Josh Gordon appeared to play his usual role for the New England Patriots on Monday night despite a report before kickoff claiming he would be disciplined by the team for tardiness, and Bill Belichick said after the game that he had no idea where that report came from.
After Gordon played 84 percent of the snaps in the Patriots’ win over the Buffalo Bills, both he and Belichick were asked about the wide receiver’s alleged tardiness earlier in the week. Gordon pleaded the fifth, while Belichick basically issued a denial.
Josh Gordon is asked, based on a report, if there is a problem with tardiness. “That’s a question you have to ask Coach about,” he said. “But in relation to the game, I was available, so that’s a plus.” pic.twitter.com/LB7wC2LGel
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 30, 2018
Bill Belichick on Josh Gordon: “You have to talk to whoever wrote that. I have no idea.”
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 30, 2018
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media was told by sources that Gordon was expected to be benched for several series — about a quarter — and then see his normal reps. Jeff Howe of The Athletic later added that Gordon showed up late on Sunday before the Patriots departed for Buffalo.
It’s unclear exactly what happened, but we have already heard an interesting theory about why Belichick may have changed his mind. While Gordon has obviously had numerous off-field issues during his career, whatever he did over the weekend — if anything — was not deemed serious enough to warrant being benched.
