Tom Brady on Josh Gordon: Hopefully He Can Put the Team First

Patriots quarterback spoke for the first time about his newest top target.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida.  (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Getty Images

From Randy Moss to Corey Dillon to Albert Haynesworth, the Patriots have a long history of bringing in talented players with troubled pasts and attempting to turn their careers around.

The team has found success with some of those reclamation projects—including Moss. But sometimes, a troubled player like Aaron Hernandez proves there’s a reason that other teams backed off.

Tom Brady has been there to see all of it so he was obviously asked for his opinion about the New England’s latest acquisition, wide receiver Josh Gordon, after the Cleveland Browns traded him to the Patriots.

Immensely talented, Gordon has had a plethora of health and substance abuse issues keep him off the football field and has burned through more second chances than most players get.

While speaking with Jim Gray on Westwood One Radio before Monday Night Football, Brady said he hopes Gordon can “put the team first.”

“It is really up to the individual what kind of role they can carve out for themselves. That is kind of how I feel,” Brady said. “I am not making – I hate to make projections and expectations. That’s not fair and I have never met Josh personally, just like I hadn’t met some of the guys who have come in the last couple of weeks. We’ll see how it goes this week. Hopefully he can work hard, put the team first and end up helping us in any role he can find for himself on the team.”

Gordon, who had 1,646 yards in 2013 but has played in just 11 games since, should be ready to play for the Patriots on this Sunday when they take on the Lions in Detroit.

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