Times are tough in Cleveland. The Browns fizzled after an encouraging start and rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel took over for Brian Hoyer and fell on his face, then drew the ire of the entire sports world for partying over preparing. Then, troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for Cleveland's Week 17 game after missing meetings.
He allegedly missed the meeting because he was hanging out with Manziel. It seems like the Browns have had enough of Gordon's misbehaving, and could be on the verge of parting ways.
Definite feeling after #Browns GM Ray Farmer's presser that Josh Gordon won't be back. May take 5 min. into their staff meetings next week.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) December 30, 2014
It wouldn't be all that surprising. Despite his enormous talent, Gordon failed to score a touchdown this year, just one season after leading the NFL in receiving. In five games (he was suspended for the first 12) Gordon caught 24 passes for 303 yards. It was hardly impressive, and will surely cost him draft spots with the depth that will be present come 2015 draft season.
Does this mean that smart owners will be getting themselves a steal?
Cleveland's hot start to the season without Gordon featured steady, but unspectacular play from Hoyer. He has thrown for two or more touchdowns only twice this season, and reached 300 or more yards just three times. He is an average to below-average passer. When he was replaced by Manziel, Gordon was forced to work with a clearly below-average passer. Maybe Johnny Football will evolve into a nice player, but the 2014 version of him was not ready for primetime.
Last season, Gordon put up elite stats catching passes from a combination of Hoyer (three starts), Brandon Weeden (five starts), and Jason Campbell (eight starts). That's hardly a murderer's row, and quite honestly, his ridiculous numbers are a testament to his talent.
With Gordon in the zone like he was in 2013, what could he have done with a better quarterback? Examples of quality receivers exploding with good quarterbacks litter the league. Check out Eric Decker's stats with Peyton Manning in Denver last season, and compare them to his first year with Geno Smith/Michael Vick and the Jets.
Brandon Marshall's career as an elite fantasy receiver seemed finished in Miami before he hooked back up with Jay Cutler in Chicago.
The Browns may be doing Gordon a favor if they release him. It's unclear where they go from here at quarterback. Brian Hoyer may get an opportunity to start next season, while it's likely too early to ditch Manziel. They burned up a first-round pick to take him this summer and its rare for a team to give up on such a big investment after seeing him play for just two starts.
Heading to just about any other team aside from perhaps the Titans or Jets would represent an upgrade at QB, and likely mean a return to the elite category for Gordon. If the Browns cut Gordon, and he finds himself a quality passer, expect Top 10 results.
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