Josh Gordon And Ben DiNucci Are Out Here Setting The XFL World On Fire For The Seattle Sea Dragons
The beloved backup quarterback who started a game for the Cowboys in 2020 and the NFL's first-team All-Pro leading receiver from 2013 sparking an insane comeback? THIS LEAGUE, XFL! THIS LEAGUE!!
Ben DiNucci, take a bow. You completed 29 of 37 passes for 377 yards, four TDs and only one interception. That's some damn fine QB play for an XFL that is in dire need of such standout performances.
Now let's acknowledge, too, that life is a lot easier when you're playing against an XFL defense and you have a literal all-time football talent on the receiving end of the majority of your passes.
You can't help but wonder constantly what could've been for Josh Gordon. I feel like America is far more lax toward marijuana use, and if that's the worst thing JG was doing back in his prime football years, maybe you should've let him the fuck go and permitted him to play. It's not like he was with the paragon of winning and stability once he got to the NFL with the Browns.
I find it amazing that Percy Harvin — who dealt with migraines throughout his career and funnily enough contributed to a Seattle Super Bowl run — admitted to being high before every single game.
Had to feel like a kick to the nuts for Josh Gordon, who couldn't stop violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and continued to get suspended. With the understanding that Gordon had a history of multiple failed drug tests entering the league, uh…Harvin tested positive for marijuana at the 2009 Combine, for crying out loud!
A two-game ban even got in the way of Gordon's best season for Cleveland. In 14 games during the 2013 campaign — AT AGE TWENTY-TWO — he had 1,646 yards receiving whilst catching passes from the legendary likes of Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden and Brian Hoyer. Gordon was drinking and/or smoking weed before kickoff that whole time.
It's clear Gordon can still play. He's still only 31 years old. I don't know how. Guy has been around forever. He played some for the Chiefs in 2021 but didn't stick with the Titans this past season. No clue what the inside knowledge is on him around the league, or if teams don't want the headache given his lengthy history of off-field missteps.
Credit the XFL for taking a flier on Gordon. They need recognizable big names to draw eyeballs to their league, and there are still, to this day, fewer naturally blessed athletes at the wide receiver position than Josh Gordon. Articulating his backstory in any context feels necessary and will never cease to amaze me. We'll have to stay tuned to see if a spurt of excellent play in the XFL is enough to get Gordon a look in an NFL training camp.
Twitter @MattFitz_gerald/TikTok