Browns Meeting With NFL Regarding Reinstatement Wednesday

Update:

Adam Schefter updates his previous report by noting that Browns WR Josh Gordon’s meeting with the NFL is scheduled for Wednesday, not today.

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Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Browns could look to trade the rights to suspended WR Josh Gordon before today’s deadline.

• According to Schefter, Gordon spotted in New York City today and will meet with NFL on Tuesday, which implies that he could be nearing reinstatement into the NFL.

As of October 3, Gordon has yet to officially apply for reinstatement into the NFL, but it appears as though he may have started the process in recent weeks.

A few weeks ago, Gordon opened up about his history of drug use and his other struggles.

“I’ve used alcohol on many, many occasions, Xanax on many occasions, cocaine several occasions, marijuana most of my life, codeine, cough syrup, methazine — very prevalent where I’m from. It’s what I grew up using,” Gordon said, via the Uninterrupted.

Gordon explained that he’s been enabled by others for most of his life, and mentioned that a Baylor coach actually gave him a substance he could drink before taking drug tests to prevent him from failing.

“I’ve been enabled most of my life,” Gordon said. “I’ve been enabled by coaches, teachers, professors, everybody, pretty much, gave me a second chance because of my ability. Not too long after I got arrested for possession of marijuana at Baylor, one of my coaches came by saying, ‘You are going to get drug tested by the compliance office. This is how it’s going to work, this is what they are going to do. If they do call you in, here goes these bottles of detox.’ He showed me how to drink them, showed me how to take them. That was my first experience with getting over on the system and the authority not really being serious because it was being guided by someone who was employed by the university.”

Jason Cole of B/R reported in August that Gordon checked himself into rehab two months ago in cooperation with the NFL and was hoping to reinstated in late September.

Back in May, the NFL denied Gordon’s reinstatement petition, but said he would he will be able to re-apply for reinstatement to the NFL later this fall, so this fits that timeline.

Last year, Gordon made the decision to enter rehab after what was described to him as a “slip-up” or a potential violation of drug and alcohol policy. Mary Kay Cabot later reported that Gordon checked into rehab because of an alcohol problem.

Gordon, 26, is a former second-round supplemental pick of the Browns back in 2012. He would have already been an unrestricted free agent had he not missed so much time due to suspensions, but the Browns hold his rights for two more years, given that he has just two accrued seasons.

In 2014, Gordon appeared in five games and caught 24 passes for 303 yards receiving, but didn’t score a touchdown.

We’ll have more regarding Gordon’s return to the NFL as the news is available.