Josh Gordon says he doesn’t have a drug problem

Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

While Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon sits and waits out his year-long suspension from the NFL for having failed another drug test, among other offenses, he finally obliged reporters and gave an insightful interview. His message is simple. He never had a drug problem, and he still doesn’t.

More from Cleveland Browns

Gordon said per the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he doesn’t think he has a drug problem, which may be an entirely different issue than what has been discussed regarding his future in the NFL.

"“Do I believe I have a drug problem? Definitely not. In this case, I was exposed to it from second-hand (smoke), and prior to I’ve been drug-free and have been staying that way – and this incident has been causing a backlash of negative attention and negative media of me being an addict or a junkie, or using drugs terribly too much, which is definitely not the case and I’d like to definitely have that out in the open and be clear with that for sure.”"

Gordon notes that he tested clean “around 70 times before the incident occurred.” The young receiver has had to bide his time at a car dealership while he waits on reinstatement either next summer or perhaps earlier if the league and the union can come up with an acceptable revision to the league’s current drug policy. Speculation has grown that Gordon and others suspended for drugs could be immediately re-instated by the NFL.

For now though, Gordon will just have to perfect his sales technique while he waits for his chance to return to the NFL and prove the doubters wrong.