What About Josh?

I predict that the Cleveland Browns will welcome Josh Gordon back unless they trade or release him.  I guarantee this.

Actually, I know that Sashi, Hue, the team shrink et all will talk to Josh at length.  I've heard Josh Gordon interviewed, and he's surprisingly articulate and intelligent for a guy that gets in so much trouble.

In view of his history, and the paper thin ice he stands on, I doubt that anybody would risk more than a fifth round pick in a trade for him, and he's still young.

I have to lean towards his retention, and one last chance.  This is a risk/reward proposition.  The potential reward is the best wide receiver in the NFL.  The risk is losing him to another suspension, along with the player who was released to retain him.

Let's not get silly here.  That player will not be very good.  You're still not being analytical.

And don't talk about sending messages and other cliches.  Every player on this roster, including the guy who gets cut, comprehends that this guy set several NFL records, and would have to be psychotic to expect him to be treated the same as John Duh.

A lot of people (everybody who knows him, in fact) went to bat for Josh.  He will probably be given his last chance.

Now, the four game suspension is actually convenient, since it will give the coaches an opportunity to evaluate the younger receivers more thoroughly.  This makes it less likely that they'll make a mistake when that last roster move is made.

Josh is allowed to practice with the team, and will get a full training camp in.  This will be VERY helpful for Terrell Pryor, as Josh is a similar type of player, and Terrell can study and learn from him.  And even compete with him!

Risk/reward: If Josh Gordon stays out of trouble, he can change everything.  Remember, the year Gordon set those records (in only fourteen games), he did it with three different, not very good quarterbacks.  He was uncoverable.

RG3 is rooting for him.  Oh hell YES he sure is!  And if Josh returns to the field with RG3, I've got to upgrade RG3's chances of being great again to probable, and the running game of being dominant to certain.

...and of winning eight games to possible.

Risk/reward.  They almost HAVE to bring this guy back.

Stay clean, kid.  Stay clean.

Oops these articles by Tony Grossi just in.  The first is on Browns veterans who could be released.  I can't fault him, but doubt that Crowell is on a bubble.

He attended a Dallas officer's funeral, and appears to have discovered that he has a brain and what it is for.

The second article went more in depth into the Gordon/Browns situation than I have here.  It counterpoints my own position, but I can't knock him here.

I still think I'm right, but Tony makes some great points.

Thanks to Tony, I do know that he can play in the preseason.  To me, that makes his retention for at least that time-frame almost a lock, since if he plays well, he could actually make himself worth more in a trade (if they decide on that).