×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

In Atlanta, Gordon out of sight, but not out of mind

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jan 31, 2019

ATLANTA – The name of the day around New England Patriots media circles was Josh Gordon.

He was addressed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his annual state of the league press conference. Bill Belichick was asked about him, and so were a few players.

Gordon, of course, played in 12 games for the Patriots this year before being suspended yet again for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy and is currently said to be in a treatment center.

Patriot captain Matthew Slater called it “bittersweet” that Gordon wasn’t here, and that the Patriots likely wouldn’t have made it had he not been acquired in a trade early in the season.

Gordon had 41 catches for 737 yards and four TDs. His absence has meant more of a role for fellow wide receiver Chris Hogan, and Hogan was nothing but complimentary.

“Josh was awesome,” Hogan said. “Josh was a really great teammate, I was really impressed with him when he first came in. I really didn’t know anything about him, had really never met him before. But a week into being here, he had already known most of the offense, the plays, and everything.

“That really impressed me. The guy was working so hard to try to learn the offense so he could get on the field and help us. And when he got out there, he worked really hard in practice and the games, he made a lot of plays for us. He’s part of the reason why we’re here today.”

Hogan was asked if the Patriots, though, are better now without Gordon.

“No, I don’t,” he said. “That’s just the way the season goes. You have to adjust your game plans with the people that you have. I think when Josh was on the field we were a really good football team.”

Goodell said Gordon is basically a work in progress.

“Directly, I have not spoken to him since the suspension,” Goodell said Wednesday. “As you know, he’s in treatment. He’s a young man who’s had a lot of challenges. I have gotten to know him, I understand some of the challenges that he’s had to go through.

“And he’s working at it. He understands what he has to do. He understands the importance for him. And this is well beyond football; this is his life. And to make sure that he takes care of himself and he understands the importance of getting this issue under control and being able to live a healthy and long life.”

As for whether he can be reinstated and get back on the field again, Goodell said, “If he can, we’ll evaluate that at the right time, but right now the focus is, ‘What can we do to help Josh get to that place?'”

Belichick wanted no part of the issue.

“I think we’ve already talked about that,” he said. “I’m just focused on the players who are here and going to play in this game.”

XXXXXX

It certainly sounds like something will happen, quietly or otherwise, in the next few months regarding Tom Brady’s contract.

“The reality is I don’t think many people thought I’d be playing like this, even though I had a great belief I would,” Brady said during Wednesday’s media availability in response to Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s comments that Brady would be here for awhile. “I think RKK has always supported me in my beliefs and thoughts, that’s why we have a great relationship.”

Kraft held an impromptu press conference with some reporters following the Goodell event, and said that supports Brady’s wishes to play until he’s 45, which means extending his contract beyond its last year, 2019.

“Well,think about it, the last three years we’ve ben privileged to go to the Super Bowl with a quarterback in place,” he said. “I would be quite surprised if he didn’t continue for quite a while as our quarterback.”

XXXXXXX

Devin McCourty said he hasn’t given any thought to retirement just yet, semi-backtracking on some comments earlier in the week.

“No I haven’t,” McCourty said. “I’ve been focused on this season; it’s been a lot of fun this year. We’ve battled through different things, ups and downs of the team, being able to go out with this guys every day and work, coming off tough losses, coming off big wins, just being able to ramp it back up. We get to play the last game. …. Getting ready to go for Sunday, it’s been a lot of fun.”

XXXXX

It was an interesting Belichick press conference Wednesday when he answered a question about his love for history for well over seven minutes. Early on, he was asked if he’d write a book someday about all his experiences, and he gave the standard answer “I’m just trying to get ready for the Rams, that’s a full-time job. We’ll worry about that stuff some other time.”

But then he blurted, “Would you buy one?”

XXXXX

Teams were back at practice on Wednesday and that meant that pool reports could be issued, one reporter each allowed to view a practice.

The Rams practiced one hour and 33 minutes, after which coach Sean McVay said, “It was great, and it was good reallyfor players and coaches….It was really a big emphasis on above the neck.”

In other words, a walk through with no helmets. They have held lighter practices on Wednesdays throughout the rest of the season since Week 4.

For their injury report, safety Blake Countess (foot) was out while kicker Greg Zuerlein (left foot) was limited.

McVay said that a lot of what Zuerlein can do this week “is predicated on his ability to communicate with us … an understanding of what kind of work does he need to get in to feel good going into the game on Sunday without potentially setting him back.”

As for the Patriots, they practiced indoors (80-yard turf facility) at Georgia Tech, and for the first time in a while, a player was listed in the report – defensive tackle Malcolm Brown. He was limited with a calf injury, and spent most of the practice on the sideline.

Meanwhile, Brady threw two TD passes against the scout team.

“We’re way ahead of where we normally are on a Wednesday,” Belichick said.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *