Browns again waiting on Gordon

NFL drug policy change could

result in star wide receiver’s

suspension being shortened

Associated Press

BEREA

Suspended Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon’s locker is filled with his belongings, his orange helmet hanging on a hook while he’s been kept away from the team.

Perhaps a positive sign?

Maybe not.

“We’ve just got some lazy guys in our equipment room,” coach Mike Pettine joked on Friday.

All kidding aside, there seems to be a growing belief that Gordon, a repeat drug offender banned for the entire 2014 season for another failed test, could have his punishment reduced or completely overturned if the NFL changes its drug policy.

Player representatives to the union voted Friday to implement testing for human growth hormone for the 2014 NFL season. They also approved a league proposal to significantly increase the threshold for positive marijuana tests.

Overall changes are retroactive for players suspended under previous policies, as well as for those in the appeal process. But no immediate announcements were made regarding those suspensions.

The convoluted Gordon saga has hung over the Browns for months, making it difficult to move forward and depriving the team of its top playmaker.

Despite being suspended two games, Gordon led the league with 1,646 yards receiving and nine touchdowns last season, when he emerged as one of the game’s top big-play threats.

And although there may be a glimmer of hope for the Browns, Pettine remains cautious.

“Just because we’ve heard everything and seen everything, until we get official word from the league and then start to respond, you don’t get your hopes up, it’s rumors and innuendo,” he said. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The 23-year-old Gordon, who was in an advanced stage of the league’s drug program, was suspended for again testing positive for marijuana. Gordon contends he failed the test earlier this year due to secondhand smoke, and his appeal was recently upheld by arbitrator Harold Henderson.

Gordon had practiced and played in limbo during training camp and the preseason. The league announced on Aug. 27 that he would miss all 16 games and his eligibility for reinstatement would be determined after the season.

Now, his situation has changed again.

Gordon’s case is further complicated by a DUI arrest in North Carolina this summer.

The Browns have remained supportive of Gordon during his ordeal. His teammates would love to have him back for any length of time.

Following practice, Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel said the reports about Gordon have been encouraging, but there are still many unknowns.

“That situation, obviously, is one right now that’s kind of in a flux because you don’t know,” Manziel said. “There’s so much talk and so much speculation about ‘what if’ of what could happen. But at any point in time if we got Josh back you look at the type of caliber player that does nothing, but only make this offense get better and makes us better.

“And I know for him, he wants to be playing football and as us being his teammates we want him back around here. At the same time, it’s a delicate situation and one that has a lot of certainty for sure.”