Josh Gordon

Browns suspended receiver Josh Gordon is hoping to be reinstated from his indefinite suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he might want to meet with Josh Gordon himself before making a decision on his reinstatement, but will know more in a week or two when he gets a report from his staff.

"I'd rather wait until I sort of get a report and whether it's appropriate to (meet with him),'' Goodell said after a press conference at the NFL annual meeting. "I think it probably depends on the circumstances, and until I understand what's in that report ... but I might want to do that. I might choose to do that.''

Goodell acknowledged that he doesn't know yet if anyone in the NFL or its medical personnel have met yet with Gordon to see if he's adhered to his treatment program and passed his drug tests over the past year of his indefinite suspension under the substance abuse policy.

"Again, I haven't gotten that report,'' he said. "I'm supposed to meet with them next week or the week after. When I get more information we can decide what the next appropriate step is, whether it's me meeting with him or whether they've already met with him individually or whether others have met with him. A lot of these (meetings) are also with other people outside our staff, who might be medical professionals.''

Although the NFL generally tries to rule on such as indefinite suspensions within about 60 days of the player's application -- which would have been around Sunday -- a league spokesman told cleveland.com this week that the NFL can rule "when appropriate'' depending on the circumstances.

If Goodell doesn't even receive the report from his staff for a week or two, Gordon could miss the start of the Browns' off-season program April 4th.

"As soon as I get that information I'll know better.''

During the press conference, he said the staff has been working on it.

"We're obviously aware of it,'' he said. "As soon as we have an opportunity to see that we'll make a judgment. No decision yet."

The Browns grew weary of answering questions about Gordon here and are prepared to play 2016 without him.

"I would just say probably enough Josh chatter," Brown said. "I know he's intriguing but really for us, we're focused on the guys that are on our roster and if Josh comes back, great, and if he doesn't, we're ready.''

Coach Hue Jackson admitted he's installing the offense without the All-Pro receiver.

"I always learned something a long time ago -- you never worry about something you never had," Jackson said. "I've never had any contact with him, so I'm going to plan on what's in our building now and go from there.''

Brown acknowledged that talk will be cheap when it comes to Gordon, who's been suspended for 27 of his last 32 games.

"I don't think it will be about words with Josh,'' he said. "It will be about actions.''

Brown said the team has been given no indication on a timeframe or what to expect.

"We're holding tight and if something positive comes out great,'' he said. "If not, we'll prepare for that too.''

Brown seemed much less optimistic about Gordon being on the team than he did at the NFL Combine in February.

"Everything that we knew at that point, things were moving forward,'' he said. "We don't have a lot of information on it.''

He re-iterated that the Browns would have to meet with Gordon and get a comfort level with him before they decide to keep him on the team.

"Any time we've got a player that's been suspended for that amount of time and had some of the challenges Josh has had thus far in his career, you need to sit down with him and understand where his head is before you bring him back into your locker room,'' he said. "From everything I've heard, Josh is eager to get back and start playing.''

But the league doesn't seem to have a sense of urgency to let him back in.