Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon

Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon could be back together soon if Gordon is re-instated.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Mike Pettine said he'll welcome Josh Gordon back with open arms if he's reinstated, and that a reunion between Gordon and Manziel is a positive if Manziel "is on the roster.''

It was the first time Pettine acknowledged that there's a chance Manziel might not be around.

"That would turn out to be a positive thing if Josh is with us next year and Johnny's on the roster, that those two have built a rapport together,'' said Pettine.

Asked to clarify his remark about the uncertainty of both, he said, "Again, that's just hypothetical, trying to project it to next year. Those are all questions that will get answered sooner than later. My sole focus is this weekend."

He acknowledged that the two haven't always been a good influence on each other in the past.

"We stress to our players and it's not just Johnny, but all of them, about making it in this business and getting the right people around you,'' he said. "I'm not going to sit here and pile on Josh. His history is documented and we haven't been able to by league rule have a lot of interaction, but from the feedback that we've gotten back, the returns there are very positive.''

Asked if he'd welcome him back into the fold, Pettine said, "Sure, he's a Cleveland Brown. Absolutely we would.''

He refused, however, to dream about what the passing game might look like next year if Gordon makes it back, and with Terrelle Pryor having a whole offseason with the team at receiver. In addition, tight end Gary Barnidge has signed a contract extension and Travis Benjamin said he's close to signing his.



"I'm focused on the receiving corps this coming Sunday,'' he said. "I know it's good to project and you're getting toward the end of the year, and the tendency is to start to look forward, but I can't.''



But it might be time for Pettine to start picturing it soon. A source told cleveland.com that Gordon is doing "outstanding'' in his bid to return to the Browns. Pettine also said he's gotten good reports from the Browns player engagement director, who's permitted to have contact with Gordon.



Related: Johnny Manziel in constant contact with Josh Gordon

In a video released Tuesday on ProAthlete TV, Gordon said the indefinite ban for violating the substance-abuse policy, which was announced Feb. 3, was just what he needed to get himself turned around.



"Since that day that the suspension was announced, in a sense I was kind of relieved," Gordon said from the Art Basel show in Miami Beach, where he debuted some of his art work. "I was distraught and embarrassed, but I was like, 'Man, I've been ripping and running too much, too fast.'

"I needed to slow down. I'm glad that somebody gave me a quick kick in the ass to let me know what's real and what's not."

Gordon, who designed all of his elaborate tattoos and creates his pieces on the computer using Photoshop and Illustrator, said he used art to help him cope with being out of football.

"In the sports world it's all about making everybody happy," Gordon said. "It's politics. It's not morality issues. It's not morals. But I respect it and I learned it, so you have to grow up and become more professional.

"I lived and I learned. For sure I took my lumps. I plan on bouncing back in a good way."

Manziel is eager to have his pal back with the Browns.



"Yeah, I still talk to Josh every week, so we've been in touch constantly throughout the season,'' said Manziel, who's gearing up to face the Seahawks' No. 2 defense on Sunday. "I got a chance to see him. I invited him down to the A&M game whenever I went back (after the) Thursday night game (in Cincinnati), so like I said, we've been in constant contact.''



To Manziel's knowledge, Gordon is doing whatever it takes to get reinstated. The protocol includes passing his random drug screens.



"I think he's doing the right things,'' said Manziel. "From everything I've seen, he's been working out each and every day in L.A, working really hard, so he's still here. We still have his rights. He's still a part of this team. I can only speak for me, and I'm excited to have him back. I hope he is back in the spring for sure.''



Manziel played only sparingly last season with Gordon, who was suspended for the first 10 games of the season for a positive marijuana test. But he knew all about Gordon's blockbuster All-Pro year of 2013, when he led the NFL with 1,646 yards on 87 catches. He also caught nine TD passes.



"All of you guys that were here in (2013) or whatever it was saw what he could bring to an offense,'' said Manziel. "We only got to see a little bit of a glimpse of it last year and I think having a full offseason with him in training camp, OTAs, and then getting into the season will only help him.''