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SPORTS Wednesday 11 OctOber 2017

Suspended Gordon details drug use, hopes for NFL comeback

By TOM WITHERS he’s changed. games in 2014 following
AP Sports Writer “Honestly the whole expe- a DUI arrest. When he re-
CLEVELAND (AP) — Reveal- rience has been humbling turned, Gordon recalled,
ing he was scared for his and it’s humbling every he missed a team meet-
life because of another day. Brutally so,” Gordon ing before the season fi-
drug relapse, suspended said. “A dose of reality for nale and when he got to
Browns wide receiver Josh sure, when you’re put in a the airport, he was told
Gordon is making his case position to be constricted by then-general manager
to be reinstated by the NFL. socially, financially, just all Ray Farmer that he wasn’t
Gordon detailed years of resources exhausted, the going with the Browns to
substance use, the depths ego is diminished to just Baltimore.“I was watch-
of his addiction and his de- about nil. The only thing ing the plane go off,”
termination to turn his life I know I have to go off of Gordon said. “I was like:
around during a 13-minute is my faith, family and my ‘Well, F it. Let’s go home.
video released Tuesday on ability with football.” Let’s party.’”Gordon was
the website Uninterrupted. A league spokesman did suspended for all of 2015,
The former All-Pro who led not immediately respond when he fell into a dis-
the league in yards receiv- to an inquiry on Gordon’s In this Sept. 1, 2016, file photo, Cleveland Browns wide receiver turbingly dark place. He
Josh Gordon warms up before an NFL preseason football game
ing in 2013 was indefinitely status. against the Chicago Bears in Cleveland. wandered the streets of
suspended by Commission- Gordon said he’s had sev- Associated Press Gainesville, Florida, look-
er Roger Goodell two years eral candid conversations lege “just because of my After his first suspension as ing for drugs.“I just began
ago following another vio- with Goodell, who will de- ability.”“I’ve used alcohol a pro, Gordon entered re- to have a flashback and
lation of the league’s sub- termine his professional fu- many, many occasions,” hab but acknowledged it remembered all the nega-
stance-abuse policy and ture. he said. “Xanax, many oc- was simply a publicity stunt tive things that have hap-
missed Cleveland’s last 38 “He gets a bad rap, be- casions. Cocaine, several to pacify the media and pened in my life that trans-
games. cause people don’t under- occasions. Marijuana, most fans.“I was there for 14, pired,” he said. “And then
He’s had numerous stints in stand him and they don’t of my life. Codeine cough 15 days. It was a joke,” he just something clicked in
rehab — most of which he know him,” Gordon said. syrup, promethazine, very said. “It was pretty much a my head, it’s like, ‘Man, you
said he didn’t take seriously “But for me, he’s a great prevalent from where I’m vacation. I had a bunch of did it again, you’re willing
— and the 26-year-old Gor- guy. He’s a great man, he’s from. It’s what I grew up us- good, gourmet meals and to throw away everything
don can re-apply to the been a friend to me. He’s ing.” took a little break and then you ever work hard for, ev-
league this fall. been a mentor to me in a After he got arrested for got right back to work and erything you ever had out
In the meantime, Gordon, way in which he may not marijuana possession at then led the league in re- of life.’“It’s so strange, but
who was interviewed dur- even understand.” Baylor, one of Gordon’s ceiving yards.” I just had a desire to stop, I
ing a recent three-day Gordon said his drug coaches provided him Gordon finished with 1,646 had the desire to get help,
leave from the Florida Re- use has been enabled with “bottles of detox” to yards and nine touch- invest myself 100 percent
covery Center after 70 by coaches and teach- helped him pass drug tests, downs in 2013. into whatever was going to
days in the facility, said ers dating back to col- he said. He was suspended for 10 help save my life.”q
Rams waive former starting safety Alexander, add WR Thomas

By DAN GREENSPAN peared in 41 games, in- out in the secondary. performance-enhancing cut the receiver who was
Associated Press cluding 23 starts, for the “I really enjoyed being drugs. The Rams received drafted in the sixth round in
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. Rams over the past three around Mo, but I think it’s a roster exemption after 2016.
(AP) — The Los Angeles seasons. He started 14 a credit to the depth that Thomas’ suspension ended Thomas is the seventh wide
Rams waived safety Mau- games last season, record- we’ve established at that last week, but had to de- receiver on the Rams’ 53-
rice Alexander a day after ing 38 tackles and two in- safety position,” McVay cide whether to activate or man roster.q
he was a surprise healthy terceptions. said. “That depth allows
scratch in their 16-10 loss to Rookie John Johnson III re- you to be able to make
the Seattle Seahawks. placed Alexander in the some of those decisions.”
Alexander started the first starting lineup against Se- McVay had said Sunday
four games of this season, attle, and the third-round that Alexander’s absence
but was inactive against pick had three tackles and was not disciplinary in na-
the Seahawks. an interception. ture, but came from a de-
“There were some things Johnson’s emergence, sire to have more corners
where we expected a bet- combined with the play available to deal with Se-
ter level of play from him of Cody Davis and Blake attle’s passing attack.
and he knew that. Those Countess and the impend- The Rams used Alexander’s
things were communicat- ing return of starting free roster spot to bring back
ed,” Rams coach Sean Mc- safety Lamarcus Joyner, wide receiver Mike Thom-
Vay said Monday. who’s missed two games as, who was suspended
A fourth-round pick in the with a hamstring injury, left for four games after he vi-
2014 draft, Alexander ap- Alexander as the odd man olated the NFL’s policy on