Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was back in the headlines on Friday as he awaits word from the NFL on his potential reinstatement.

A report came out that he’s training with former Olympian, now speed coach Tim Montgomery as he attempts a comeback. He also changed agents from Drew Rosenhaus to Joby Branion, who represents Denver Broncos pass rusher Von Miller. 

Gordon filed for reinstatement earlier this month and according to ESPN will hear from the NFL in late April or early May on whether or not he’ll be allowed to play football in the 2017 season. 

He hasn’t played a regular season game since December of 2014 but showed he still has talent during last preseason when he had two catches for 87 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay.

I get it, Josh Gordon has elite, hall of fame type talent. His first two seasons were some of the best I’ve ever seen as a football fan and the best of any Cleveland Browns receiver.

2012: 50 catches, 805 yards, 5 touchdowns 

2013: 87 catches, 1646 yards, 9 touchdowns

But look at his off the field history

• 2013 offseason: suspended two games for a failed drug test
• 2014 offseason: suspended for entire 2014 season (reduced to ten games) for failed drug test. Also was arrested for a DWI
• 2014 season finale: suspended for violating team rules
• 2015 offseason: suspended for entire 2015 season for failed drug test.
• 2016 offseason: applied for reinstatement in January of 2016 but denied for another failed drug test. Later reinstated in July 2016 but suspended first four games of 2016 season
• 2016 season: One week away from reinstatement, he enters in-patient rehabilitation center. Doesn’t play in single regular season game.

Would I love to see Josh Gordon back on the field for the Browns? Absolutely. When he’s on the field, he’s one of the best receivers in all of football. 

That’s the problem though. He can’t get on the field. He constantly continues to screw up off the field and I can’t understand why any Browns fan can get their hopes up for him.

I know he has his demons and is trying to fight them and I hope he can.

I also didn’t forget what Hue Jackson told reporters after Gordon entered rehab last fall. He said that the organization was moving on and I believe that’s the case. 

The Browns have given him more than enough chances starting when they drafted him in the supplemental draft in 2012.

Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown are trying to build something and having to wait around for this guy’s services every offseason is ridiculous and unnecessary.

If Gordon is reinstated, the team needs to trade him for whatever they can possibly get or they need to release him. I know they tried to trade him before his last slip up and clearly teams weren’t willing to give up a draft pick for Gordon because of his history.

It’s time to move forward as an organization and leave the memories of the former All Pro in the past. 

I understand the current group of receivers on the roster isn’t anything to be excited about but we can’t keep getting exciting about the potential return of Gordon.

If he comes back and stays on the right path, great.

But I’m not expecting it.