NFLPA filing could allow Gordon to become free agent

By Nate Ulrich

Akron Beacon Journal

Banished wide receiver Josh Gordon is fighting the one-game suspension he received from the Browns at the end of last season because it would delay his free agency.

The NFL Players Association has filed a non-injury grievance against the Browns over Gordon’s one-game suspension, ESPN reported Tuesday.

A Browns spokesman said the team did not have a comment. Neither the NFLPA nor Gordon’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, immediately returned messages.

On Dec. 30, Browns general manager Ray Farmer said he expected Gordon’s camp to dispute the one-game suspension.

“I’m pretty sure they probably will contest it, and from our perspective, it is what it is,” Farmer said. “And we’ll deal with that through the right channels.”

The Browns suspended Gordon, whom the NFL banished for at least a year on Feb. 3, for their Dec. 28 season finale against the Baltimore Ravens because he did not attend the team’s walk-through practice the previous morning. Browns coach Mike Pettine explained Gordon had “multiple violations” of team rules last season and had “been warned that a suspension would occur” before one was finally handed down.