Patriots’ intricate Josh Gordon plan blew up in their faces

The New England Patriots had an extensive plan in place to help troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon avoid the suspension that ended his season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The NFL on Thursday suspended Gordon, hours after he announced that he planned to step away from football indefinitely to address his mental health.

He was returned to the Reserve/Commissioner Suspended list indefinitely for violating terms of his reinstatement from a yearlong ban for substance abuse.

But while the Patriots had assigned personnel to be with Gordon at all times to avoid such an incident, reports Schefter, he might have somehow eluded security during the Patriots bye week in mid-November.

Gordon, 27, was suspended the entire 2015 season, one year after serving a two-game suspension, all for drug violations, and has been banned a total of 56 games in his career.

The Patriots acquired him from Cleveland earlier this season. In 11 games in New England, he caught 40 passes for 720 yards with three touchdowns.