Josh Gordon Suspended at Least 1 Year: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Josh Gordon will be hard-pressed to continue his NFL career due to his history of off-field issues. After failing a drug test for alcohol, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the Cleveland Browns star receiver has been suspended for at least one year and potentially more.  

Continue for updates.

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Haslam Disappointed in Gordon, Doesn't Rule Out Cutting Gordon

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam commented on Josh Gordon, saying the team is "disappointed" in him but also acknowledging they "have no plans to cut him in [the] near future," per Tom Withers of The Associated Press.

Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com reported additional quotes from Haslam:

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We have the responsibility, ownership and management, to take great care of our players and get the most out of them. We spent a tremendous amount of time on Josh — everybody in the organization — and at a certain point in time, an individual has got to take care of themselves and do what’s right, not just for themselves, and I said this after the [Dec. 28 season finale], but for the team, the coaches, the people in the building, the fans.

Josh has failed to accept that responsibility. I hope he can get his life together. He’s immensely gifted. But he’s obviously going to be away from football for a year, so he’s not going to be in the building. So at least for a year, we’ve moved on from Josh. I wish him well. I hope he can get his act together because he’s a very gifted athlete.

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Even though the team has no immediate plans to part ways with Gordon, Haslam also didn't ruled out the possibility that Gordon may be done in Cleveland, per Ulrich.   

"That’s a decision we’ll just need to look at and make at a certain point in time,” Haslam said. “He’s out for a year, so there’s no huge hurry. We’ll address that at the proper time."

Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com provided more insight from Haslam:

Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer noted more from Haslam:

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"We spent a tremendous amount of time on Josh," Haslam said. "At a certain point in time an individual has to take care of themselves and do what's right -- not just for themselves ... but for the team, the coaches, the people in the building, the fans.

"Josh has failed to accept that responsibility. I hope he can get his life together, he's immensely gifted."

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Gordon Suspended At Least 1 Year

Tuesday, Feb. 3

Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland provided statements from the NFL and the Browns on Tuesday regarding Gordon:

Gordon now goes from leading the league in receiving yards in 2013 to perhaps never playing another down in the NFL.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports that the news will all but end Gordon's tenure with the Browns: 

Any team that takes a chance on his transcendent talent in the future will have to weigh the risks, due to how many strikes he has against him already.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller questioned Gordon's character after the report of his latest failed drug test:

A two-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy resulted in an abbreviated 2013 campaign, which made his status as the league's most productive receiver even more impressive. Then, a 10-game suspension to start 2014 followed, stemming from another failed drug test, and the Browns suspended Gordon for the season finale due to a violation of team rules.

Grantland's Bill Barnwell was among those who came to Gordon's defense:

Regardless of whether said substances are legal in society, Gordon has known the rules the NFL enforces and persisted in breaking them.

Even before the latest mishap, Browns head coach Mike Pettine hinted that Gordon was running out of chances once the season ended.

"It's not the ability, but at some point you get tired of using the word potential,'' said Pettine, via The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. "This offseason for him puts him squarely in a crossroads with us.''

There is some hope for Gordon to turn things around. He is only 23 years old and already emerged as one of the game's best wideouts when he fully applied himself. However, Gordon must show a dedication to football and place it above the recreational activities that have put his NFL future in jeopardy.

If the Browns weren't already considering drafting a wide receiver with one of their two 2015 first-round draft picks, they are certain to make the position a priority now.

Cleveland must do all it can to give Johnny Manziel, or whoever is under center, the best chance to succeed as it transitions to a new offense. Losing a playmaker like Gordon is a big blow, but it's one the Browns had to have seen coming given his track record.