Josh Gordon is a highly talented receiver for the Cleveland Brown who returned to action last week after spending 10 games on the suspended list for failing the NFL’s drug test. And he’s wondering why his teammates aren’t trying to hang out with him?
It was his second time missing games for substance abuse issues with the league. Why players want to keep a distance should be the least of his surprises.
Players want to play in harmony and not with the specter of guilt by association. Two suspensions ranks as a problem, and players don’t want or need problems.
“The lowest point of all this I think was the disassociation from a lot of friends you thought were close or you thought were kind of cool with really not checking on you anymore, [not] hitting you up anymore, [not] wanting to hang out,” Gordon said. “As far as even people in here (with the Browns), I don’t want to throw names around, but I can see it.
“I’m definitely really observant so I see how people might just be more standoffish (than) they were before. It’s kind of like a disease. People they want to see it, but they don’t really want to touch it.”
Gordon, who had eight catches for 120 yards and was key in a critical victory in Atlanta in his first game, is the untouchable. Not to say that players or the organization should abandon him. He should receive calls of concern from friends. It’s what teammates do.
But Gordon’s job, aside from on the field, is to be a good teammate to them and not put himself in a position to be suspended again. Hurting the team as he has and expecting everyone to be all warm and fuzzy about his return is unrealistic. He has to do his part to make them feel like he deserves their support.
