Josh Gordon

NFL Reinstates Seahawks’ Josh Gordon

December 3rd, 2020 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Gordon will receive yet another chance. Three months after re-signing with the Seahawks, Gordon received notice the NFL reinstated him, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports tweets.

Another Gordon suspension ended his initial Seahawks stint in December 2019. Despite being connected to Antonio Brown throughout the offseason, Seattle ended up bringing Gordon back. He will have an opportunity to contribute this season.

The former Browns and Patriots starter will not be eligible to return until Week 16. He can begin taking COVID-19 tests with the Seahawks on Friday, rejoin the team Dec. 9 and resume practicing Dec. 21.

One of the most frequently suspended players in modern American sports history, Gordon has received bans in each of the past two Decembers for violations of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The league’s new CBA created a more lenient reality for non-PED drug violations, but the 29-year-old wideout’s case dragged into December nonetheless. Gordon is a unique case. The former All-Pro has been suspended nine times since his NFL career began in 2012. While not all of those bans stemmed from the substance-abuse policy, most did.

Several frequent NFL policy violators have faded off the league’s radar, but Gordon has persisted in his pursuit to continue his career. He and Roger Goodell were in communication lately, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), preceding the embattled talent’s latest reinstatement.

Gordon has not shown his peak form in a while, but he will supply Russell Wilson with another weapon as the Seahawks attempt to secure their first NFC West title since 2016. In 11 games with the Pats and Seahawks last season, Gordon caught 27 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown. His yards-per-catch average increased significantly, bumping to 19.9, in five Seahawks games. While Gordon did not finish the 2018 season, he collected a Super Bowl ring after averaging 18 yards per catch (40 catches, 720 yards, three TDs).

This year, the former supplemental draftee will join a team that has one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers. D.K. Metcalf has taken a noticeable step forward, leading the league with 1,039 receiving yards. Metcalf, Gordon, Tyler Lockett and David Moore stand to comprise one of the league’s top receiving stables entering the playoffs. Gordon has never participated in a playoff game.

Extra Points: Gordon, Brown, Thomas, Texans

October 4th, 2020 at 5:37pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

A pair of high profile players, receiver Josh Gordon of the Seahawks and defensive lineman David Irving, are both still waiting on answers from the league office. Both are suspended indefinitely, and decisions on reinstatement are overdue under the terms set by the collective bargaining agreement, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes. Gordon applied for reinstatement in June and Irving in July and neither has heard back yet despite the CBA stipulating a decision is supposed to be made within 60 days, according to Schefter.”David has done everything asked of him,” Irving’s agent Steve Weinberg said. “He’s been drug tested, he’s met with doctors and I don’t get it. Why have 60 days in the program if they’re not going to abide by it.”

“We’re baffled why we don’t have a decision,” Weinberg continued. “We’re at a loss as to why this hasn’t been ruled on yet.” Gordon has an agreement in place with the Seahawks, but can’t officially sign until Roger Goodell gives him the go-ahead. Irving is a free agent. Both have been suspended numerous times for substance abuse policy violations, and Irving announced in 2019 he was quitting football before changing his mind back in February. Both players are talented and still relatively young, and it’s unclear what the holdup is. Perhaps the league scrambling to make COVID-19 related changes has put certain things on the backburner. We’ll keep you posted whenever the league responds.

Here’s more from around the league:

Speaking of guys in trouble with the league office, we have an Antonio Brown update to pass along. The embattled receiver is dropping his countersuit against the woman who accused him of sexual assault, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). He also requested an extension to turn over evidence related to the civil case against him. In a follow-up tweet Pelissero notes that his suspension could be extended if new evidence emerges. Brown is now halfway through the eight-game suspension he was hit with earlier this year. Given his undeniable talent it would seem likely a team gives him a shot at some point once his ban is over if he can avoid anymore off-field trouble. Texans coach Bill O’Brien seemed to leave the door open to bringing in Brown a couple of weeks ago, but that was quickly followed by a report indicating that won’t be happening.
Brown isn’t the only controversial veteran the Texans have flirted with. Last week it looked like Earl Thomas was on the verge of signing in Houston, only for things to fall apart at the last minute. Now we have more clarity on what changed. “Numerous” Texans players spoke up about their desire not to have the veteran safety in the locker room, sources told Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. That apparently convinced O’Brien, who is also the team’s GM, to back off. Thomas has developed a reputation for being difficult to get along with in recent years, even though that wasn’t an issue early in his career with the Seahawks. He had a bitter divorce from Seattle, and was then of course cut by the Ravens after getting into a fight with a teammate and having Baltimore’s veterans ask the front office for his release. Houston played the Ravens in Week 2, and La Canfora notes that the subject of Thomas came up during conversations between players on the two teams. If he’s this strongly disliked by some of his fellow players, it could be a while before Thomas finds a new home.

Seahawks Re-Sign Josh Gordon

September 3rd, 2020 at 10:20am CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks are re-signing talented but troubled wideout Josh Gordon, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com was first to report (Twitter link). Gordon was hit with an indefinite suspension in December for violating the league’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse, but he applied for reinstatement in June. According to Fowler, that process is going well, so Gordon may be cleared for a return soon (Twitter link).

Most NFL fans are familiar with Gordon’s saga at this point. The December ban marked Gordon’s sixth suspension since he entered the league as a supplemental draft choice in 2012, and he missed the entire 2014-15 campaigns due to violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.

Teams continue to be intrigued by his undeniable talent, but he is getting farther and farther away from his tremendous 2013 season with the Browns, when he piled up 87 catches for a league-best 1,646 yards and nine TDs. The Patriots acquired him from Cleveland in September of 2018, and he produced pretty well for New England that year, tallying 40 catches for 720 yards and three scores during 11 regular season games. But in what would become something of a Christmas tradition, Gordon was suspended indefinitely in December 2018 for another substance abuse violation.

He was reinstated last August and returned to the Pats, who had placed an original-round RFA tender on him to secure his services. New England placed him on IR in October due to a knee injury and waived him about a week later. The Seahawks subsequently claimed him off waivers.

Gordon, 29, showed flashes of his old self in Seattle, and prior to his latest suspension, he expressed his desire to return to the Seahawks. The ‘Hawks reciprocated that interest in July, and Gordon has been working out in the Seattle area in the hopes of getting a call.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Gordon’s contract is a one-year pact that can be worth a little over $1MM (Twitter link). That’s a low-risk, high-reward flier for the Seahawks, who recently re-signed Paul Richardson to add to a solid WR corps that also includes Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf.

NFC West Notes: Adams, Gordon, 49ers

August 4th, 2020 at 5:08pm CST by Rory Parks

New Seahawks safety Jamal Adams has told the team that he is content to play out the 2020 season on his current contract, which is one of the reasons why Seattle felt comfortable sending a king’s ransom to the Jets in exchange for the star defender. And as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets, Adams says the plan is to spend his entire career with the ‘Hawks. He is confident that his contract situation will work itself out, and it seems likely that the two sides will commence negotiations after the season.

Now for more out of the NFC West:

The Seahawks are said to be interested in a reunion with WR Josh Gordon, and apparently the interest is mutual. Gordon recently posted a picture of the Seattle skyline to social media, saying, “Ima [j]uss leave this here and be quiet” (h/t Field Yates of ESPN.com on Twitter). The club is also monitoring Antonio Brown.
The Ravens and Patriots are reportedly interested in TE Delanie Walker, and Matt Barrows of The Athletic thinks the 49ers — who drafted Walker in 2006 and employed him through 2012 — would also be a great fit. However, Barrows has not heard anything on that front lately.
In the same piece linked above, Barrows says there is a good chance the 49ers use their first-round pick in 2021 on a CB and that the team could also invest some free agent dollars into the position. That could mean re-signing Richard Sherman or bringing in an outside FA.
The 49ers recently worked out DL Damontre Moore, per veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (via Twitter). Moore has bounced around quite a bit since he entered the league as a third-round pick of the Giants in 2013, and he appeared in two games for San Francisco last year before landing on IR.
In case you missed it, Cardinals OT Marcus Gilbert has opted out of the 2020 season.

Seahawks Interested In Antonio Brown, Josh Gordon

August 4th, 2020 at 9:15am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are monitoring Antonio Brown‘s situation and they’re “very open” to re-signing Josh Gordon, head coach Pete Carroll says (via Geoffrey C. Arnold of The Oregonian). Brown was recently hit with an eight-game suspension from the NFL, meaning that he wouldn’t be able to play until November. Gordon, meanwhile, is waiting for word on his bid for reinstatement.

The Seahawks are set to go into the season with Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, Phillip Dorsett, and David Moore as their top receivers. From a pure talent perspective, Gordon or Brown would provide Russell Wilson with some serious offensive firepower.

“What I’d say to you is what we always say because it’s what we always do and who we are,” Carroll said, in reference to Brown. “[Seahawks GM] John [Schneider] is competing at every turn. There’s never been a process, unless we just missed it, that we weren’t involved with to understand what the chances were of helping our club. He’s all over it. He understands what’s going on right now, as much as you can. It’s a very complex situation. We just need to see where it fits somewhere down the road. That’s all I got for you.”

Brown, 32, comes with some very obvious complications. He could also face even more NFL discipline. His eight-game ban covered only some of his personal conduct policy violations; the league could consider another suspension for an alleged sexual assault.

Carroll seemed to indicate that a Gordon reunion was more likely to happen. Of course, the Seahawks will have to wait for Roger Goodell‘s verdict before making a move.

“It’s not in our hands,” Carroll said. “Josh did a really good job with us last year. He fit in really well. He was part of this team by the way we opened and embraced his coming to us but also by the way he adapted. So we are very open to that thought, and we’ll see what happens. I don’t know. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen on that.”

Seahawks Interested In Re-Signing Josh Gordon

July 21st, 2020 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

If Josh Gordon is cleared from his latest suspension, he will have at least one known suitor. The Seahawks will attempt to re-sign the veteran wide receiver, should he be reinstated, John Clayton of ESPN 710 Seattle notes.

Gordon, 29, applied for reinstatement just more than a month ago. The veteran, however, has been given numerous chances to stay in the league. While the new CBA is more lenient regarding non-performance-enhancing drugs, Gordon’s latest suspension involved PEDs as well as substances of abuse. Just prior to the December ban, Gordon indicated he wanted to stay with the Seahawks.

The Seahawks placed a successful waiver claim on Gordon last year; they were the only team to claim the ex-Browns and Patriots receiver. Seattle signed fellow ex-New England target Phillip Dorsett this offseason but was linked to Antonio Brown for much of this year. Brown’s latest retirement may help clear a path for Gordon to return.

Playing in five Seahawks games last year, Gordon caught seven passes for 139 yards. This marks the former All-Pro’s first time as a free agent. He is one of many veterans in limbo. Teams still are not allowed to conduct visits with free agents, but Gordon must first be reinstated to join fellow high-profile veterans in that uncertain free agent group.

Latest On Josh Gordon

June 25th, 2020 at 2:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Josh Gordon‘s camp says he’s sober, clearheaded, and ready to resume his football career. However, his camp isn’t sure whether he’s been drug tested in recent months (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler).

Naturally, the pandemic has complicated matters. Over the last few months, elective surgeries and other non-life threatening medical appointments have been postponed, making it difficult for anyone to undergo drug testing. Testing sometimes calls for a proctor, as well, and that’s tough to pull off in the social distancing era.

Gordon formally applied for reinstatement earlier this month in hopes of getting yet another chance from the league office. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old has been working out in the Seattle area. If Gordon is allowed to play, it’s safe to say that he’ll have interest from teams. The Ravens – who recently ruled out Antonio Brown – could theoretically be one landing spot. The Seahawks have also indicated that the door remains open to Gordon after he posted seven catches for 139 yards in five games for them last year.

Josh Gordon Applies For NFL Reinstatement

June 18th, 2020 at 1:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Josh Gordon has formally submitted his request for reinstatement, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Gordon has been training throughout the offseason in hopes of getting back on the field. Now, the league must rule on Gordon’s eligibility.

Gordon, 29, has been working out in Seattle with optimism that he could be cleared by the league office before training camp. It is, unfortunately, familiar territory for the talented wide receiver. In December, Gordon was hit with yet another ban – this time, an indefinite suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. That gave him a grand total of six career suspensions from the NFL and it’s not clear if Roger Goodell & Co. are ready to give him an immediate shot at redemption.

Gordon spent time with the Patriots and Seahawks last year. His contract with Seattle has lapsed, making him a free agent. Teams can, in theory, sign Gordon before he receives word from the league office, as the Cowboys did with Aldon Smith. Still, teams are likely to wait until they have a clearer picture of Gordon’s availability for the coming season.

Last year, Gordon had seven catches for 139 yards in five games for the Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll has hinted that he’d be interested in a reunion and it stands to reason that other clubs will at least consider the former Browns superstar. Despite the hiccups in his personal life, Gordon’s talent will always tantalize evaluators. Several years have passed since Gordon’s exceptional 2014 season, but it’s impossible to forget what he achieved while focused and on the field. In that campaign, Gordon finished out with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games.

WR Josh Gordon To Apply For Reinstatement

May 21st, 2020 at 11:12am CST by Ben Levine

Count Josh Gordon among those who are looking to be reinstated by the NFL. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the embattled wideout “will be applying for reinstatement soon.”

Sources tell Florio that Gordon is “doing well,” and the receiver has been working out and is ready to play in the NFL again. The 29-year-old is hoping for a resolution before training camp starts.

Last December, Gordon was slapped with an indefinite suspension following his latest violation of the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse. Further, the league also flagged him for performance-enhancing substances. This was Gordon’s sixth career suspension from the league office; while the wideout has continually been given second (and third, and fourth…) chances, he could be facing an uphill battle this time around.

Further, if Gordon is reinstated, he’ll have to find a new team. As Florio writes, the receiver satisfied “his contractual obligations” to the Seahawks last season, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The wideout had a standout season back in 2013, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s only appeared in 33 regular season games since that time, including a 2019 campaign that he split between the Patriots and Seahawks. He finished last season with 27 receptions for 426 yards and one score.

Yesterday, the NFL granted reinstatement to Aldon Smith, and we learned earlier today that Randy Gregory was also pushing for a return.

Josh Gordon Wants To Play In 2020

March 19th, 2020 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Josh Gordon is hoping to break out of NFL limbo. Currently under an indefinite suspension, the wide receiver wants to play in 2020, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.

Gordon spent last year with the Patriots and Seahawks. In December, he was slapped with an indefinite suspension for his latest violation of the league’s policy on substances of abuse. The league also flagged him for performance-enhancing substances. This was Gordon’s sixth’s suspension from the league office, so he could be facing an uphill battle.

The new CBA, with eased language against recreational drugs, could work in his favor. If Gordon can convince Roger Goodell to give him another chance, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

Last year, Gordon had seven catches for 139 yards in five games for the Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll has been a huge supporter of Gordon and the wide receiver recently hinted that he’d be interested in a return, so that’s a situation worth monitoring.

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