Suspended Browns WR Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement

In typical Cleveland fashion, fans of the Browns have had to wait until the NFL offseason to hear the first sliver of good news regarding their dysfunctional franchise.

But this time, encouragement didn’t come in the form of a new coaching hire or big-name free agent acquisition, but in the possible return of one of the team’s favorite sons.

Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has applied to the NFL office for reinstatement, and will know his fate for the 2016 season within 60 days of his application being received by the league.

The huge wideout exploded onto the scene in 2013, racking up over 1600 receiving yards on only 87 catches, with 9 touchdowns to boot.

Gordon lasted only five games into the 2014 season before being suspended per his arrest for “driving while impaired” in North Carolina. During that season’s Super Bowl week, the league announced Gordon was suspended indefinitely for further violations of the substance abuse policy, and he hasn’t donned pads and cleats since.

The last the public had heard of Gordon, he was tweeting advice to the Browns from the comfort of his own couch, selling cars in a Cleveland dealership and even appearing in a music video for rapper A$AP Ferg. Tearing up the gridiron it is not, but the Browns are hoping his return will help fix at least one of their many problems heading into 2016.

Cleveland “boasted” the smallest receiving corps in the league last season. The addition of the 6’3”, 225-pound Gordon will help solve that issue fast, as will the presence of at least one talented wideout for the Browns’ new quarterback to throw to. That is, of course, assuming Gordon can return to his scintillating best after two years out of the game.

Provided the league permits his reinstatement, Gordon will remain under the Browns’ control for 2016, and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2017.