Josh Gordon was a talent, no question about it.
In 2013, Gordon lit up the NFL with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and 9 TDs for the Cleveland Browns. His ridiculous 18.9 yards per reception and 117.6 yards per game earned him Pro Bowl honors that season.
But it was all downhill from there.
He was suspended for the 2014 and 2015 seasons and tried to make a comeback with the Browns, Patriots, and Seahawks, but it paled in comparison to his Pro Bowl season.
The NFL then suspended Gordon indefinitely in December 2019 for violations of the league’s policies on substance abuse and performance-enhancing substances. According to ESPN, it was the receiver’s sixth suspension since the 2013 season, and even more sadly, his fifth for substance abuse.
Watching him waste his talent was frustrating for all but he and his inner circle never gave up.
This past July, Gordon submitted his reinstatement letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Gordon, out of football for two years, was backed by the NFLPA and anxiously awaited the decision.
This past Monday, the commissioner reinstated the former Pro Bowler.
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Originally posted 2021-09-29 11:30:00.
