The comeback attempt for WR Josh Gordon carries on

Friday afternoon, ESPN’s Dan Graziano published a report about Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon. As you may recall, at the beginning of March, it was reported that Gordon was applying for reinstatement to the NFL again.

Graziano says that Gordon is workout out with speed coach Tim Montgomery, a former Olympian, in Gainesville, Florida. Montgomery has had drug issues in the past, but had turned his life around and is “using his past mistakes to help others.” We also heard a few weeks ago that Gordon had a new agent. Gone is Drew Rosenhaus and in is Joby Branion.

With all of that background information out of the way, here is what we’re most interested in now: (1) what is the timetable for a possible decision on Gordon’s reinstatement, and (2) would the Browns be interested in him? Here is what Graziano reported:

Gordon began the process of applying for reinstatement earlier this month, and sources said the expectation is that the NFL will make a decision by late April or early May. There's no guarantee of reinstatement, considering Gordon's history, but one source close to Gordon said he "embraces his role in his poor decision-making, which is half the battle." ...

Gordon is still under contract with the Browns, but sources with knowledge of the team's plans have said they intend to move on from the troubled former star wideout and would either release him or try to trade him if he should be reinstated by the league.

At this point, I don’t think we can fault the Browns too much when it comes to whatever decision they reach on Gordon. However, I still feel that he barely costs anything and can deliver like a Top-5 receiver in the NFL at his peak. He could have people forgetting about Terrelle Pryor in an instant. Why not take the slim chance that he actually does turn things around with the right support system?

Of course, the flip side to that is, “if the Browns can get a free draft pick for a player they have zero faith can redeem himself, then why not take the pick?”