When wide receiver Josh Gordon returned to the Cleveland Browns, it was reported that interest in free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant had subsided. 

Head coach Hue Jackson said that Gordon's return does not impact the team's interest in the former Dallas Cowboy. 

“No, I think one has nothing to do with the other in my opinion.  Things will unfold as they will.  The most important thing that we know is that Josh is here.  We have had a good conversation with Dez.  Until he is a Cleveland Brown, I only can worry about the guys who are on this football team," Jackson said. 

Honestly, the coach is probably being truthful.  Gordon's return would not impact the decision to sign Bryant.  The timing of the report suggests that the two incidents were related but what was already known does not.  The team expected Gordon to return in time for the regular season.  Their thought process never changed in that regard so, why would Gordon's presence have any effect on General Manager John Dorsey's decision? 

Instead, there is a more impactful development. 

When Cleveland initially expressed interest in Bryant coming for a visit, it was the night of the first preseason game against the New York Giants.  Rookie Antonio Callaway scored a touchdown in that game.  The development of Callaway and third year wide receiver Rashard Higgins meant that wide receiver openings were going to be hard to come by.  The situation was complicated even further by the sudden signs of potential from rookie wide receiver Damion Ratley.  Ratley has flashed in practice recently.  Then, the team has Derrick Willies, who had a couple of nice catches against the Buffalo Bills, and veteran Jeff Janis, who excels as a special teams member. 

If Bryant were to be signed, then he would immediately become one of the team's top three wide receivers but Dorsey will have a hard time sacrificing promising young talents for a one-year rental; a one-year rental that ended his time in Dallas on bitter terms.  A young player or a special teams contributor will have to be sacrificed at the expense of Bryant because they are not going to keep seven wide receivers.  Cleveland's young team is still mentally fragile, still trying to overcome the expectation of losing. 

The wide receiver sounded more than open to what the Browns were professing to him and Jackson seemed similarly intrigued by Bryant during Tuesday's episode of HBO 'Hard Knocks.' 

It may be in Bryant's best interest to not join the Browns too.  He is essentially a junior college recruit.  Teams willing to sign him understand that it would be a short-term relationship but they are willing to take on that challenge because of his talent and ability to contribute immediately.  Bryant is looking to produce this season and he may not be happy being the No.  3 wide receiver in Cleveland. 

Money is not the issue here either. 

It is fun to consider a receiving core that features Jarvis Landry, Gordon and Bryant but it may not be the right fit for the player or the coach.