Justin Blackmon, Josh Gordon Questionable for 2014 NFL Season: Browns and Jaguars Face Substance Abuse Suspensions
Cleveland Browns fans experienced a terrific day one of the NFL draft. Their team picked up the most polarizing quarterback Johnny Manziel as well as maybe the best cornerback Justin Gilbert. The Browns also traded back to get a first round pick for next year's draft. But with many Cleveland sports stories, this too may have a bad ending.
According to ESPN, Josh Gordon could face a season long suspension for 2014.
Last season, Gordon led the entire NFL in receiving with 1,646 yards and had 9 touchdowns. Gordon was pretty much the only bright spot on a terrible Browns offense last year. Gordon did this all in just 14 games and on a team that was shuffling quarterbacks. Many people believe Gordon is a top five receiver in the NFL.
Unfortunately, Gordon has a past with getting in trouble. The reason he missed two games is because he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy. Two games appeared to be getting off light. While playing at Baylor, Gordon had multiple "run ins" with drugs and was eventually suspended from the team. Gordon will easily get an eight game suspension from the NFL at minimum as he's coming off a suspension just one year ago. This is a big blow for a Browns team that is finally moving in the right direction and drafted a quarterback in the first round. Who will Manziel throw to?
Then there's the Jacksonville Jaguars, who also have a wide receiver who may be in trouble this upcoming season.
Justin Blackmon was drafted by the Jaguars No. 5 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Jaguars put a lot of stock into Blackmon, who had 865 receiving yards his rookie season. Blackmon is only 24 years old, and the Jaguars had hopes he would be the receiver of the future. But, Blackmon, just like Gordon, has had his issues off the field. Blackmon has been suspended multiple times for failing the NFL's substance abuse policy.
At this point, the Jaguars may have to look in a different direction. Multiple sources have said that Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell is not counting on Blackmon playing for them next season. The Jaguars have already drafted two wide receivers in the 2014 draft in the second round, so it appears as if they are rebuilding at the position. The team drafted quarterback Blake Bortles No. 3 overall, and he needs reliable targets.
What makes both of these cases so bad is that neither of these receivers are even 25 years old yet.
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