeman, the sixth GM chose the Bills.
Within Freeman’s piece, he also notes that Browns players have been impressed by Johnny Manziel‘s work ethic and his ability to quickly pick up the offense and the playbook, though many players on the roster still prefer to head into the 2014 season with Brian Hoyer as the starter. For now, Hoyer tops the depth chart at quarterback, as Pat McManamon of ESPN.com details.

AFC North Notes: Gordon, Edwards, Dalton

August 5th, 2014 at 9:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are bracing for at least an eight-game suspension for receiver Josh Gordon, league sources told Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. Gordon’s lawyers are going to the mat with the NFL, arguing in part that Gordon wasn’t very far over the threshold for a positive test and they will also note the discrepancies between the “A” sample and the “B” sample. The source added that the decision on his indefinite ban could take anywhere from one to three weeks. More out of the AFC North..

Former Richmond wide receiver Ben Edwards tried out for the Browns today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Edwards, who caught more than 200 passes during his college career, had his Pro Day attended by 20 NFL teams. The Giants were among the clubs that hosted Edwards for a visit in April.
Andy Dalton‘s new contract with the Bengals sets the middle class market for quarterbacks, writes Jason Fitzgerald in a piece for the Sporting News. Prior to this deal there were eight recent veteran contracts that were valued between $17.67MM and $20.75MM a season. The next tier of relevant veteran contracts were valued under $9.5MM a season. The pact could be bad news for the Chiefs’ Alex Smith, the Eagles’ Nick Foles, and others.
Browns free agent addition Karlos Dansby has no doubt in his mind that he can be an impact player this season, writes George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I’m the best. I’m the best. I’m the best. I’m the best right now, by far,” Dansby said. “Until I leave the game, I’m the best. That’s how I look at it, that’s how I approach it, and my numbers say the same.” Dansby produced 122 tackles in 2013 and 23 passes defended.

Josh Gordon Decision Expected In 1-3 Weeks

August 4th, 2014 at 6:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

Josh Gordon‘s appeal of his marijuana suspension concluded earlier today, but Gordon is not expecting to hear a resolution for between one and three weeks, reports Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter).

Gordon is hoping that his full-year suspension will be cut down to avoid missing the entire 2014 season. While the substance-abuse policy requires a decision within reasonable time, Gordon has a large window in which a decision could be reached.

Despite missing the first two games of the 2013 season with a suspension, he still posted one of the most prolific receiving seasons in NFL history, accumulating a league-leading 1,646 yards. That number was also the tenth most yards in a single season, even though he only played 14 games.

Even if a settlement is reached in which Gordon avoids missing the entire season, it is unlikely he will see the field enough to replicate the impact he had last season.

Josh Gordon Hearing Has Concluded

August 4th, 2014 at 2:10pm CST by Luke Adams

2:10pm: Gordon’s hearing has concluded, a source tells Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). While resolution isn’t necessarily expected today, as noted below, the substance abuse policy requires a decision within a “reasonable time,” per PFT.

11:18am: No resolution is expected today on Gordon’s suspension, according to Ulrich (via Twitter).

10:43am: After an all-day session on Friday, the appeal hearing for wide receiver Josh Gordon is expected to resume today at noon eastern time, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). However, Gordon himself won’t be in New York for today’s meeting, having practiced in Berea today with the Browns. Per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (via Twitter), Gordon will particpiate via teleconference while his lawyers handle things in New York.

Gordon is looking to reduce a potential one-year suspension to something lesser that would allow him to play for a portion of the 2014 season. If hearing officer Harold Henderson makes a decision, it will reportedly have to be an all-or-nothing ruling, with Gordon either receiving the full year-long suspension or being reinstated immediately. As such, it’s still believed there’s a chance for a settlement, with Gordon’s camp and the league agreeing to a reduced penalty.

Regardless of the outcome of Gordon’s appeal, his roster spot in Cleveland won’t be in jeopardy, with head coach Mike Pettine indicating last month that the standout receiver wouldn’t be cut. Nonetheless, the length of the suspension could potentially affect the team’s plans for its receiving corps — a lengthier ban may prompt the Browns to pursue more veteran help, though that’s just my speculation.

Sunday Roundup: Bon Jovi, Orton, Browns

August 3rd, 2014 at 12:58pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s round up some links from around the league as Sunday morning turns into Sunday afternoon:

In order to stem concerns from Bills‘ fans that the Toronto-based group led by rocker Jon Bon Jovi would like to ultimately move the team to Toronto if its ownership bid is successful, Bon Jovi himself wrote a letter published in the Buffalo News on Sunday morning stating that he hopes to make the Bills successful “in Buffalo.” As John Wawrow of the Associated Press writes, however, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told the AP several weeks ago that he has no doubts regarding Bon Jovi’s group’s long-term intentions to move the team to Toronto.
Bears‘ GM Phil Emery is open to a reunion with Kyle Orton if Orton wants to play in 2014, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. Orton, who was released by the Cowboys last month, began his career in Chicago and the Bears have twice tried to re-sign him since trading him to Denver in the Jay Cutler deal five years ago. Orton would represent an upgrade at backup quarterback over Jimmy Clausen and Jordan Palmer.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thinks that it is a “good sign” that Browns‘ receiver Josh Gordon and his attorneys are heading back to New York on Monday to resume Gordon’s appeal hearing. Cabot believes that Gordon will still be suspended, but perhaps not indefinitely.
In the same piece, Cabot opines that Browns‘ second-year pro Barkevious Mingo could produce double-digit sacks in 2014. George M. Thomas and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal similarly believe that Mingo looks poised for a breakout campaign.
In a separate piece, Ulrich writes that Browns‘ rookie QB Johnny Manziel could be gaining ground on presumed starter Brian Hoyer.
Scott Brown of ESPN.com writes that Steelers‘ head coach Mike Tomlin is paying particularly close attention to the unheralded running backs fighting to make the team’s 53-man roster, including Tauren Poole, Miguel Maysonet, and Josh Harris.
I posted an article earlier today regarding a potential contract extension for 49ers‘ head coach Jim Harbaugh, and Eric Branch of the San Fransisco Chronicle adds to that discussion. He writes that CEO Jed York believes he and Harbaugh are “on the same page” in their contract talks and that both parties will assess where they are after the 2014 season.
Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune writes that Buccaneers wide receiver Tommy Streeter has been the pleasant surprise of training camp thus far.
Herbie Teope of ChiefsSpin.com tweets that Chiefs‘ star safety Eric Berry returned to practice today.
ESPN.com has created a chart detailing the first impressions that the first-round picks of 2014 have made.

North Links: Gordon, Packers, Bears, Ravens

August 1st, 2014 at 8:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Browns receiver Josh Gordon‘s appeal hearing in New York today lasted from 9:30am to 7:00pm, and is expected to continue on Monday, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The 23-year-old Gordon is seeking to overturn his proposed one-year ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Earlier today, Florio indicated that there is a “slight chance” a compromise is reached in the negotiations; any such deal would presumably allow Gordon to serve a sentence less than one year. If that’s the case, it makes sense that the ongoing deliberations are taking a decent amount of time.

More from the NFL’s two North divisions:

The Packers fear that fifth-round receiver Jared Abbrederis has a torn ACL, a source told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Abbrederis, a Wisconsin product, was expected to contribute in the return game.
Adrian Wilson is already working with the Bears’ first-team defense, according to John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. Roles in training camp are often inconsequential, but this report suggests that Wilson, who missed all of last season with an Achilles injury, is healthy enough to dominate safety snaps at Chicago’s practice sessions.
Browns rookie guard Garrett Gilkey believes he’s a legitimate candidate to start, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Gilkey, a seventh-round pick in May’s draft, has been rotating at right guard with John Greco. “He’s shown to us in our practices he is a caliber of guy that is ready to be right in the starting mix,” said offensive line coach Andy Moeller. “…By no means has he arrived, but he’s certainly taking great strides to get there.”
Following the release of veteran Vonta Leach, second-year man Kyle Juszczyk is slated to be the Ravens’ starting fullback, and he’s made great strides heading into his sophomore campaign, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Chance For Settlement In Josh Gordon Case

August 1st, 2014 at 8:46am CST by Zachary Links

The hearing officer assigned to Josh Gordon‘s appeal case is facing an all-or-nothing mandate, so Gordon and the NFL could have extra incentive to try and negotiate a compromise ahead of time. There is a “slight chance” that a resolution will be struck by the two sides, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Any deal reached presumably would entail a suspension for Gordon that lasts less than a year but would still keep him out of action for part of the 2014 season. If one side is less inclined to negotiate than the other, it’s possible that the hearing officer will signal that it would be wise for that party to be more open-minded. A compromise could be struck during the hearing or after it, so the only hard deadline for the two parties would be the point of final ruling. Florio notes that the ruling is expected to come fairly soon since the substance-abuse policy requires that the decision be issued with a “reasonable time.”

The battle gets underway today with Harold Henderson serving as the hearing officer. Yesterday, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer heard that the appointment of Henderson was “bad news” for Gordon as a source indicated that the second-hand smoke argument “won’t fly” with him.

AFC North Notes: Gordon, Urban, Leach

July 31st, 2014 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

Harold Henderson will be the hearing officer for Josh Gordon‘s suspension appeal tomorrow, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link), and that may not be good news for the Browns wideout. Cabot says the argument that Gordon’s failed test was a result of second-hand smoke “won’t fly” with Henderson, and Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report echoes that sentiment (via Twitter).

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters today, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), that fourth-round defensive lineman Brent Urban suffered a torn ACL this week in practice and will be sidelined for the 2014 season.
Following Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods in 2011 and 2012, Ravens fullback Vonta Leach played a reduced role in 2013, and was ultimately cut by the team in February. However, as he tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, Leach isn’t retiring, and hopes to catch on with an NFL club. “A lot of teams and coaches have sent text message to make sure that I’m staying in shape,” Leach said. “You never know when you might get that call. I’m played in this league a long time. I know how this business works. You’ve got to be ready.”
After breaking down the extensions signed by Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Joe Haden this year, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap concludes that Haden’s deal with the Browns is the strongest and the most protected upon signing.
I rounded up a few Bengals rumors earlier this morning.