NFL roundup: NFL denies Josh Gordon’s petition for reinstatement
By Brad Weiss
It looks like wide receiver Josh Gordon will have to wait until the Fall to see if he is granted his reinstatement to the NFL, as he was denied on Thursday.
At one time, Josh Gordon was one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL, a shining star on a very bad Cleveland Browns team. Then came the off-the-field issues, which led to him being suspended indefinitely by the league. He applied for reinstatement this week, and despite reports that he is doing better with his rehab, the NFL denied him. He will now have to wait until the Fall for reinstatement, though at 26-years old, his window is starting to close.
Staying with players with off-the-field issues, Daryl Washington was actually reinstated by the NFL, but then released by his team. Washington was once a coveted young player for the Arizona Cardinals, but after meeting with him a few days after being reinstated, the team decided to part ways with him. He has not played in nearly three years, after multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and pleading guilty to aggravated assault on his ex-girlfriend gave him his ticket out of the league.
There has been plenty of signing of first round draft picks in recent days, including Mike Williams, the star wide receiver from Clemson. In signing Williams, the Los Angeles Chargers avoided a holdout for the second straight season, as 2016 first rounder Joey Bosa decided to wait until late in the preseason to finally sign. Also signing were Garret Bolles, Jonathan Allen, and Takkarist McKinley, some exciting players who should make an impact their rookie seasons.
Victor Cruz is a player who had no problem making an impact early in his career, but injuries derailed what looked to be a prolific career for the former New York Giants wide receiver. The Giants let him walk after the 2016 NFL season, and he is still looking to latch on with another team. He plans on meeting with the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars this week, and if he signs with the Jags, he will be reunited with former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.
Next: Every NFL Team's Best Draft Pick Of All-Time
It looks like Mr. Irrelevant may actually turn out to be a solid football player after all. The Denver Broncos took a flyer on Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly with the last pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, selecting the nephew of former Pro Bowl signal-caller, Jim. Jim Kelly told ESPN on Wednesday that he believes his nephew finally “gets it,” and while it remains to be seen if he will actually develop into an NFL quarterback, he certainly has the physical tools to do just that.