Cleveland Browns

Johnny Manziel in 'constant contact' with Josh Gordon

Published Dec. 17, 2015 12:26 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Jesse Reed

Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon is suspended this season, but quarterback Johnny Manziel has been in “constant contact” with him throughout the year. The two talented players could be reunited next year if they are both on the roster, which is a scary thought for the rest of the AFC North.

Gordon was suspended by the league in February for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Gordon is doing “outstanding” as he stays in shape for the next season. Manziel says the receiver is doing everything he needs to do in order to get reinstated by the league, including passing random drug tests, and he revealed the two of them are extremely close.

“Yeah, I still talk to Josh every week, so we’ve been in touch constantly throughout the season,” said Manziel, who’s gearing up to face the Seahawks’ No. 2 defense on Sunday. “I got a chance to see him. I invited him down to the A&M game whenever I went back (after the) Thursday night game (in Cincinnati), so like I said, we’ve been in constant contact.”

If Gordon is reinstated, and if the Browns retain Manziel after another rocky season highlighted by off-field troubles, then the two young budding stars are a perfect fit for one another. Manziel excels at making big plays down the field, and Gordon is a tremendous receiver who can get open deep against just about any cornerback in the NFL.

The flip side is the concern about both young men’s propensity for partying. Both of them were busted for sleeping in the day before the final game of the 2014 season after being out late the night before — together. And Manziel, as we know, was recently outed, thanks to social media, for going on a two-night bender (allegedly).

However, Gordon points to his indefinite ban as a necessary turning point in his life.

“Since that day that the suspension was announced, in a sense I was kind of relieved,” Gordon said from the Art Basel show in Miami Beach, where he debuted some of his art work. “I was distraught and embarrassed, but I was like, ‘Man, I’ve been ripping and running too much, too fast.’

“I needed to slow down. I’m glad that somebody gave me a quick kick in the ass to let me know what’s real and what’s not.”

We’ve yet to hear the end of this tale.

The potential for greatness between Manziel and Gordon is undeniable. But what remains to be seen is whether or not these two young playmakers can stay out of trouble long enough to make it happen on the field on a long-term basis.

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