The Cleveland Browns continue to dance around the topic of Josh Gordon, stressing that they are completely invested in the wide receiver despite a looming season-long suspension. However, they were not invested enough to leave his roster spot open just incase things worked out. The team signed several free agents off the market to bring in for OTAs and training camp. After recent comments by general manager Ray Farmer, could a trade of Gordon be the end result?
The Browns have known about the suspension of Gordon for some time now, well before it was officially announced. With that knowledge, they opted not to draft a leading wide receiver this year, confident things with Gordon would work out or the team would have no problems replacing him with depth. The issue is that Gordon was lone bright spot in the Browns' 2013 season and with no Greg Little, he is their star player. According to Farmer, the Browns do not need Gordon to win games.
"I would say 'how important are those guys?''' Farmer said, via 92.3 The Fan. "Name the last big-time receiver to win a Super Bowl. Name the last mega-guy. (Gordon) matters to me because I like the guy and I think he's a really good player, but at the end of the day, when you look at the teams that have these mega-receivers, name the last guy that won a Super Bowl?... There are none. The last guy that really helped his team get there was T.O. (Terrell Owens).''
Sure Farmer is taking the "no excuses" approach which is the right thing to do, but he fails to note that most of the league's best receivers are on failing teams. Tom Brady would love to have Gordon to throw to. However, alter in the interview, Farmer contradicts himself saying Cleveland is always open to trading for another receiver. This is the same guy who said the roster was set after the draft and then went out and grabbed three other free agents.
"I'm open to every avenue. We're going to unearth every guy that's available," Farmer said.
According to Farmer, the Browns were never interested in Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans because of his age. If the Browns opt to move on from Gordon, could they look to make one more deal before training camp? Danny Amendola, Mike Wallace and Denarius Moore are all said to be available. If Farmer is open to every avenue, he will make the phone calls.
