technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. alias => "boston\/\/patriots\/jason-mccourty-says-best-comp-josh-gordon-julio-jones"
  3. nid => "812361"
  4. title => "Jason McCourty says best comp for Josh Gordon is Julio Jones"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>FOXBORO \u2013 It\u2019s a long time since 2013 when Josh Gordon grabbed the NFL by the shirt, pulled it close and said, \u201cI\u2019ve arrived\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gordon\u2019s been mostly gone since, playing in just 11 games for the Cleveland Browns before he was traded Monday to the Patriots in exchange for a fifth-round pick.<\/p>\n<p>Is the 2013 Josh Gordon still within the 2018 body of Josh Gordon?<\/p>\n<p>Jason McCourty thinks so. The Patriots defensive back was a teammate of Gordon\u2019s in Cleveland last year.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what McCourty said for Monday night\u2019s episode of Quick Slants&nbsp;on NBCSports Boston.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE JOSH GORDON<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/player-profile-look-josh-gordons-career-stats?int\">A look back at Josh Gordon's career stats<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cOne of the most talented receivers I\u2019ve played against,\u201d said McCourty. \u201cI remember last year, the first week he was back (after being reinstated by the NFL in November), he couldn\u2019t play in the game (but was allowed to practice). We were playing Cincinnati so he got the honor of being A.J. Green in practice and I was matched up with A.J. that week so I covered (Gordon) in practice.\"<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI remember sending (Devin McCourty) a few clips saying, \u2018This dude can still play.\u2019 If he gets everything on track he can be one of the best receivers in our game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I asked if Gordon compared favorably with Green. Jason McCourty raised the bar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would compare him to a guy like Julio Jones,\u201d he said. \u201cBig. Can run. Still has quickness. Definitely that kind of body, that type of mold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Obviously, this Julio Jones clone is available because he\u2019s had a hard time getting his off-field life in order. McCourty said he saw a diligent guy in Cleveland in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I was there last year, he was there on time, he was working hard, it really seemed like he wanted to get back in it and do things the right way,\u201d he said. \u201cHopefully he\u2019ll come in here with the same attitude and same approach coming into our locker room.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/67c21195-d539-4577-bb67-9fc7bb371285\/episodes\/37bbbe98-68d7-463d-a6f5-a21165141f12\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p>Over the years, Bill Belichick has made a point of saying that, once a player joins the Patriots, what he does as a member of the team is more important than what he did before.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGuys come in with an equal opportunity on the field but also as a person,\u201d said Devin McCourty. \u201cGuys are welcomed with open arms and guys try to get them acclimated to how we do things and I think it will be no different for Gordon.\"<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe played against him in \u201913,\u201d Devin added. \u201cThe guy\u2019s a great talent. A playmaker on the field. I\u2019m excited. Anytime we get a good football player, you want to try to get him on the same page, get him up to speed in the playbook and see how it works out.\u201d<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "Tom E. Curran"
  8. mps => {"author":"Tom E. Curran","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1537223100"
  10. created => "1537225353"
  11. changed => "1537275654"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "File photo"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"12246","name":"Devin McCourty","url":"tags\/devin-mccourty"},{"tid":"3801","name":"Jason McCourty","url":"tags\/jason-mccourty"},{"tid":"3681","name":"Josh Gordon","url":"tags\/josh-gordon"},{"tid":"496","name":"New England Patriots","url":"tags\/new-england-patriots"}]
  15. section => "Patriots"
  16. team => "New England Patriots"
  17. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/boston\/2018\/09\/17\/mccourtyongordon091718_1920x1080_1322850371634.jpg","alt":"mccourtyongordon091718_1920x1080_1322850371634.jpg","title":"Jason McCourty: Josh Gordon can be \u2018one of the best\u2019 in the game"}
  18. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/video\/jason-mccourty-josh-gordon-can-be-one-best-game"
  19. is_mediaid => true
  20. mediaid => "Nq_pTAXP5lC7"
  21. video_autoplay => true
  22. video_automute => true
  23. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  24. player_id => "boston_article"
  25. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  26. sponsor => ""
  27. region => "boston"
  28. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=318214485357680&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fboston%2Fpatriots%2Fjason-mccourty-says-best-comp-josh-gordon-julio-jones&display=popup"
  29. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Jason%20McCourty%20says%20best%20comp%20for%20Josh%20Gordon%20is%20Julio%20Jones&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fboston%2Fpatriots%2Fjason-mccourty-says-best-comp-josh-gordon-julio-jones&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fboston%2Fpatriots%2Fjason-mccourty-says-best-comp-josh-gordon-julio-jones"
  30. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Jason%20McCourty%20says%20best%20comp%20for%20Josh%20Gordon%20is%20Julio%20Jones&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fboston%2Fpatriots%2Fjason-mccourty-says-best-comp-josh-gordon-julio-jones"
  31. tags_hide => []
  32. type => "article"
  33. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/boston\/patriots\/jason-mccourty-says-best-comp-josh-gordon-julio-jones.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/boston\/2018\/09\/17\/mccourtyongordon091718_1920x1080_1322850371634.jpg"]}
  34. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2018\/09\/17\/mccourtyongordon091718_1920x1080_1322850371634.jpg","alt":"mccourtyongordon091718_1920x1080_1322850371634.jpg","title":"Jason McCourty: Josh Gordon can be \u2018one of the best\u2019 in the game"}
  35. article_type => "article"
Patriots

Patriots

FOXBORO – It’s a long time since 2013 when Josh Gordon grabbed the NFL by the shirt, pulled it close and said, “I’ve arrived…”

Gordon’s been mostly gone since, playing in just 11 games for the Cleveland Browns before he was traded Monday to the Patriots in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

Is the 2013 Josh Gordon still within the 2018 body of Josh Gordon?

Jason McCourty thinks so. The Patriots defensive back was a teammate of Gordon’s in Cleveland last year.

Here’s what McCourty said for Monday night’s episode of Quick Slants on NBCSports Boston.

MORE JOSH GORDON

“One of the most talented receivers I’ve played against,” said McCourty. “I remember last year, the first week he was back (after being reinstated by the NFL in November), he couldn’t play in the game (but was allowed to practice). We were playing Cincinnati so he got the honor of being A.J. Green in practice and I was matched up with A.J. that week so I covered (Gordon) in practice."

“I remember sending (Devin McCourty) a few clips saying, ‘This dude can still play.’ If he gets everything on track he can be one of the best receivers in our game.”

I asked if Gordon compared favorably with Green. Jason McCourty raised the bar. 

“I would compare him to a guy like Julio Jones,” he said. “Big. Can run. Still has quickness. Definitely that kind of body, that type of mold.”

Obviously, this Julio Jones clone is available because he’s had a hard time getting his off-field life in order. McCourty said he saw a diligent guy in Cleveland in 2017.

 

“When I was there last year, he was there on time, he was working hard, it really seemed like he wanted to get back in it and do things the right way,” he said. “Hopefully he’ll come in here with the same attitude and same approach coming into our locker room.”

Over the years, Bill Belichick has made a point of saying that, once a player joins the Patriots, what he does as a member of the team is more important than what he did before.  

“Guys come in with an equal opportunity on the field but also as a person,” said Devin McCourty. “Guys are welcomed with open arms and guys try to get them acclimated to how we do things and I think it will be no different for Gordon."

“We played against him in ’13,” Devin added. “The guy’s a great talent. A playmaker on the field. I’m excited. Anytime we get a good football player, you want to try to get him on the same page, get him up to speed in the playbook and see how it works out.”