Cleveland Browns NFL 2015 News, Rumors: NFLPA Files Grievance Against Browns on Behalf of Josh Gordon
The NFLPA is filing a grievance against the Cleveland Browns for the one game suspension of WR Josh Gordon in Week 17 of the 2014 NFL season. That may not seem like a big deal for a player that has since been suspended by the NFL for the entire 2015 season but it could have very big implications for Gordon and the Browns down the road.
Pro Football Talk is reporting that this one game could cost Gordon far more than the weekly game check. The real consequence for Gordon could be this one game keeping him in Cleveland for another entire season.
If Gordon wins the grievance he will have been on the Brown's roster and will have earned a full year of service towards free agency. If he can keep his nose clean and get reinstated that would make him a free agent following the 2016 season. If the suspension is upheld Gordon will not be eligible to hit the free agent market till after the 2017 season.
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Under NFL rules a players earns a year of service if he is on the roster for six games in any one season. Since Gordon was suspended for 10 games last year he needs this game to earn that distinction. Of course this entire action could be a moot point if Gordon cannot keep himself out of trouble.
"But if Gordon does stay out of trouble, and if he plays as well in 2016 as he played when he led the NFL in receiving yards in 2013, he could be a hot commodity in free agency," Michael David Smith wrote. "He wants to hit free agency in the spring of 2017 rather than the spring of 2018, and that's why he wants to win this grievance."
Even with his ability on the field, any team looking to sign Gordon as a free agent is assuming a ton of risk as he has repeatedly shown that he gets into trouble while in the league.
