The Cleveland Browns have suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon for violating team rules, the team announced on Twitter Saturday. Gordon's spot on the roster is now occupied by wide receiver Phil Bates. Gordon was suspended for missing a team walkthrough on Saturday, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
Josh Gordon suspended by Browns
Wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended by the Cleveland Browns for a violation of team rules.
The more significant portion of that Tweet is that Gordon will only accrue credit for five games this season. This means that Gordon only has two accrued seasons to his name, as you need to play in six games in any given season to accrue a full season. The reason this is significant is because players need four accrued seasons to hit unrestricted free agency.
Gordon’s contract is up after the 2015 season, meaning he can only accrue three seasons now, making him a restricted free agent after next season. It’s worth noting that Wilson followed up his previous Tweet with another, saying that this suspension was “motivated by team wanting to delay his free agency status,” citing an inside source.
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Whatever the case, Gordon will now end the 2014-15 season the same way he started it: suspended. Gordon was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy at the beginning of the season, and missed 10 games after his suspension was reduced under the league’s revised drug policy. He was originally suspended for a full year.
He also missed two games due to a suspension in 2013, also due to a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Gordon has had a couple big games since returning, but will finish this season with 24 receptions for 303 yards and no touchdowns in five appearances.
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