After being suspended five separate times by the NFL, Josh Gordon is hoping the league will give him one more chance to play football. According to NFL.com, the 29-year-old receiver has submitted a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell asking to be reinstated. Gordon has been out of the league since December when the NFL hit him with an indefinite suspension for violating the league's policies on performance-enhancing drugs and substances of abuse. At the time of the suspension, which marked Gordon's fifth punishment in eight years, the receiver was playing for the Seahawks.
Gordon, who's currently a free agent, played in 11 games last season with two teams and appeared to be on the right track before his December suspension happened. According to Gordon's lawyer, Adam Kenner, the receiver was suspended because he had a relapse after the death of his brother in November.
"Josh had a lapse because of his brother's death," Kenner said in a statement, via NFL.com. "That set him back. But since that time, he has realized how important it is for him to take the right steps, do what's proper and understand how to manage these issues. He's installed the right team around him to make sure he's on the right path. He understands he's been given every chance. He's looking forward to make the most of this."
Although Gordon has missed more than 50 games due to suspension, NFL teams haven't given up on him just yet, and that's because he's still an effective receiver when he's on the field. During the 2019 season, Gordon caught 20 passes for 287 yards and a touchdown with the Patriots. After an injury in New England that led to him being released, Gordon made his way to Seattle, where he caught seven passes for 139 yards over seven games.
The free agent receiver has been working out in Seattle this offseason and has made it clear that returning to the Seahawks is something he would definitely be open to if the team was still interested in signing him.
At his peak, Gordon was one of the best receivers in the NFL. During the 2013 season, he actually led the league in receiving yards with 1,646 yards while playing for the Browns. More recently, he's proven that he can still make big plays, and he'd almost certainly come at a low cost, which means he'd be a low-risk acquisition for any team interested in adding him, and the best part is that he's still somewhat young. Gordon won't turn 30 until April 2021.
