Patriots Camp Leaks Rumors That Josh Gordon's Work Ethic Was an Issue

For many, it came as a surprise that the New England Patriots placed wide receiver Josh Gordon on injured reserve and had plans to release him, even though he was healthy enough to be on the active roster.

Maybe the Patriots were skirting the rules, but the rumors coming out of New England is that Gordon wasn't showcasing the kind of work ethic that is expected.

According to Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston, Gordon was late to meetings and the Patriots had difficulty locating the wide receiver on various occasions.

That's not something head coach Bill Belichick deals with, and when you aren't producing that much on the field, he isn't afraid to put you on the chopping block.

There's no denying that Gordon has an immense amount of natural talent, but you can't overlook his past, even if you want him to succeed.

In six games this season, Gordon has only 20 receptions for 287 yards. That's not very productive and it won't make coaches look past a player being late and not having a strong work ethic. Especially not someone who was clinging on to yet another chance in the league.