The Patriots didn't need to trade for former Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon to have a championship-caliber offense.
But Gordon needed to be on a team that will demand the best out of him — and that's exactly why New England's mild risk can turn into a big reward.
MORE: Josh Gordon's college, NFL timeline
Cleveland practiced patience with Gordon for years because of his immense talent, but just as he looked to be getting back on track on and off the field, the team ran out of faith. The Browns and coach Hue Jackson are desperate to get a win as soon as possible, and Gordon no longer fit in those plans.
The Patriots, on the other hand, realized Sunday they didn't have the passing game to beat the Jaguars should the AFC powers meet again in the playoffs. Suspended receiver Julian Edelman could have changed that a little, but a second matchup nightmare to match tight end Rob Gronkowski suddenly makes New England a lot tougher for Jacksonville to defend.
That's getting ahead, of course. So are comparisons between this move and how the Patriots wrangled Hall of Famer Randy Moss from the Raiders with a fourth-round pick in 2007 and, with Tom Brady, operated what was then the most prolific offense in NFL history.
The first thing Gordon needs to do in New England is show up. He needs to prove he's healthy and willing to buy into the "Patriot Way," or he'll see the same highway shown to many big names on which New England has gambled.
Bill Belichick wants reliability and accountability from his players first and foremost, all the way through the comprehension of a complex playbook. The trade itself shows faith in Gordon to provide just that.
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Gordon failing in Cleveland, where culture problems can be blamed, is one thing. Those culture issues don't exist in New England. If a player can't make it with the Patriots, he'll have an even harder time anywhere else.
"Do Your Job" is New England's simple motto, but it's something Gordon has struggled to do for reasons related to substance abuse. He worked hard to get a second chance with his first team; now the harder part will be responding to his third chance on a second team. If Gordon can abide by that motto, he'll find out what matters most to the Patriots.
The chance to be Brady's go-to, outside receiver is a golden one that should motivate Gordon, especially since his individual play can now be rewarded with better team results. Speaking of rewards, Gordon is making less than $1 million in 2018, so the 27-year-old also has a chance to earn himself more money in future seasons.
Gordon needed to play for a team that won't pressure him into being the guy, but rather one of many guys. In New England, he can still run vertically and make plays with limited snaps as he learns the offense. The new environment around Gordon — teammates succeeding and even overachieving — should inspire him.
Lastly, the Patriots will get the best out of Gordon because, well, the alternative is probably the end of a once-promising career.
There's no better motivator than that.
