On Thursday, Cleveland Browns Head Coach Hue Jackson and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown discussed wide receiver Josh Gordon's return to the team and how the team plans to give the player a fresh start.
Brown said Gordon is excited to be back and the team is glad to have him again. He said getting Gordon back into the structure and with his teammates in the building will be healthy for the wide receiver.
"I’m not going to get into the details of the conversation, but certainly welcomed him back and set the expectations for his being here," Brown said during a press conference. "Certainly, showed our support for him and wanted to make sure we understand how we can help him. It was a quick turn. We got word from the league and he showed up here less than 24 hours later. We’re doing our best. We’ll continue to get a handle on the situation and we’ll work with Josh through that.”
According to Brown, the team was able to speak with the Browns' player engagement department to understand more about the meeting between Gordon and NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell and what was taken away from that session. The team was also able to chat with Gordon about what he wants to do with his second chance with the Browns.
"If the message from Josh and the pledge from Josh wasn’t consistent with what we wanted to see from him, we would’ve made a different decision," Brown said. "That wasn’t the case. He in earnest wants to make the most of this opportunity, and he knows his situation. We’re going to get around him and give him the opportunity.”
Jackson said now the team will find out if they can rely on Gordon and will hold him accountable for what he needs to do after his return.
"We understand that the league has expectations for him, and we do, too. We shared those with him, and I truly believe that he wants to make it right, as well," Jackson said. "What’s important – I think you guys know how I kind of go about it – is his slate’s clean with me. I don’t have a lot of history with Josh that way, but his history is preceding him. I think he knows that. I think the only way to deal with a player in these situations is to kind of hit the restart button for him and he has to go do it. Like I said, the league has said what their expectations are. We have set what our expectations are. We’ve laid it out, and I think that it’s crystal clear what needs to happen as we move forward.”
Jackson also said Gordon's return to the team while injured was not a surprise and the Browns will put a plan in place to manage him as they move forward.
Jackson made a point to say the entire Browns team and staff will help Gordon out and lift each other up to be the best team they can be moving forward.
