POLL: Bigger Brown Distraction

The perfect QB-WR headache combo that everybody wants to talk about

Ryan Fox (@Spider_Fox87)

Oscar Wilde once said that, "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." He must have had the Cleveland Browns in mind when he came up with that quote. 

For a while, nobody was talking about the Cleveland Browns. The only time the Browns were mentioned is when somebody was beating them or when they were being made fun off. Nowadays, nobody can stop focusing on the Browns. 

The reason why nobody can stop talking about the Cleveland Browns is because of two players: QB Johnny Manziel and WR Josh Gordon. However what people are saying and reporting isn't exactly flattery and compliments. Instead it's now starting to get to the point where one might even say that they're becoming 'distractions' to the team. Now the question is which one of them is a bigger distraction. Lets take a look at the two candidates.

First Candidate: QB Johnny Manziel 
Well if I had a quarter for every time I heard those two words, I would retire early. It just seems like everybody and their mother wants to focus on this kid. Heisman trophy winner, ‘fell’ in this past NFL draft to 22nd overall, media darling, Yadda yadda yadda. But I will give him this though. Manziel has not sexual assaulted, murdered, ran over, or physical assault anybody. Nor has he violated any NFL Substance-Abuse or Performance-Enhancing Drugs policy.

That being said, everybody wants to see Johnny Football. The Browns, time and time again, have stated that the starter is QB Brian Hoyer. But everybody in the media (especially those of the 4-Letter network) have voiced and said that Johnny Manziel should be the starter. Plus with the media following Manziel and blowing a lot of things out of proportions (i.e. the infamous Vegas trip, saying he should be the starter), you can bet that a lot of Browns coaches and management are having a hard time trying to sleep easy at night.

Second Candidate: WR Josh Gordon 
Unlike Manziel, Gordon is a proven NFL player. Last year in just 14 games, Gordon caught 87 passes for a league high 1,646 yard and had 9 touchdowns in 2013. He was also voted to the Pro Bowl and was First-team All-Pro for 2013. But you can’t be the best if you can’t stay on the field. Gordon has a ‘history’ of substance problems.

He was suspended multiple times in college for repeated drug use. Then in the NFL, he was suspended for the first two games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL’s Substance-Abuse policy after failing his first drug test (There was a reason why he only played 14 games). Then last May, Gordon failed another drug test after he tested positive for marijuana. But it just gets even better. This past Saturday, Gordon was arrested in the early hours in Raleigh, North Carolina. The reason? Doing 50 mph in a 35 mph and apparently had a few drinks prior too. Not helping the cause since Gordon is already facing a possible yearlong suspension this upcoming season.

So to those out there, which of these players is becoming the bigger distraction in Cleveland? Is it the Manziel circus on the field or the Gordon legal problems off the field? You decide.

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