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Over the weekend the Cleveland Browns shocked everyone when they revealed that they were planning to release Josh Gordon after he mysteriously injured his hamstring on Friday night.
Via Browns
“This afternoon we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we are going to release him on Monday. For the past six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally and wanted the best for him, but unfortunately we’ve reached a point where we feel it’s best to part ways and move forward. We wish Josh well.”
According to a report from Pro Football Talk, Gordon mysteriously injured his hamstring during a promotional shoot on Friday night which led to the Browns to decide to cut him.
Per a league source, Browns receiver Josh Gordon told the team that he injured his hamstring at a Friday night promotional shoot. The promotional shoot, per the source, was not a team event.
The injury prompted the Browns to rule Gordon out of Sunday’s game at New Orleans on Saturday afternoon. And the circumstances surrounding the injury apparently contributed to the decision that enough is enough.
After the Browns announced that they were parting ways with Gordon, several teams got on the phone and inquired about trading for him.
Multiple league sources believe the Browns will trade WR Josh Gordon before they release him by the Monday date they announced they would let him go.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2018
The #Browns announced they are releasing Josh Gordon, but they may not get there. I’m told as many as five teams are researching possibly trading for Gordon. Cleveland has a market.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2018
Today, Ian Rapoport is reporting that the New England Patriots are very “close” to trading for Josh Gordon.
The #Patriots are getting close on a deal for #Browns WR Josh Gordon, source said. Not official yet but headed that way.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2018
Update: Trade has been completed.
Trade now agreed to: Patriots are sending Cleveland a 5th-round pick and if Gordon isn't active for 10 games, Patriots get back a late-round pick from Browns, sources tell ESPN.
As @rapsheet reported, Patriots were closing in on trade for Gordon.
Trade now official.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2018
And so the Patriots give up a 5th-round pick to get Josh Gordon and get back a late-round pick if he isn't active for 10 games, per sources.
Tom Brady has a new target.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2018
New #Patriots WR Josh Gordon had an MRI on his hamstring and I’m told it came out fine. That means… Gordon could play for New England in Week 3.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2018
Full compensation trade update: Patriots send Browns a 2019 fifth-round pick for WR Josh Gordon and get back a 2019 seventh-round pick if he is not active for 10 games, source tells ESPN. Trade was supposed to be for a 6th-round pick, but Patriots don't have a 6th.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2018
The Internet proceeded to lose its mind over the news.
Josh Gordon is a genius. Smokes weed and does whatever he wants while getting paid millions until he finally gets traded to the best organization in the league. Gotta respect the hustle.
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) September 17, 2018
So I guess we can just pencil in Josh Gordon for 125 receiving yards in the Super Bowl with the Patriots, while the Browns use the draft pick they get for Gordon on some guy they cut in the preseason. (And then the Patriots will claim that guy on waivers, too.)
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 17, 2018
According to @rapsheet, the Patriots are close to a deal for Josh Gordon pic.twitter.com/3bYx3byhiS
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 17, 2018
Bill Belichick’s culture couldn’t stop one of his players from murdering.
Good luck stopping Josh Gordon from smoking tree.
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) September 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/FugaziLifeFB/status/1041765253300858882
https://twitter.com/GucciOdell/status/1041764225415344130
— brianna pirre (@bsp_13) September 17, 2018
— Mike Garcia (@MicG8701) September 17, 2018
Dammit pic.twitter.com/MwsRzFQwwX
— Clutch City 🗯️ (@Clutchlito) September 17, 2018
@kjmiller425 pic.twitter.com/Xc9KcBcrSL
— Christopher Ajluni (@Cajluni) September 17, 2018
— Dan I (@ItsMe_R_D) September 17, 2018