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Josh Gordon's tenure in Cleveland ends with trade to Patriots
The Cleveland Browns have traded talented but troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon to the New England Patriots.
In return, the Browns will get a 2019 fifth-round pick, while the Pats will get a 2019 seventh-round pick from the Browns if Gordon is not active for 10 games, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
At least eight to 10 teams called the Browns inquiring about potentially trading for Gordon, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson reporting, after the Browns announced Saturday that they intended to release Gordon on Monday.
The Patriots will pay Gordon the remaining $697,058 on his 2018 contract. Gordon will be a restricted free agent after the season, and New England can tender him.
The Browns on Saturday provided no details behind their decision to part ways with Gordon, but a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Saturday that Gordon broke the team's "trust" when he reported to the facility Saturday with a hamstring issue after being a full participant in practice all week. The source said there were other "mitigating factors" inclusive of current and past incidents.
Gordon's immense talent has been overshadowed by substance abuse that has derailed a promising career. He has been suspended by the NFL for most of the past four seasons because of multiple drug violations, and the Browns have been supportive of him for years as he has tried to turn things around.
Gordon, 27, missed three weeks of training camp this summer to undergo counseling and treatment, and he recently said he was in a good place mentally and physically.
Gordon has not played in a game that his team has won since Nov. 23, 2014, when the Browns beat the Falcons 26-24.
Gordon emerged as one of pro football's most dynamic players in 2013, when he led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns. Gordon missed the 2015 season because of a drug suspension and opted to spend 2016 in rehab.
Gordon sat out the first 11 games last year before returning for Cleveland's final five games.
The Browns selected Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft despite his background of drug use at Baylor.
In return, the Browns will get a 2019 fifth-round pick, while the Pats will get a 2019 seventh-round pick from the Browns if Gordon is not active for 10 games, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
At least eight to 10 teams called the Browns inquiring about potentially trading for Gordon, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson reporting, after the Browns announced Saturday that they intended to release Gordon on Monday.
The Patriots will pay Gordon the remaining $697,058 on his 2018 contract. Gordon will be a restricted free agent after the season, and New England can tender him.
The Browns on Saturday provided no details behind their decision to part ways with Gordon, but a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Saturday that Gordon broke the team's "trust" when he reported to the facility Saturday with a hamstring issue after being a full participant in practice all week. The source said there were other "mitigating factors" inclusive of current and past incidents.
Gordon's immense talent has been overshadowed by substance abuse that has derailed a promising career. He has been suspended by the NFL for most of the past four seasons because of multiple drug violations, and the Browns have been supportive of him for years as he has tried to turn things around.
Gordon, 27, missed three weeks of training camp this summer to undergo counseling and treatment, and he recently said he was in a good place mentally and physically.
Gordon has not played in a game that his team has won since Nov. 23, 2014, when the Browns beat the Falcons 26-24.
Gordon emerged as one of pro football's most dynamic players in 2013, when he led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns. Gordon missed the 2015 season because of a drug suspension and opted to spend 2016 in rehab.
Gordon sat out the first 11 games last year before returning for Cleveland's final five games.
The Browns selected Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft despite his background of drug use at Baylor.