Haslam: Gordon with Browns for ‘long time to come’

Jimmy Haslam expects Josh Gordon to be around for a while. (USATSI)

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There's no guarantee of Josh Gordon's future in Cleveland. The Browns third-year wide receiver led the NFL in receiving yards last season but he could be facing a one-year ban from the NFL for failing a(nother) drug test.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam doesn't see this as the end however. Only the beginning -- he expects Gordon to stick with the team "for a long a time to come."

"Josh is learning and growing and improving as a person," Haslam said via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "He's learning how to work hard. He's learning how to be a professional. Josh is a smart young man. All of us have made mistakes when we were that age.

"We're counting on Josh being a good football player for the Browns for a long time to come."

Haslam didn't directly confirm Gordon failed a drug test and declined to comment on the situation but did say he's been "pleased" by Gordon's "professional growth."

"We spend a lot of time with all of our core players and Josh is obviously one of those," Haslam said. "We have all spent a lot of time talking to Josh and I'm not going to comment on the situation but I'll say this, but I've been very pleased with his professional growth over the last year and the way he handles himself."

The bottom line is this: a full-year suspension, which is what was initially reported for Gordon's punishment, would drastically change things.

Greg Little and Andrew Hawkins would migrate to the top of the depth chart at wide receiver and that's a terrifying prospect. But even more terrifying is keeping Gordon around if he's one strike away from being booted for even longer.

Haslam's confidence could be lip service but it could also be an indication the Browns think Gordon will face less punishment than initially reported.

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