So much for the notion of Melevin Gordon's eventual return to the Los Angeles during the 2019 season.
In response to a Friday report about the two-time Pro Bowler being resigned to the fact that Los Angeles would fail to honor his trade request or meet his contractual demands, leaving him with little choice but to end his holdout, Gordon made it clear that information wasn't coming from him.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that a source close to Gordon indicated that though his holdout would continue indefinitely, he would ultimately play for the Chargers this season. The news quickly picked up steam in football circles, leading many to conclude that Los Angeles' hard-ball approach to his holdout was indeed the right approach all along.
Less than half an hour after ESPN published its report, though, Gordon responded with the tweet above, effectively putting player and team back at their previous stalemate.
The four-year pro began skipping team activities in late July, making it clear he was using his absence as leverage in extension negotiations. If Gordon doesn't sign a new contract this season, he'll enter free agency next spring, free to sign with the team of his choosing. After it became clear the Chargers were resisting to give him a market-value deal as one of the league's best backs, Gordon requested a trade, a development it seemed like management would honor when it permitted him to seek out interested teams in early September.
Only time will tell to know how this latest flurry of events will affect Gordon's status with Los Angeles. For now, though, both parties seem to be digging in their heels once more.