Josh Gordon has been involved in his fair share of drama since entering the NFL and all fans have heard since his suspensions is how much he’s in a downward spiral, how he’s throwing his career away and everything in between. The negative talk surrounding the wide receiver standout wasn’t as bad as this past season, when he was suspended for the first half of the Browns’ games thanks to another failed drug test.
The NFLPA challenged the ruling of himself and others and actually they got the league to change the threshold for marijuana under a new drug policy, meaning under new rules, Gordon was under and eligible to play. Since it was his second offense, he still had to face a suspension but it went from a one year ban, to only eight games.
Then Gordon failed another test by the league, which now has him facing a one-year band indefinitely.
With everyone in sports media coming out of the woodworks and trolling, saying things like “this is going to lead to his death” (Charles Barkley) and statements like that, Josh Gordon has taken the time out to give his side of the story and write a letter to the media journalists who constantly criticize him and try to crucify him on TV.
In his letter, he talks about his upbringing in the tough Fondren neighborhood in Houston, how he hung out with the wrong crowd and made bad choices in college. He also takes responsibility for not making better judgement calls during his time in the NFL, but apologizes to his Cleveland teammates and fans for the choices he’s made so far.
He also explains what happened that led to his latest failed test by the NFL and the ones previous to this. From his perspective, it’s been a series of unfortunate happenings, but in no way, shape or form is he an addict or alcholic.
“I failed myself when started using marijuana regularly as a young teenager. I failed myself when I ruined a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be Robert Griffin III’s running mate during his Heisman Trophy-winning season at Baylor. I failed myself when I didn’t check with the league office to ensure that my doctor-prescribed, codeine-based medicine was allowed under NFL guidelines. I failed myself when I was arrested for driving a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit. I failed myself when I missed a team walkthrough late in the season and was suspended for the final game of the year.”
“What I do know is the following: I am not a drug addict; I am not an alcoholic; I am not someone who deserves to be dissected and analyzed like some tragic example of everything that can possibly go wrong for a professional athlete. And … I am not going to die on account of the troubled state you wrongly believe my life to be in. I am a human being, with feelings and emotions and scars and flaws, just like anyone else. I make mistakes — I have made a lot of mistakes — but I am a good person, and I will persevere.
If I have a “problem,” it is that I am only 23 years old — with a lot left to learn. I’ve come a long way from those mean Fondren streets, but it’s clear that I can be a better me — one who kids coming up to me for selfies and autographs can be proud of. I want that future for myself. And I truly believe that what I am going through right now will only make me stronger. I believe that my future is bright.”
Read the entire letter over at Medium.
OS REWIND: Josh Gordon Fails Another Drug Test, Faces 1-Year Ban
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