Browns receiver Josh Gordon is not on the market.
That’s the word from Browns CEO Joe Banner, who told USA Today that Gordon, a talented player who carries some off-field baggage, is in the Browns’ long-term plans.
“We’re absolutely not shopping Josh,” Banner said. “We’re not going to shop him and we don’t have any plan or intention to trade him.”
The Browns were thought by some to be seeking a trading partner for Gordon for a couple of reasons. First, the fact that the Browns previously traded Trent Richardson to the Colts suggests that they’re looking to load up on draft picks to build for the future while moving on from players brought in by the previous regime. And second, Gordon was suspended for the first two games of the regular season and is one positive drug test away from a year-long suspension.
But Banner, who told PFT last month that he has no intention of trading anyone else, says that while he can’t predict the future, he doesn’t view Gordon as someone the Browns would want to send away.
“When we did the Trent Richardson trade, the perception was we were throwing in the towel, [so] we got calls on players,” Banner said. “I guess that was a natural reaction based on how the move was perceived. If you’re in this long enough, you learn to never say anything absolute, because then something comes up and you look like you lied. I personally -- and I think anybody here -- would be completely shocked if we ended up trading him. Josh is playing great. He’s working his butt off.”
And if Banner has his way, Gordon will continue working his butt off in Cleveland for years to come.