According to sources, the NFL has upheld the suspension handed down to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon earlier this year and he will be ineligible to play for the entire 2014 season. Gordon led the league in receiving yards last year with 1,646.
On Wednesday, a league source informed NBC Sports that Gordon's hearing office, Harold Henderson, upheld the yearlong suspension despite speculation that it would be reduced to eight games after the wide receiver appealed the initial ruling. He is banished from the NFL until August 27, 2015.
Gordon failed two drug tests within months of each other: the first for cough syrup containing codeine and the second for marijuana. Both violated the NFL's drug policy, but the second failed test had Gordon facing up to a yearlong suspension. The positive codeine test got him suspended for two games in 2013, and the 23-year-old still managed to lead the NFL in receiving yards while catching 87 passes and nine touchdowns. Gordon appealed the suspension and attempted to argue second-hand smoke because of the low concentration of marijuana in his urine from the failed test, but it apparently didn't matter.
The Browns will now lose their top target until next August, but management had already prepared for this worst-case scenario. Cleveland signed wide receivers Miles Austin, Nate Burleson and Andrew Hawkins this offseason to brace for the bad news. Brian Hoyer will now need to develop a rapport with another No. 1 receiver as he will continue to fight to keep his starting job with Johnny Manziel waiting to take over behind him. Gordon was apologetic in regards to his actions that ended in his suspension.
"I'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement released by the NFLPA. "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. I would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the Cleveland Browns staff."
The NFL is likely to catch criticism with Gordon's seemingly excessive suspension, while Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice received a measly two-game ban for allegedly knocking his wife out in an Atlantic City hotel, of which the aftermath was caught on video. Nonetheless, the young and talented Gordon will be missed by Cleveland this year.
UPDATE: The NFL has officially announced Josh Gordon's suspension.
