Despite confidence that his appeal will be reduced from 16 games, the Cleveland Browns and Josh Gordon are preparing for a suspension that will last “at least” eight games.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the Browns and Gordon are optimistic their will be a reduction to the suspension, but they aren't holding their breath that it will be a change of more than eight games.

“If he wins, he'll resume his career without interruption, and if he loses, he'll be banished from the team and the league for at least a year.

But the two sides can also hammer out a settlement, and that's what the Browns are hoping for. Realistically, the best-case scenario would probably be about eight games, a source said.

But the Browns certainly aren't counting on it. They know that no NFL player has ever won an appeal based on second-hand smoke and that Gordon will be hard-pressed to end up with anything less than the indefinite ban.”

Gordon is facing a season-long suspension for failing a drug yest, but his defense is that it was a positive from secondhand smoke. Gordon has hired a top-flight defense team that has a reputation for getting suspensions reduced for NFL players.

Despite playing in only 14 games, Gordon caught 87 balls for a league high 1646 yards with nine touchdowns. Gordon is seen as one of the brightest young stars in the NFL, but his frequent off the field issues could cut that promising career short.

[Cleveland.com]

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