Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh "Flash" Gordon...has world-class speed...can catch and run by any defense in a flash.
All of this of course is when Gordon is legally able to suit up for the Browns. Gordon, the Browns second round supplemental draft pick in 2012, has not played a down in the NFL since 21 December 2014. Gordon has played in 35 career regular season games, and has 14 touchdowns.
Gordon, 25, was suspended during his sophomore year at Baylor for marijuana possession, suspended indefinitely the following year, then transferred to Utah, where he sat out his entire senior year. In keeping with tradition, Gordon was suspended a partial season in 2013 and 2014, and all of last season. It took the entire offseason, and another failed drug test in March, but Gordon is finally able to put on pads, and get onto an NFL field.
Lest any of us forget...Gordon showed up today with a quadriceps injury to the first day of Browns' training camp. With the entire new regime in place from head coach Hugh Jackson, chief strategy office Paul "Don't call me Peter Brandt from Moneyball" Depodesta, and VP of football operations Sashi Brown, the Browns have made the most headlines of any team in the NFL who was not rumored to--or eventually left for--Los Angeles. (NOTE: Am I the only one who notices that Stan Kroenke is looking more and more like William "The Rodent" Wilson from the Dick Tracy comics more and more each day?!)
Gordon immediately becomes the Browns highest-priority receiver in a very young class. The Browns used four draft picks in April on wide receivers, filling a void left former General Manager Ray Farmer each of the past two seasons. Brian Hartline and Travis "The Rabbit" Benjamin were both allowed to walk in free agency, which left the Browns with 5'7" Andrew Hawkins and 5'8" Taylor Gabriel as the only regularly targeted wide receivers left on the roster. "Big Play" Gary Barnidge ended 2015 with 79 catches, 1,043 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns...all team bests.
Add rookie Corey Coleman into the fold for 2016, and the Browns success depends on whether or not Gordon can stop mowing through grass fast enough to stay on the field. He has a new quarterback at the helm in Robert Griffin III, who is looking to also resurrect his career. Griffin has a cannon for an arm, and can stretch a defense with his legs. Coleman and Gordon are two blazing (no pun intended) receivers even he couldn't overthrow. Add Barnidge into the equation, and someone is going to be left open on almost every play. Seriously, if you're a defensive coordinator, who do you double when the Browns have three credible threats to go downfield on any play?!
I know he's your friend and all Josh, but would it kill you to stop hanging around with Johnny Manziel for the next few months while he's not on a sideline?
-JC24