Trade Rumors Floating About Josh Gordon

ESPN has reported that the Cleveland Browns are fielding trade offers for talented, yet troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon.

ESPN is also reporting that the trade rumors for Gordon might all be a rouse by the team attempting to drum up interest.

Gordon was asked about the trade rumors.

“I really can’t comment on that. I’m not really sure,” Gordon said. “I haven’t heard too much about it. Cleveland is my team. That is where I want to be and everything like that, but that’s not even in the ballpark for me. I’m not really sure how that works.”

He was then asked about the team potentially “standing by him” through the issues and trade rumors.

“I think it works out perfectly then for me,” Gordon explained. “Mr. (Jimmy) Haslam, the organization and (Head) Coach (Hue) Jackson, I think the world of those guys and their decisions and this organization. They’re family. They’re showing me love and respect back to me by allowing me to stay here up to this point, and I expect to move forward with that. I’m excited about it. It’s where I want to be and I’m happy to be in Cleveland.”

Which report is correct?

It doesn’t really matter at this point, we’re going to look at whether Cleveland should trade their most talented player.

Why they should trade him:

1. Gordon can not be trusted.  He has been suspended multiple times and although he’s talented, can you ever really count on him to stay out of trouble and away from the drugs?
2. Sell high (sort of).  Gordon’s value is not likely to go much higher as there are still major questions about quarterback Robert Griffin, III.  The team might be able to recoup a second-day pick for the former Pro Bowler and a year ago at this time that was incomprehensible.

Why they shouldn’t trade him:

1. He’s your best football player.  It’s rare that teams get better when exiling their best player.  Gordon is going to make the quarterbacks better and it looks like he’s going to help quarterback turned wide receiver Terrelle Pryor as well.
2. You can’t recoup his value to the team.  Unless someone is offering a first round pick- which would be crazy given Gordon’s history- the Browns would be better off having a true No. 1 receiver on the roster.
3. You’re all in anyway.  It would have been easy for the Browns to cut bait during one of Gordon’s suspensions and giving up now would seem a little empty.  The team has stood by him through disappointment and they should just see it all the way through.
4. Good PR.  Standing by Gordon makes an organization, who many have a low opinion of, look a lot better.  This might help them get some free agents in the future.

Cromartie Is A Good Signing

Desperate for help in the secondary, the Indianapolis Colts worked out and then came to an agreement with free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

We have agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie. pic.twitter.com/tuIITAlXR8

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 23, 2016

It’s somewhat of a wonder why so many teams were hesitant to work out the former New York Jets star as he’s been a legitimate playmaker for his entire career.

Cromartie is your classic “gambler” at cornerback, as he will sit on routes and try to intercept passes.  He has been not only prone to getting turnovers, but also susceptible to giving up big plays.

Beggars can’t be choosers and with star cornerback Vontae Davis expected to miss at least the first two or three weeks of the regular season, the Colts were desperate for help on the back end of the defense.

The Davis injury is far from the only one that Indianapolis is dealing with in the secondary. Expected starter Patrick Robinson left last week’s preseason game with a groin injury and slot corner Darius Butler is nursing a hamstring.

Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was asked about the status of his secondary and he was brutally honest.

“It’s a little scary,” Pagano said, via George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin. “It’s not pretty right now.”

Outside of quarterback Andrew Luck and his outside targets, there’s not much to love about the Colts roster.  The offensive line is a major question mark, and the only Pro Bowl caliber talent on the defense is Vontae Davis, who is curently injured.

If Indianapolis didn’t reside in the AFC South, they would likely be expected to miss the playoffs, even with that explosive passing game.  Still, Bovada.lv has them as the favorite to win the division (+140), and a 7.5:1 favorite to win the AFC.

Eagles Come To Terms With Stephen Tulloch

After suffering numerous injuries at the linebacker position, the Philadelphia Eagles made the obvious move which was reuniting veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch with his former head coach and current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

From Eagles media:

Tulloch joins the Eagles following a five-year stint with the Detroit Lions (2011-15). The 31-year-old linebacker was originally selected in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, where he spent the first five seasons of his pro career (2006-10).

In 2015, Tulloch (5-11, 246 pounds) started all 16 games and led the Lions with 107 tackles (74 solo), while tying for second on the team with nine tackles for loss. The 10-year NFL veteran also registered two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one sack and one pass defensed.

For his career, Tulloch has accumulated 957 tackles (669 solo), 27 passes defensed, 14.5 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, five interceptions and two forced fumbles in 147 regular-season games (112 starts). He has played in all 16 games in nine of his 10 NFL seasons, while starting every contest in five of the last six overall. Additionally, Tulloch has produced 100-plus tackles six times over the last seven years.

Tulloch has played six seasons (2006-08, 2011-13) of his NFL career under the guidance of Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who served as the Titans defensive coordinator from 2001-08 and as the Lions head coach from 2009-13.

A native of Miami, Fla., Tulloch was a three-year letterman at North Carolina State, where he recorded 290 tackles, including 40 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 35 games (18 starts). As a junior in 2005, Tulloch garnered first-team All-ACC honors and was named All-America honorable mention by Sports Illustrated.

With Tulloch’s signing, the Eagles now have 84 players on their current roster.

How much of an impact can Tulloch make?  

He’s obviously long in the tooth, but he’s going into the best possible situation with Jim Schwartz.  He knows the defense that the Eagles will be trying to employ and should compete for a starting job right away.

As far as impact, it’s difficult to expect any player that’s been on the street this long to have much of an impact on the field.  Still, Tulloch will be expected to be a contributor and should make the Eagles defense better.