Josh Gordon proving talent, not character creates NFL opportunity

The NFL loves to pass itself off as a sports enterprise championing squeaky clean morals when a reality like Josh Gordon proves far different.

I won’t go into the entire Kaepernick thing again. This is purely centered around the former Pro Bowl wide receiver. Here’s a young man with enough talent to be the best at his position in an entire generation. That’s not overinflating the matter. Gordon was an All-Pro back in 2013 despite having a long list of drug problems that became evident later on. There’s no telling how great he might’ve been had he managed to stay clean.

He didn’t though. He committed multiple violations despite the league giving him literally every opportunity they could think of to get it fixed. It didn’t work. Once again Gordon self-destructed, walking away from the game after it was revealed he’d committed yet more violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. At what point does the NFL say enough is enough move on? Except they won’t because that’s never been their way.

From @GMFB Weekend: #Patriots WR Josh Gordon had multiple violations of the drug policy and it was more than marijuana, sources say. He has to show he's clean for a sustained period of time to return. pic.twitter.com/pvmJ9nZ4eg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2018

Josh Gordon proves the NFL was never the Boy Scouts of America

More from NFL Mocks

The league wants its players to be the epitome of role models. Donate to charity. Act like a gentleman at all times. Make the women love you, the children to idolize you, and the men to respect you. Be good for the brand. The problem is the NFL doesn’t teach players about high moral values, as much as they’d like people to think they do. They teach a simple lesson:

“Play hard, make us and yourself a lot of money, and try to stay out of trouble.”

It’s a business. That’s all it is. They are focused on the bottom line, which is making as much money as possible. Gordon, with his capacity for making highlight-reel plays, would be afforded multiple opportunities to return because that capability brings in viewers and viewers bring in cash. That’s why a guy like Greg Hardy got another chance despite clear indications he beat women. It’s why Karem Hunt will get another chance eventually too.

Businesses are not places to use as a moral compass. Never have been. The sooner fans learn that the sooner they won’t be shocked by situations like the NFL constantly leaving the door open for guys like Gordon to return.

Home/NFL Hot Takes