Page 27 - Florida Sentinel 12-20-19

Sports
Clinton Portis Denies Insurance
Josh Gordon Suspended Indefinitely For Violating
NFL Drug Policy
Josh Gor- don has once again run afoul of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Gordon
LeBron James Still
Fraud Charges Against Him
Management, Wants
Doesn't Like Load
Former Redskins running back Clinton Portis was one of nine former NFL play- ers charged by the Justice Department last week with defrauding an NFL health care system for retired play- ers.
Immediately after news broke, his attorney told The Washington Post on Thurs- day that "Portis had no knowledge that his participa- tion in what he believed to be an NFL sanctioned medical reimbursement program was illegal."
On Tuesday, Portis joined 106.7 The Fan's Grant and Danny, where the long- time Redskins running back echoed his attorney's state- ment and denied having any involvement in the situation.
"For me, I would think people know me better than
has been sus-
pended indefi-
nitely after
another viola-
tion of the league’s policy on performance enhancing sub- stances and substances of abuse.
Gordon’s struggles with substance abuse continue. This is the fifth time he’s been sus- pended under the policy de- spite being just 28 years old. He has battled addiction issues for many years, and simply cannot seem to shake them off. Gordon’s season started with him trying to put these issues behind him, with the NFL’s support. It simply hasn’t worked.
Gordon had only seven catches for 139 yards since moving to the Seattle Sea- hawks this season. His career is in serious jeopardy at his point.
LeBron James has been clear about one thing this season: He doesn’t like load management.
In early November, amid a hot start for the Los Ange- les Lakers, James said after a game that as long as he wasn’t hurt, he’d be playing.
James hasn’t let up on that position. On Sunday, he actually doubled down, reit- erating that he will play if he’s healthy because he feels it’s his obligation to the fans — especially the kids — who come to see him.
You might imagine that someone like James, a 17- year NBA veteran who is about to turn 35 and is com- ing off the first injury- plagued season of his career, might be in favor of load management. It could help him avoid injuries and stay in the NBA longer, which at his age is likely a goal.
CLINTON PORTIS
that to know what I'm into, to know what I stand for as an individual," Portis said. "There's nothing else I got to say about it."
"I just would hope that people that's familiar with me, people that's around me, people who had the opportu- nity to converse with me, get to know me, would know bet- ter," Portis continued. "It's some stuff that you see and you know exactly what it is."
LEBRON JAMES
James isn’t having it. He got into the NBA to play, and that’s what he’s going to do until he can’t (or doesn’t want to) anymore. He’s still LeBron, after all, and that name (and the guy attached to it) still means something to kids who love the game. James doesn’t want to let them down, or any fan who comes to see him play.
JOSH GORDON
To Play For The Kids
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