Did the Patriots make a mistake in trading for Josh Gordon?
Discuss your thoughts with Chad Finn and other Patriots fans.
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I’m mostly sad for Josh Gordon, but did the Patriots make a mistake bringing him here in the first place? It’s almost the worst-case scenario for the team – just when they started to rely on him, he let them down. – Robert C.
I get where you’re coming from on that last part, Rob. He was very good for them for the most part on the field, appeared to learn the system faster than most receivers they bring in, and was really fun to watch. Things seemed to be going well, even with those antennae-raising reports of tardiness a few weeks back, and it was impossible not to start to rely on him.
But Bill Belichick’s Patriots are nothing if not practical, and even as he impressed them on the field and apparently in the meeting rooms too, I doubt they ever lost site of the reality that Gordon’s situation was always tenuous and his status could change at any moment.
Sadly, none of us can be surprised by how this played out. They knew the details of what Gordon was dealing with, and I doubt they’re less surprised than any of us, even if they were hopeful too that he would make it through the season if not put his problems behind him for good.
To answer the question, though, no, they shouldn’t regret it at all. They took a chance on an extremely talented player. They knew he had one chance left and there was a possibility, perhaps a strong one, that it would slip away. He played well for them, helped them win some games, gave the fans some pretty cool memories.
His absence hurts, especially now, but it can’t be a surprise. It’s the risk they took. If anything, I hope he got something beneficial out of the opportunity he had here.
But what does everyone else think? Was it a mistake to trade for Josh Gordon? I’ll hear you in the comments.
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