Josh Gordon’s return story is one worth celebrating
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon made his return to the football field after a long battle with substance abuse…
The history between the Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Josh Gordon feels like it goes back a decade, considering all they have been through.
Gordon was initially selected in the second round of the supplemental draft, a clear indicator that the Browns believed Gordon could become a star despite off-field issues in college.
Very quickly as an NFL player, Gordon established exactly why he was both a supplemental draft pick and why he was invested in so highly as a player. The Browns were not the class of the NFL at quarterback, by any means, but Gordon was the league’s leading receiver in 2013 with 1,646 yards on 87 receptions.
Not to try and make a big deal out of something that wasn’t, but it was one of the most impressive single seasons by a receiver I have witnessed, considering the consistency of Gordon’s play week in and week out, the quarterback play in Cleveland, and the way defenses had to focus in on him.
But 2013 has become only a distant memory of what Gordon was after suspensions caused him to miss most of the 2014 season, and all of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Gordon made his return to the football field on Sunday, and seemingly picked up where he left off:
Josh Gordon returning to the NFL after a long battle with substance abuse is one of the best sports stories of 2017. Here's Gordon making his first catch in three years. https://t.co/NuolZ1pTBt
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) December 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/SportsQuotient/status/937445105606189056
Josh Gordon had 4 catches for 85 yards on 11 total targets. Here’s a look at each of the 7 other targets that didn’t result in catches for Gordon. pic.twitter.com/TTXkeytomv
— Jake Burns (@jake_burns18) December 4, 2017
Four catches for 85 yards in your first day on the job in three years?
Not bad.
Over a month ago, Gordon released a revealing video about his struggles with drug addiction, and what he had to do to get himself right off the field. Obviously, his battle to get back on the football field has not just been with Roger Goodell, but kudos to the league’s commissioner for allowing Gordon back into the league when the time was right, and not just permanently barring him from doing what he’s so good at.
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Just a year ago at this time, it felt like Gordon wouldn’t be given another chance by the Browns, or perhaps any team in the NFL, but they have stuck with him. Through different coaching staffs, different front office groups, and all the changes in Cleveland, Gordon has been a player they have remained faithful to.
Now, the Browns’ show of faith in Gordon is being reciprocated. The timeline, at this point, doesn’t matter.
What matters is that Gordon has put himself in position to be successful in football and he’s removed himself from — quite literally — the brink of death.
This is not just an incredible comeback story for the Browns, it’s a triumphant story for all of sports, and Gordon’s history can serve as an example for players who feel they are beyond the hope of repair.
Not everyone will get as many chances as Gordon, but who knows? Maybe all of those second chances Gordon was given helped propel him to the decision to ultimately change.