Bill Belichick probably isn’t all that anxious to discuss the trade that is sending Josh Gordon from the Cleveland Browns to his New England Patriots, and the coach somehow found a way to avoid any and all questions about Gordon on Wednesday.
By all indications, the trade has been finalized. Heck, even the Patriots themselves have been hyping it up for more than 24 hours.
The funny thing about Belichick saying the Josh Gordon trade isn’t finalized is that the team has been hyping him up for two days now pic.twitter.com/vUrLLGaA8O
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) September 19, 2018
Both the Patriots and Browns announced the trade on Monday, and it appeared on the NFL’s personnel wire on Tuesday. That typically means a deal has been finalized, but here’s a sampling of what reporters got when they asked Belichick about Gordon on Wednesday:
Belichick is perplexed that we keep asking questions about Josh Gordon. "I'm not saying it's not going to happen. I'm just saying it's not completed." #patriots
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 19, 2018
How is it that Belichick gets away with this? According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, there has been a tweak in the language with the Gordon trade. Initially, it was reported that the Patriots would send a fifth-round pick to the Browns and get back a seventh-round pick down the road if Gordon is not active for at least 10 games in New England this season. As it turns out, the Pats are getting that seventh-round pick regardless.
My understanding is the holdup in the Josh Gordon trade is related to a tweak in language. Basically, the #Patriots will get a 7th-round pick back from the #Browns. Should be done soon.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 19, 2018
So, that answers that. Belichick will again be bombarded with questions about Gordon on Thursday, and he’ll really have no excuse not to answer them. But for a coach who has treated us to some phenomenal zingers when he doesn’t feel like talking, any loophole to not provide insight is bound to be exploited.
