Wiser heads have prevailed. With sure changes coming to the NFL’s substance abuse policy in the next collective bargaining agreement, it was pointless to keep New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon out of the NFL. Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decided to reinstate Gordon on a conditional basis.
“We are all rooting for Josh (Gordon) to succeed, both personally and professionally,” Goodell said in a statement. “Everyone shares in that hope and will continue to support him to every extent possible. But as Josh acknowledged, ultimately his success is up to him.”
Here is the official statement from the NFL, reinstating #Patriots WR Josh Gordon. It includes Roger Goodell saying he’s rooting for him. pic.twitter.com/mT6Qh3zmMt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 16, 2019
Gordon is a poster boy for the NFL’s antiquated drug policy. With marijuana legal in all but a handful of NFL states, it makes no sense for it to be on any banned substance list with the league. In 2017, Gordon told GQ that he either smoked or drank some form of cannabis before every game of his career.
Gordon came over in an early season trade from the Cleveland Browns last season. In the 12 games he did suit up for, 11 with the Pats, he caught 41 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns and appeared to be on the verge of a career resurgence until his old demons showed up again.
Josh Gordon may attend but may not play in the Patriots' Thursday, August 22 preseason game. But ready to go for the regular season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2019
Gordon was originally a second round supplemental draft pick out of Baylor in 2012 with the Browns. He’s made one Pro Bowl and was named an All Pro in 2013 after hauling in 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.
The news comes at a perfect time for New England, who was fielding a receiver corps consisting of chewing gum and bailing wire. Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman was their only reliable pass-catcher on the roster. Gordon will slide right back into the starting line up opposite Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Demaryius Thomas (if he’s healthy), or rookie first round pick N’Keal Harry out of Arizona State.
🚨 Josh Gordon is BACK!
In the short time together, the Brady-to-Gordon connection resulted in 11.3 yards per attempt which is the best mark by a Brady-to-receiver duo in the PFF era, beating out notable combinations like Brady to Gronk (10.3) and Brady to Moss (9.2). https://t.co/k0I5PDECJ4 pic.twitter.com/z1x671g6dT
— PFF (@PFF) August 16, 2019
