Less than a week into his first training camp, rookie wide receiver Josh Gordon is already drawing positive attention to himself at the Cleveland Browns practice facility located in Berea, Ohio.
Working out for the first time in front of fans on a gloomy Saturday morning on July 28, Gordon looked impressive nabbing several nice catches. It wasn't perfect however as he dropped what looked to be a 40-yard pass in the corner of the end zone.
Some fans were vocal at the conclusion of the 2012 NFL draft that a wide receiver was not chosen with a higher round pick. Travis Benjamin out of Miami (Fla.) was taken in the fourth round (100th overall pick) but he was hardly the most popular option for fans that felt it was the receiving corps that played a key role in the abysmal 2011 campaign.
The Browns opted to take a huge chance on Gordon using their second round pick in the 2013 NFL draft to nab the former Baylor wide receiver. Gordon is an incredibly gifted athlete that almost threw a football career away due to marijuana usage and failed drug tests. He has since come clean about his past and vows not to let the illegal substance ruin his second chance.
In 2010, his last season of NCAA play, Gordon caught 42 passes for 714 yards and seven touchdowns. He transferred to Utah the next season but did not play any games for the school.
Cleveland has such faith in Gordon that he has indeed turned his life around that they signed him to a four-year, $5.3 million contract with $3.8 million in guaranteed money. They believe the 6-foot-4, 224-pound receive has the potential to be a No. 1 receiver, something the team so desperately needs.
Entering the 2012 campaign, the Browns should have a complete new look on offense. Provided rookie Brandon Weeden gets the starting nod at quarterback, rookie Trent Richardson will lead the running game while second-year receiver Greg Little and rookie Gordon look to gain experience to be the future one-two punch for the receivers.
They may not be dominant overnight, but I like the potential of where the team is headed now that it is beginning to take shape.
More Cleveland Browns Commentary from Paul Rados:
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Sources:
All data provided by NFL.com
Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Browns fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.
