Wide receiver Josh Gordon has spent the last two seasons with the Browns, which means he’s seen the team change coaches and general managers twice while also getting rid of both of their first-round picks from 2012 without getting much from either Brandon Weeden or Trent Richardson on the field.
That experience with an organization in upheaval may be why ESPN decided to solicit Gordon’s opinion on a rift with the Cleveland Cavaliers last week. Gordon is neighbors with Cavs guard Dion Waiters, who hasn’t been getting along with point guard Kyrie Irving in a relationship that some feel will come to an end in the offseason. Gordon said Waiters has been playing well while Irving is out of the lineup with an injury and that it “might play out better” if the two players weren’t on the same team any longer.
Irving wasn’t thrilled to hear Gordon get out of the football lane and offer his opinions on matters involving the Cavs.
“Guys like Josh Gordon need to stay in his sport and mind his own business,” Irving said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “Does he still play for the Browns? I’ll continue to root for the Browns, but in terms of this stuff here, what goes on in this locker room, he needs to stay out of it.”
Gordon posted a picture of Irving’s quote on Instagram, adding with a note of gloating that he thinks he “touched a nerve” with the All-Star guard. We can’t offer any advice to the Cavs about how to move forward in their attempt to end Cleveland’s 50 years without a championship in a major pro sports league, but the start of the Browns’ offseason workouts on Monday should leave Gordon with a little less time to hold court on teams other than his own.