Josh Gordon, In First Game Back From Suspension, Leads Browns To 26-24 Victory


Josh Gordon made his season debut for the Cleveland Browns today. This may not bode well for other teams in the NFL.

ESPN is reporting that Gordon caught eight passes for 120 yards and no touchdowns. However, his presence was greatly felt by his Browns teammates, who missed him for the 10 games he was suspended. Gordon had tested positive for marijuana. Since it was supposed to be his third overall offense, Gordon was originally suspended for the entire 2014 season. The NFL, however, made major changes to its policy, including allowable limits in the body and revisions of past suspensions. This allowed Gordon to appeal the situation. The NFL responded with suspending Gordon for 10 games.

While on suspension, Gordon went to work for a car dealership for those 10 weeks. Fansided reports that Gordon hadn’t sold a car for the first few weeks, but ended up selling 12 cars during his suspension. Gordon would go to work early and stay late to get better at selling cars. Now, Gordon can return to the Browns and help push them towards the playoffs.

As it stands, the Browns have a 7-4 record, and are third in the AFC North, and surprising many people in the league with come-from-behind wins. Cleveland has won four fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins, including the victory at Atlanta let by Brian Hoyer. Now, with Gordon back in the fold, the Browns become an even more dangerous threat.

Cleveland.com reported that, at first, it did not appear to be going so smoothly. Hoyer had a rather lackluster game, going 23-40 for 322 yards, no touchdowns, and three terrible interceptions, two in the fourth quarter. As the Browns were readying for their last-minute drive, Gordon implored with Hoyer to keep his faith in the newly reinstated wide receiver. Hoyer did so, hooking up with Gordon on a timely 24-yard reception to help move the Browns into field goal range, where Billy Cundiff’s 37-yarder won the game for the Browns.

With five games remaining, and playoff spots becoming increasingly rare, the Browns have to find different ways to incorporate Gordon into the offense. The Browns did try, having Gordon attempt a pass that went incomplete. More focus will probably be made towards more end-arounds, or perhaps the Browns have something in their playbook akin to the Dolphins’ Wildcat offense.

In any case, both the Browns and Gordon are happy to be back together. Now, it’s time to get back to work.

“I think it we just had to knock the rust off and that’s all it was,” said Gordon. “It’s kind of crazy to knock the rust off in the middle of a game, especially a big game like this. That’s not what we were hoping for, but I think we’re exactly where we need to be. Moving forward, we’re going to get better.”

[Image courtesy of the Cleveland Browns]

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