Josh Gordon teaming up with Johnny Manziel in return to football

Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel are teammates once again. No, it’s not 2014.

Gordon and Manziel played together for a brief period with the Cleveland Browns. That, of course, was the best version of Gordon we ever saw, as he made the Pro Bowl and emerged as one of the best wide receiver in the NFL in 2013. Since then, Gordon’s fall from grace has been tough to watch. Failed drug tests and mysterious absences have led to Gordon leaving the NFL altogether.

His latest attempt at a return to the game will come in the Fan Controlled Football League with the Zappers, the same team which employs Manziel.

Fan-controlled football is all sorts of weird, but this allows Gordon — who has legitimate NFL aspirations — to play with a former first-round pick at quarterback, and someone he’s familiar with. If Gordon can put up big numbers, it may be his ticket to another NFL tryout.

Last we saw Josh Gordon was with the Seattle Seahawks

Gordon was suspended at the end of 2020, as he violated the terms of his reinstatement. The NFL was incredibly vague with its ruling, but Gordon knew better than to try and make yet another return to the league this offseason. It marks Gordon’s sixth suspension in the NFL.

The 29-year-old last played a game in December of 2019 against the Carolina Panthers. When healthy, he can still play at a high level, which showcases his incredible talent given the long layoffs between active playing time.

The Zappers have yet to win a game in the FCF, though they have wracked up the most points in the league thus far. Adding Gordon should only help that cause.