Brian Hoyer threw an interception on a pass intended for Josh Gordon that went directly to Buffalo safety Da’Norris Searcy 19 yards downfield at the Bills’ 46 with 1:02 left in the second quarter on Nov. 30. Clearly, Hoyer either threw to the wrong spot or Gordon ran the wrong route.
Hoyer was yanked after throwing an interception in the fourth quarter, and that led to head coach Mike Pettine debating whether to start Johnny Manziel against the Colts on Dec. 7 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Pettine decided to stick with Hoyer.
“I was supposed to make an in cut; the interception was on me,” Gordon said on Dec. 4 in his first session with the media in more than two weeks. “Me and Brian talked about it during the game, actually, but we knew this is part of the game. Sometimes it happens — miscommunication — but Brian has persevered through a lot and that’s not going to be the interception with his downfall, definitely not, and we’re ready to climb back and get on top of it.”
“I was definitely running the wrong routes (Nov. 23 vs. Atlanta),” Gordon said. “Now I know all the routes. Now it’s just when some of the plays we have that aren’t tagged for you, you’ve got to know what to do.
“I think we’re real close to where to need to be, but I know in my mind I’m not where I want to be because I’d like for it to be just second nature and for me to not have to think about it. I’d hear half the play in the huddle and still know what to do. But it’s not like that right now so I have to compensate and study a little more than everybody else. I’m playing catch-up, so I’m not happy where we are, but it’s getting better.”
Gordon revealed that he wasn't allowed to attend meetings even though part of the policy change was that he was allowed to attend meetings. It's not clear why or how this happened. If the Browns didn't allow him to attend positional meetings when he was eligible to under league rules, then it will go down as one of the most mind-numbing decisions this season. If that's the case, then the Browns only have themselves to blame for the miscommunication between their quarterback and star receiver.
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