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The Cleveland Browns have suspended Josh Gordon for the final game of their NFL season. The star wide receiver apparently missed the team's practice walkthrough and has been suspended one game for violating team rules. He will miss the team's Week 17 tilt against the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel also reportedly missed the walkthrough, but as he's injured, has been excused. With Gordon only playing five games this year, it also means that the talented receiver will be a restricted free agent after the year, rather than unrestricted, and raises the prospect that Cleveland could trade the star.
The Browns tweeted out:
The Browns have suspended WR Josh Gordon for a violation of team rules. WR Phil Bates has been added to the roster.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 27, 2014
Fox Sports 1's NFL insider Mike Garafolo also tweeted the news:
Browns announce Josh Gordon was suspended for Sunday for a violation of team rules.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 27, 2014
And went on to explain that the reason for his suspension was for missing the team's walkthrough. He added that it was "Unclear if this is the first such incident this yr."
Josh Gordon missed walkthrough and that's the reason for his suspension, source says. Unclear if this is the first such incident this yr.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 27, 2014
The suspension follows Gordon missing the first 10 weeks of the NFL season due to an NFL sanction for failing a drug test and delivering a positive result for the use of marijuana.
ESPN report that both "Gordon and rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel were absent from the Browns' walk-through Saturday morning, and the team had trouble locating them," a source apparently told ESPN's Pat McManamon.
But as Manziel is on Cleveland's IR, he's not required to be at walkthrough.
Throwing an interesting spanner in the work is whether or not this affects Gordon's status as a free agent in 2015, bringing up the idea that the Browns could cut bait with the troublesome, but clearly amazingly talented wide receiver.
As the ESPN report says, "By being active for only five games, Gordon fell one game short of the requirement for an accredited season, meaning he will be a restricted free agent -- instead of an unrestricted free agent -- following the 2015 season."
The Bleacher Report's Jason Cole explained the situation, tweeting out:
NFL source says #Browns suspension of WR Josh Gordon will prevent him from being an unrestricted free agent after the 2015 season.
— Jason Cole (@JasonPhilCole) December 27, 2014
Expect there to be serious discussions/fight between #Browns and Josh Gordon over the suspension. — Jason Cole (@JasonPhilCole) December 27, 2014
#Browns are still debating whether to make it paid or unpaid suspension. If paid, he would become a UFA after 2015. If unpaid, he would not
— Jason Cole (@JasonPhilCole) December 27, 2014
#NFL source confirms #Browns WR Josh Gordon will not be a UFA after 2015 because of 1-game suspension announced Saturday (if susp is unpaid) — Jason Cole (@JasonPhilCole) December 27, 2014
Cleveland radio host Grant Paulsen would rather see Gordon go, tweeting out: "Browns apparently suspending Josh Gordon for violating team rules. I'd trade him. Let him be somebody else's problem. Team can't get right."
Browns apparently suspending Josh Gordon for violating team rules. I'd trade him. Let him be somebody else's problem. Team can't get right.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 27, 2014
What do you think? Is this just a move by the Browns to give them a year's grace to keep looking at Gordon? Or will it mean they're looking to trade him?
