Josh Gordon Was About to Be Suspended

NFL.com - NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Gordon is facing another indefinite suspension for violating terms of his reinstatement under the substance abuse policy, according to a source informed his status. …

t’s a sad situation for the immensely talented but struggling receiver.

If Gordon is indeed banned again, it would be a long road back and could spell the end of the 27-year-old’s NFL career. If he never plays another NFL down, Gordon’s story will be remembered as an all-time coulda, woulda, shoulda player.

So I guess this puts a different spin on Josh Gordon “stepping away” from football to address his mental health issues. When you “step away” after you get suspended for violating the terms of your reinstatement, it’s more along the lines of yelling “I quit!” as security is escorting you to the parking lot or telling a girl you’re breaking up with her the second she dumps you.

Which isn’t to say being an addict is not a mental health issue. I’m sure by every clinical and medical definition it is. It’s just the natural human reaction to have less sympathy for a guy because he can’t stay off the booze or the weed for a few months than, say, a guy who’s got a voice in his head telling him to end his life. That’s probably not fair, it’s just the honest reaction. I spent too many years working in a court system populated by addicts who  simply refused even make a slight effort to stay off the junk. And expected sympathy and understanding in return. And it’s just a lot harder to muster for someone when you see they’ve gotten every imaginable break and done nothing with it.

Which applies to Gordon. I don’t know what more could be done for the guy. I just don’t. He was given a fresh start in New England. From the outside looking in, the organization and his teammates appeared to be giving him all the support anyone could ask for. Right down to them sticking him next to the GOAT:

And the only price he had to pay to reboot his career – not to mention, his personal life – by catching bombs from Tom Brady and experience a playoff run for the first time was to not test positive. And he barely made it three months before he started using again. He chose a buzz over  a rich, productive life in a perfect environment. I don’t know if you can sum up true addiction any more succinctly than that.

Of course this wouldn’t be the Patriots without a drama like this and the bizarre, over-the-top media overreaction that is following. First, there was personal acquaintance and friend of Barstool Ian Rapoport Tweeting out that the Pats knew he was about to be suspended, which is why Cordarelle Patterson was on the field on the final play last week instead of Gordon. Before rethinking it with this:

Nice save, Rap.

Less willing to think before they spit hot takes are the sports radio guys. On 98.5 they seem to be resorting to their default setting that this is all due to a moral failing on Bill Belichick’s part. And I have no doubt we’ll be hearing “arrogance” talk all day and into the night. Because that’s what it always comes down to. That if Belichick wasn’t always trying to be so clever and would just load up on high draft picks and use them all on wide receivers we wouldn’t be in this mess. (Right. Because that worked so well in places like Detroit and Cleveland.)

The fact is, the Patriots used a 5th round pick to get Gordon and a 7th rounder. Meaning they’ll slide back maybe 40 slots over the back end of the draft to get one of the most physically gifted receivers of all time. Even if he’s just a rental, that is a classic huge upside/zero downside move you make every single time you can. If it doesn’t work out you’re out nothing. If it does, you’re a genius. And in the short term it worked out. Gordon’s 720 receiving yards leads the team, despite fact he missed the first three games. They went 8-3 with him on the field, despite the freak ending in Miami he was not involved in. And let’s not forget the one touchdown they scored in Pittsburgh was thanks to him drawing three defenders away from Chris Hogan.

So this bites no matter how you look at it. But you’re either insane or just a demagogue – or both – if you’re saying that because Gordon couldn’t put down the pipe or the bottle that they never should’ve made the trade. Unless you think there was some Mormon with a 6-3, 225 frame and 4.45 speed suddenly available for next to nothing. Those guys, if they do exist, don’t end up on the trade market.

Finally I’ll just end it with a guy who is saying pretty much what I’m saying, only much, much better: