The Josh Gordon Thread: Pats Officially Acquire Gordon for Fifth-Round Pick

I'm was pretty "meh" about this situation. There's A LOT of cons when it comes to this. Can he stay clean (obviously the biggest question), is he the Gordon of 2013 ? He's pretty much in the same situation as Michael Vick a couple of years ago, after his incarceration. After missing years of football, are the skills still there ? I'm not sure they are.

As far as the addiction issue. I feel for the guy. There’s a short documentary about Gordon on YouTube, about his time in rehab. I suggest you guys watch it. As an average sports fan, I can’t tell you how many times I ripped Gordon for being a dumb shmuck for getting suspended. I thought, get off the freaking weed.

But it’s a lot deeper than that. This is a guy who’s addicted to several different types of drugs and alcohol. He’s not a recreational drug user. It’s habitual. While watching it, I can see he’s a smart person
, really self analytical, who realizes he’s got major problems he couldn’t solve on his own, and he seeked out help. He knows this is his last chance, meaning the 2018 season. I’m rooting for the guy, he’s got demons (as we all do to a certain degree), and I hope he defeats them, even if it’s just for his own health. Not just a football issue.

Kind of reminded me of WR Brandon Marshall. I thought he was just a jerk. But he realized he had mental health issues, seeked out help, got diagnosed, and now he’s doing so much better. And like Gordon, very intelligent guy who realized there were issues. Takes a lot to look yourself in the mirror and admit the problems to yourself. I like Marshall a lot now. Sometimes you have to dive deeper into what’s going on instead of just thinking, what a jerk or what a dummy.

QuantumMechanic said:

This is Gordon's own words. He characterized himself as being drunk, etc. before/during games. He didn't say "I had a drink" or "I had a couple of tokes". He said he was drunk and/or high.

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And yet all of his coaches just let him play anyway....I am pretty sure a few coaches knew he wasn't sober as well...

In addition, Haley started him in week 1 after Hue Jackson said the Browns would 'ease' him back in.

This is why we are all excited here...the man has TALENT. You can't teach height, speed, and talent....the player has it or doesn't....

It's completely up to Gordon to take advantage of this LAST chance.

In addition, remember yesterday was basically Jags film review and rehab day...and today is the standard players' day off.

It is likely that Gordon has to figure out how to get here, where to live, and schedule a meeting with McDaniels or Chad O'Shea to get the playbook.

That stuff takes time....it takes me weeks to prepare to move to a new residence.

AndyJohnson said:

This makes absolutely no sense. You cite a failed move of a player you consider similar as proof it doesn’t send a bad message. How about the message “we didn’t learn from haynesworth” and now are allowing a guy who doesn’t show up on a “do your job” , “no days off” team. I guess players shouldn’t wonder if skipping training camp because they had something going on in their life would affect them with Belichick huh?

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Gordon could be a Haynesworth, he could be a Moss, he could be a Dillon, he could be a Johnson. That's the point. So what signal exactly is BB sending, other than desperation?

AndyJohnson said:

Seems pretty obvious. Belichick has said over and over he wants people who care about football. He just traded for one that appears to not care at all, or at least much, about football.

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Perhaps. Guess we'll find out.

AndyJohnson said:

I think I’m hinsught they are pretty similar chances. Again if you think we just traded for a haynesworth clone you shouldn’t be supportive.

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I'm supportive of BB taking the risk because I believe the alternative to be worse. Simple as that.

It looks like this slammed the door shut on the two injured guys. Jordan Matthews appears to be signing with the Eagles, while Kenny Britt posted on Instagram about how things are not going well.

VectorPrime said:

Belichick basically refused to comment on Gordon today and it’s unclear if he’s even in town yet. It’s weird.

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Isn't he always evasive? Especially regarding brand new transactions.

Sounds like the deal with Gordon isn't just about his off-field issues. Bedard was in Cleveland back when he was still actually playing:

He won't stick around very long here if he continues that sort of behavior, drug or not.

KontradictioN said:

Do you reserve a hotel room for your family under the name "Garagely" after you answered that question?

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Probably my favorite comedy. Thank you for making this reference.

Kenneth Sims said:

I must have missed the photos from space proving addiction has a physiological foundation and not a character or psychological one. I don’t claim to be an expert on this topic, but what I’ve read leads me to believe research is still in the “theory” stage.

Everyone wants to downplay poor character as the cause of addiction or mental illness, but the people I’ve observed who’ve made the most progress in their struggles have done so when something or someone has entered their life motivating them to be a stronger more determined person.

I suffer from depression. There have been a couple of episodes in my life where it was so overwhelming that I nearly took my life. My experience with battling depression is that it is when my resolve and determination are at their highest my depression is at it’s lowest. Character is not morality with which it is often confused rather it is the skills we all need to cope with life. Strengthening or teaching those skills is the best treatment for mental illness and addiction issues if you ask me.

Never thought I’d ever defend Nancy Reagan as one who saw her “just say no to drugs” campaign as laughable back in the day. But, when I look back at it with hopefully wiser eyes, people just saying no to drugs is really the only answer to this epidemic. We’ve spent decades and billions trying to fight it on the supply side to no avail. Maybe, we should fight it on the demand side. No reefer madness nonsense is needed. The facts of alcohol and drug use are scary enough.

I’m rooting for Josh Gordon. I was even before yesterday.

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Addiction absolutely has a genetic component.

TBR said:

Isn't he always evasive? Especially regarding brand new transactions.

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At a minimum Bill would typically say, "Yea well we'll see how it goes..."

He didn't even say that.

Clonamery said:

Of course you are being disingenuous. Your argument (fear) has been that Gordon will fail at the most inopportune moment. Adding a "what if" with Goodell is practice squad worthy.

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I’m not being disingenuous at all.
Of course i am skeptical of Gordon. Who wouldn’t be?

But as I clearly stated in that post this was not about Gordon at all it was about goodell. Clearly stating your position is the opposite of being dusingenuous. Pointedly separating the comments from any of my opinions about Gordon is the opposite of being disingenuous.

Ross12 said:

Probably my favorite comedy. Thank you for making this reference.

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Now you have me curious Ross, what movie?

rochrist said:

Sounds like the deal with Gordon isn't just about his off-field issues. Bedard was in Cleveland back when he was still actually playing:

I had never seen an NFL receiver loaf as much as he did in practice. He wouldn’t finish plays. He would walk back to the huddle and after dropped passes. And the amazing thing was nobody said anything to him (so he was being coddled again, just like at Baylor). In short, I didn’t like what I saw. And, in a team environment, I would rather have a less-talented player who bought into the team concept more than Gordon.

I made most of my comments on Cleveland radio at the time, and they generated a lot of discussion. It was notable the coaching staff didn’t disagree with my comments in the days following, and privately a few told me I was spot-on and were glad someone called out Gordon, because it sounded like they couldn’t ...
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He won't stick around very long here if he continues that sort of behavior, drug or not.

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He lollygags to the huddle....He lollygags down the field....He lollygags to meetings.

Do you know what that makes him?

robertweathers said:

He lollygags to the huddle....He lollygags down the field....He lollygags to meetings.

Do you know what that makes him?

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No lollygaggin'

Where are the local guys sniffing around? Gordon is radio silent...so many conflicting signals yet no concrete resolution. Starting to make me very curious.

Is there any way he is in the building with no reporter knowing?

JackBauer said:

Gordon could be a Haynesworth, he could be a Moss, he could be a Dillon, he could be a Johnson. That's the point. So what signal exactly is BB sending, other than desperation?

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You didn’t (correctly) compare him to moss or Dillon or Johnson. That’s where this big *********** started. His issues are nothing like those guys. Trading for moss or Dillon who were good players stuck in bad teams is not trading for a guy who is a bad haircut away from
another lifetime ban or a guy who refused to show up the last 2 years.
Johnson brought no baggage he was just stupid.
You tried to say haynesworth was the instructive piece of what the message is. Now that this has backfired you try to sweep in guys who came here under circumstances that were nothing like this.

Perhaps. Guess we'll find out.

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Questions that he cares about football = sending wrong message

I'm supportive of BB taking the risk because I believe the alternative to be worse. Simple as that.

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The alternative to him coming here taking playing time away from others then flaming out in January (I.e. the risk) is a hell of a lot better.
The chance that he doesn’t flame out however small is the upside. If he does what I fear it will have a huge negative impact on how this team will play in the post season.

Ross12 said:

Probably my favorite comedy. Thank you for making this reference.

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I’ve always been partial to the Strangers With Candy movie myself but Pineapple Express is damn good as well.

AndyJohnson said:

I’m not being disingenuous at all.
Of course i am skeptical of Gordon. Who wouldn’t be?

But as I clearly stated in that post this was not about Gordon at all it was about goodell. Clearly stating your position is the opposite of being dusingenuous. Pointedly separating the comments from any of my opinions about Gordon is the opposite of being disingenuous.

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But you're not serious about the Goodell crap so it makes it disingenuous. AND pretending that you aren't being disingenuous is also disingenuous.

Stick with the anti-Gordon schtick. You'll likely be right though as a Pats fan I would rather you be wrong.

Clonamery said:

But you're not serious about the Goodell crap so it makes it disingenuous. AND pretending that you aren't being disingenuous is also disingenuous.

Stick with the anti-Gordon schtick. You'll likely be right though as a Pats fan I would rather you be wrong.

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Wow.
So let me get this straight.
You know what I think and I don’t.
Making a post about how goodell might screw the patriots isn’t about goodell it’s about something else? And me describing exactly what I am saying is lying?
You are so wrong it may take you a week to find where right is.

I can't wait for the inevitable news that he failed a physical or flew to the wrong England which produces another 40 pages of pointless discussion.