As Josh Gordon applies for reinstatement, the Buccaneers should be a target

On Thursday former teammate of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Josh Gordon, applied for reinstatement to the NFL following his indefinite suspension last December. This, according to a tweet from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Gordon played with the New England Patriots for parts of both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In total, the talented and troubled wide receiver brought in 60 receptions for 1,007-yards, and hauled in four touchdown passes in seventeen games.

Good numbers for a talented player. However, he also dealt with knee problems in 2019 leading to his being placed on the injured reserve, and then subsequently waived after passing his physical and forcing the Patriots to make a move.

Back when he was let go by the team, head coach Bill Belichick eliquently said when asked why the team released Gordon,

“He passed his physical.”

Bravo.

Gordon was then claimed by the Seattle Seahawks and turned in seven catches for 139-yards in five game appearances. Then, on December 16th 2019, it was announced Gordon was once again banned for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policies. His fifth suspension in eight years.

Now however, with the new collective bargaining agreement in place, Gordon’s problems with the league office could finally be a thing of the past.

The new CBA got rid of suspensions because of positive marijuana tests all-together, focusing more on performance-enhancing drugs. Furthermore, recent changes in Florida regarding the substance could provide a positive combination for Gordon to continue his NFL career while he also works on his mental health.

Oh, and then there’s Tom Brady. Athletes are all creatures of habit, so when a wide receiver has the chance to reunite with a quarterback he’s had success with, he usually wants to do so. Just ask Antonio Brown.

Shortly before his latest suspension, Gordon gave Brady a lot of credit for helping him, saying,

“It’s good to be able to be in such close proximity to learn from him,” according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. “I look up to the guy. He’s done everything right, so I just enjoy the time being around him.”

We’ll all have to wait to get official comment from the team and from Gordon himself on where he’d like to play in 2020, assuming his suspension is lifted. For what it’s worth though, Gordon last counted for more than $1 Million of his team’s salary cap in 2013 when he was still with the Cleveland Browns.

Depending on the source you look at, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have north of $4 Million, perhaps even more than $5 Million in cap space. More than enough to give the 29-year old wide receiver another shot.