Josh Gordon Still Waiting, But Browns’ Teammates Want Him Back, Too

Josh Gordon continues to wait, but now knows once he’s cleared, his teammates want Gordon back.

ESPN is reporting that if Gordon ever gets reinstated from his season-long drug suspension, Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan would welcome Gordon back with open arms. “If Josh is able to play this week, I’d like to get him out there,” Shanahan said Thursday. “I think he would help.”

Gordon was suspended August 27 for failing an offseason drug test for marijuana. Of two samples, one sample tested at 16ng/ml, the other at 12 ng/ml. The legal limit at that testing time was 15 ng/ml. Gordon appealed his suspension, and it was denied. He hasn’t been with the team since. Sources have told ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano that the new drug policy could allow for Gordon’s suspension to be reduced to six to 10 games.

The Player’s Association and the NFL have been in talks all week about the revised drug policy. If the revised drug policy was instituted at the beginning of the year, Gordon would never have been suspended.

Some reports have said a lifted suspension would apply only to those disciplined after testing positive in the 2014 league year, which began March 12. Gordon’s positive test is believed to have come a week or two earlier, meaning it took place in the 2013 league year.

The Browns have never cleared out Gordon’s locker, even though he was suspended.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Gordon is waiting, though impatiently, and still working with Jeff Sarchione at the Sarchione Auto Group in the meantime. Sarchione appreciates Gordon being there, but thinks he’s ready for Gordon’s return to the field.

“He’s thinks there’s a good possibility,” said Jeff Sarchione, co-owner of the Sarchione Auto Group that Gordon began working for this week. “He thinks there’s a good possibility and he’s excited about it. He’s doing such great things for our business, but we’re all in his corner saying, ‘you’ve got to get back on the football field,”’ said Sarchione. “He wants to get back on that field so bad.”

Many of his estranged teammates feel the same way. Browns player rep Johnson Bademosi said, “I certainly hope everyone will be re-instated. I want to win, as does everybody in this locker room, as does everybody else who has a guy out for this reason or that reason. We’re trying to get it resolved as quickly as possible, because it’s something that affects a lot of guys who are out and who are still in here.”

“Yeah, we have hope alive for that,” said Donte Whitner. “You always want that. He was our best player on offense. He was the leading receiver in the National Football League last year. That would be a huge boost for us if he does come back. If not, we still have guys over there that can make plays, and you’ve seen that against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.”

Added Joe Haden, “We want him back really bad. That’s a big part of the team. We just have to keep it going. Whatever the process is, if he comes back, everybody is going to welcome J.G. back with open arms. We’d be super happy to get him back to help the team. J.G. would definitely help us, but we have to focus on who we have right now.”

[Image courtesy of MyMindOnSports}