Browns owner Jimmy Haslam nixed a Josh Gordon-to-49ers trade last season

During the 2013 season the San Francisco 49ers pass game suffered in the absence of wide receiver Michael Crabtree who was out with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Desperate to find a replacement to help ease the burden off of Anquan Boldin and Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers explored other options via a trade.

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One of those options was a trade with the Cleveland Browns for oft-troubled Josh Gordon.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS, the trade talks were ultimately shot down by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

"The Browns’ discussions to deal troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon last year were curtailed at the request of owner Jimmy Haslam, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, serving in essence as a tie-breaker between the front office and coaching staff."

Since then, Gordon has been suspended for a full season and will miss all of 2014. There is the outside option that the NFL and the NFL Player’s Association reach some new agreement on the drug policy and Gordon’s ban could be reduced, but you have to think the Browns might have liked the assets they would’ve gotten in return with Gordon gone for the year.

Former Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski, who is no longer with the team after just one season, was in favor of keeping Gordon.

"Former Browns coach Rob Chudzinski worked diligently with Gordon, on a personal level, and was heavily invested in seeing him flourish, sources said, and he and his staff were not nearly as willing to entertain dealing Gordon. Ultimately, Haslam put an end to any lingering trade discussions leading up to last October’s trade deadline, sources said."

At the same time, trading a way a bonafide talent like Gordon would seem ridiculous for the Browns, who did part ways with running back and former first-round draft pick Trent Richardson. Gordon of course had a break out year in 2013, catching 87 passes for 1,646 yards despite the turn over at quarterback.