After a long process in an attempt to appeal his one-year suspension for failing a drug test, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon lost his case yesterday and will be unable to play for the entire 2014 season. Is the Canadian Football League (CFL) an option for the young star?
NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson decided to uphold Gordon's one-year suspension after the wide receiver failed two drug tests and was arrested for a DWI in North Carolina within the past year. The Browns wide receiver has a couple of options: he can continue to fight the ruling by taking legal action or he can seek playing football elsewhere for the next year. According to sources, the 23-year-old is looking at the CFL as an option for 2014.
Nothing is for sure yet because Gordon still has the option of taking the NFL to court to fight his case since the THC concentration in his urine was so low and could potentially be attributed to second-hand marijuana smoke. Gordon tried to use that as the foundation of his defense during his appeal, but it obviously was struck down. Now, the wide receiver can consider fighting for a "preliminary injunction" which would forbid the NFL from implementing the suspension until the legal action concludes in the courtroom.
That might be timely and costly, so Gordon is speaking with CFL officials about the possibility of playing football for a year in Canada and then returning to the NFL in 2015. His eligibility to do so remains a question, but it's certainly a plausible option as we've seen former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver LaVon Brazill sign with the Toronto Argonauts practice squad this week. Brazill was also suspended for the entire 2014 season for violating the NFL's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse and was cut by the Colts in July.
But since Gordon still remains under contract with the Browns, some restrictions apply. Owner Jimmy Haslam has not indicated the wide receiver will be cut, which ultimately leaves the decision up to Cleveland in regards to whether or not they want Gordon playing in the CFL. According to a CFL official, the Canadian league is forbidden from signing suspended NFL players who are under contract. A Browns official also noted that Gordon will be unable to play in the CFL because of his contract with the NFL.
However, in the event something comes out of this CFL speculation, Gordon would still remain under the NFL's treatment program and undergo counseling and drug testing. Many would like to think the league would show some sympathy for a player who is suspended for the year without pay after failing a drug test for marijuana, while Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice received only a two-game suspension for allegedly knocking out his then-fiancé in an Atlantic City hotel. Additionally, Pittsburgh Steelers running backs LeVeon Bell and LeGarrett Blount were arrested last week for marijuana possession and will not be disciplined by the Steelers.
