Why Didn't the Dallas Cowboys Claim WR Josh Gordon?
FRISCO - Why didn't the Dallas Cowboys take a stab at former New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon via the NFL's waiver process? A sensible conclusion: The Cowboys know as much about Gordon as any team in the league ... and they don't like what they know.
All the numbers are there. Gordon is 28, a former first-team All-Pro, and at 6-3, 228, the former second-round supplemental pick can physically dominate opponents. Unfortunately, his struggles with addiction have derailed his career, multiple times, as in seven seasons employed by the Cleveland Browns he played just 41 games.
He'd been with the Patriots for 17 games, catching 60 passes, before coach Bill Belichick released him this week, freeing him to be picked up by NFL teams, in waiver-priority order, at a salary cost to his new team of just $1 million.
But despite the talent and the surface-look of "no-risk,'' Gordon slid all the way to the Seattle Seahawks, with the NFL’s No. 28 waiver priority. That means not only did the Patriots say goodbye to an employee (leading to the usual NFL question, "If Belichick doesn't want him, why do we?'') but that virtually the rest of the league passed as well.
Including, obviously, the Cowboys.
There is a valid line of thinking on these matters that goes something like this: "What's the risk? Claim him, and if he's a bad apple, simply cast him away again.'' That thinking has been implemented often in Cowboys history, before the Jerry Jones Era and during, which is why I labeled the team's previous headquarters, due to the franchise's policy, as "Second-Chance Valley Ranch.'' (Sidebar: Dallas gets a lot of headlines, and criticisms, for taking on "behavioral-risk'' players. But it's an under-acknowledged fact that the Seahawks also have a habit of doing the same.)
It can be argued that Dallas just involved itself in such a transaction, with the same Patriots, who were done with "free-spirited'' three-time Pro Bowler Michael Bennett and gave him away to the Cowboys for a late-round pick.
If this works for the Cowboys, it's a bonanza. If somehow he turns out to be a loon, say goodbye at virtually no cost.
But remember our initial stories on the trade for Bennett? The Cowboys do not think he's a loon. They are convinced "he loves football,'' which is Line 1 in particular for personnel boss Will McClay, who has great power in these types of decisions. Here, ownership, the personnel department, the coaching staff and even leaders in this locker room gave the idea a thumbs-up. Heck, Belichick did the same in endorsing the player to Dallas coach Jason Garrett.
So why is this different?
It's worth noting that Bennett plugs in for IR'ed Tyrone Crawford, so much so that Michael is essentially changing positions, an edge rusher about to play a lot of 3-Tech here. Do the Cowboys need a receiver to back up Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb? Not really.
Meanwhile, on the "homework'' front: Did Belichick give the same thumbs-up signal to the Cowboys on Gordon? Did the studies by all the departments on Gordon come up all positive, as they did on Bennett? Dos Gordon get billed as a guy who "loves football''?
Questions about "work ethic'' have popped up with Gordon now, and while the Cowboys won't comment to me about any of that, think of this: Gordon is from Texas and played at Baylor. This Cowboys organization had/has a deep relationship with Baylor. Their coaches and staffers are friendly with Dallas staffers. Every single time the Cowboys have scouted a Baylor player, they've felt extremely comfortable with their evaluations.
When Josh Gordon was available in that 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft, did Dallas select him? When he was on the street or on the block in ensuing years, did Dallas pursue him? And now here he is again, for free, and did Dallas claim him?
No, no and no.
The Cowboys know all about "second chances,'' they know all about "risk/reward,'' and they know all about Josh Gordon. Which is all you need to know about why Gordon is not a Cowboy.
