Bedard's Weekend Briefing 12.21.18: Parting Josh Gordon thoughts, Bruins keep playing solid hockey

Good morning! 

A few random thoughts while I figure out if the Patriots have had many worse stretches than the one they've endured from the final play of the Dolphins game through yesterday...

• So Josh Gordon is gone, and his NFL career, if I had to bet, is probably over.


• By the way, that the NFL said Gordon "violated the terms of his reinstatement" means this could have been a violation in a variety of areas, not necessarily a positive drug test (although that's the most likely scenario). Depending on the terms he had with Roger Goodell, it could have been anything from a missed drug test, missed counseling session, appearing under the influence ... basically anything. He also might not have known before Wednesday or Thursday. He would have if it was a positive test, but not if he violated some other area of his agreement.


• This was the worst-case scenario for the Patriots when they traded for him: that he vanished right before the postseason.


• If the Patriots come up short this season, this whole Gordon foray is representative of all the personnel issues that ultimately torpedoed this season.


• The list of failed WRs this season: Jordan Matthews, Eric Decker, Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt, Riley McCarron, Braxton Berrios, Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler, Gordon.


• I think the offense needs to take this opportunity to pick up the pace.


• I do wonder if this could be addition by subtraction. Hard-working guys like Philip Dorsett and Chris Hogan were displaced, almost immediately after Gordon arrived. The Patriots were obviously handling Gordon differently than the other players, from how he was shielded from the media to him being late and not paying an on-field price. Things might be a little looser now in the locker room.


• No better medicine for the Patriots than the AFC East and finishing up with the expansion Bills and Jets.


• They might be missing some pieces, but I really like watching these Bruins play. They're the #NoPassengers Bruins. I'm guessing Bruce Cassidy is having some fun coaching these guys. Nothing better for a coach than when you know your players are giving you everything they have and you're getting results.


• Lots of stuff going on with the Revs, so make sure you head over and check it out.


• BTW, who's bright idea was it to make the MLS season so long? How many people in this country want to pay attention to a sport not named baseball (and that's up for debate) for nine months? This isn't Europe. Make it more like the NFL season. It should start after football and end before it starts up again. Boom. Done.