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Cleveland's Hue Jackson is 'done' with questions on troubled Josh Gordon

Browns' coach Hue Jackson took a strong stance on Josh Gordon (Getty Images)
Browns’ coach Hue Jackson took a strong stance on Josh Gordon (Getty Images)

There were some cut-and-dried comments from Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson on Friday morning when the topic of receiver Josh Gordon came up.

On Thursday, just days before his four-game suspension from the NFL was set to end and he could return to game play for the first time in almost two years as he’s been forced to the sidelines for repeated violations of the substance-abuse policy, the Browns and Gordon announced that Gordon was entering an in-patient rehab facility.

Here’s what Jackson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:

I think what’s best for our football team is that we move forward and move on,” said Jackson. “He’s not going to be with us and we wish him well, but we’re moving forward. We’re going to move on.”

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Saying it seems like Cleveland is done with Gordon “for good,” Jackson added, “I just think for me and for our team, for everybody involved, my goal is to make sure that we take care of the players that are here and the players that are practicing and working. I care about everybody. I think that’s the seat I’m in, but at the same time, he’s not here, so that’s why we wished him well and want the best for him and I think the most important thing I can do is make sure that our football team that are here, the guys that are practicing the guys that are going to play, the guys that are in the meeting room and working hard to get ready for a game is that our focus and our attention to detail is right.

“So that’s my main concern and I think what we need to do is just close that chapter right now. He’s doing what he needs to do and we need to do what we need to do which is continue to move forward.”

According to Cabot, Jackson heard a third question on Gordon and decided he’d heard enough.

“I’m not going to answer any more Josh Gordon comments or questions,” he said. “I’m done with it. I’m going to coach our team that’s here and that’s what I want to do. So no more questions about Josh Gordon.”

Jackson’s comments come off as a bit callous, there’s undoubtedly frustration for the coach, who likely was counting on having Gordon help the Browns’ offense, and the Browns did what they could to help Gordon. We also don’t know if perhaps Gordon had failed yet another drug test.

While Gordon is an incredibly talented receiver any team would love to have on the roster – he totaled 1,646 yards on 87 catches in just 14 games in 2013 – he obviously has his demons, and it’s a positive step that he’s made the decision to get help. He may never play another down of football but seems to be working toward living a healthier life, and is that really a bad thing?