The Cleveland Browns made some moves to prepare for the loss of Josh Gordon for the 2014 season, but they weren’t enough. The impact of his absence may be immeasurable.
The team could have lost almost any other player on the team and not felt it as significantly. Gordon was the offense’s main playmaker, the guy who opened up the field for every other offensive player.
His suspension for another failed drug test means he failed his team, his teammates, Browns fans and, most importantly, himself.
“I’d like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement released by the NFL Players Association. "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 Browns left themselves open to wild second-guessing by passing on a receiver in the draft. GM Ray Farmer preached patience, then signed Miles Austin. The Browns are left with a group of veterans that includes Nate Burleson, Andrew Hawkins and Austin, as well as a supporting cast of unprovens. Farmer is right to say that nobody knew about Austin until he was given a chance, so one of the unprovens could step forward. At this point, though, they are what they are.
Austin and Hawkins had moments in camp, but neither gives the long-term hope of being a sure No. 1 receiver. Burleson was sidelined for a good portion of the most important part of camp, then admitted in Detroit he would retire after this season. Nobody left on the team has the pure skills, the combination of size and speed and hands, that Gordon has.
Gordon not only led the league in receiving yards last season (1,646), he obliterated the team record. And he did it in 14 games (he was suspended the first two). In the two games he did not play, the offense wallowed, scoring one touchdown and 16 total points. With Gordon playing, the offense averaged 20.8 points per game.
Run down the rest of the numbers. Gordon’s total receiving yards were 600 more than the rest of the team combined. He had 1,181 yards more than the team’s second-leading receiver.
The total of 1,029 yards by Browns receivers other than Gordon would have ranked 24th in the NFL in 2013, behind individuals such as Michael Floyd (1,041) and just ahead of Brian Hartline (1,016).
Gordon’s 37.6 percent of the team’s receiving yards ranked as the second-highest total in the league. The team’s quarterbacks averaged 10.7 yards per target with nine touchdowns and two interceptions throwing to Gordon, and 5.6 yards with 17 TDs and 18 interceptions throwing to everyone else, per ESPN Stats and Information.
Gordon alone had 14 30-yard plays. The rest of the team had 11.
The Browns do have a very talented tight end in Pro Bowler Jordan Cameron. But Cameron will feel Gordon's absence as well, because no longer will teams have to double the outside. Cameron may get a lot more attention from defenses.
Gordon’s absence creates a potentially crippling void the Browns will have to fill by spreading the ball around to several players. It leaves opposing defenses able to approach the Browns playing two-deep with corners keeping plays in front of them. In a time when the passing game has become dominant, the Browns will rely on passing efficiently, running the ball and playing defense.
Teams have overcome injury and loss of a player in the past. The Miami Dolphins' perfect season marched right on with a backup quarterback.
But a player with Gordon’s talent should be the guy a team builds around. He shouldn’t be the guy who has folks wondering what to do without him and what to do with him in the future.
Losing Gordon was the one blow the Browns simply could not afford to take.