Browns receiver Josh Gordon applied for reinstatement from his yearlong suspension on January 20, and though the NFL policy states that the league is to issue a decision within 60 days, no such announcement has been made. A source tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that “it’s status quo” when it comes to Gordon, and a league spokesman said there’s no update on Gordon’s status.
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The NFL’s substance abuse policy is a little vague on the 60-day parameter, leading a league spokesman to tell Cabot “there is no requirement that a reinstatement decision be made in 60 days. We endeavor to develop the necessary information to make a decision in that time frame, but the actual decisions are made when appropriate.”
For the record, Appendix B of the policy (available here) states “all individuals involved in the process will take steps to enable the Commissioner to render a decision within 60 days of the receipt of the application” — the language certainly doesn’t seem to require an ironclad deadline, but it’s clear that 60 days is the recommended guideline.
One league source speculated to Cabot that it’s possible that Gordon hasn’t done enough to prove his sobriety to the NFL — that, it seems, is just speculation, as there’s been no indication or report that Gordon has failed any further tests. Roger Goodell said last month that he expected to discuss Gordon’s case with his team in the near future, while Browns head coach Hue Jackson has maintained that there is a roster spot for Gordon in Cleveland.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
