Toward an Indians Off-Season Strategy
November 20, 2014Houston Rockets leading race to get Corey Brewer
November 20, 2014Speaking for the first time as a reinstated member of the Cleveland Browns, Josh Gordon spoke candidly and thoughtfully to the media on Wednesday. Headlines were made earlier in the day when news broke of Gordon’s comments to former teammate Nate Burleson stating that he was ready to “tear this league up“, but the Gordon answering questions from the media Wednesday afternoon was not brash nor cocky, but instead showed signs of maturity and perspective.
There’s few things the media loves more than a headline-making wide receiver opening his mouth, saying something perceived to be audacious, and running with it. Millions around the country will see that headline, know Gordon from his marijuana suspension, and lump him into the diva wide receiver label which many are quick to slap on after the Chad Johnson’s and Terrell Owens’ of the world ran wild in the league. Gordon may be flashy by name and by the camouflage cover that used to wrap his Porsche, but at his core, he is just a 23-year old kid finding his way in this world.
When asked how the suspension had changed him, Gordon spoke about patience, a rare thing to find in the mind of a kid his age.
“As a person, it gives you more patience, I would say. With certain things, you’ve just got to be more patient. Everything takes time. Then, when the time comes around, hopefully, you get the opportunity to produce. When the time presents itself like right now, hopefully I can do that for us.”
Gordon continued, not dwelling on the past but instead expressing gratitude for where his life has taken him.
“Life is great right now. I can’t complain about anything. I’m blessed to be in the position I am. I’m not mad either way.”
When asked if he though his suspension was fair, Gordon said all the right things.
“Considering the rules and that the prior rules were broken, they had every right to do exactly what they did.”
When asked the loaded question of if he “feels a responsibility to repay the Browns for the faith and support they’ve shown him”. Gordon of course answered ‘yes’, but the Browns’ wideout made sure to mention the real people in his life that matter, and not just the millions of strangers who cheer him because he wears an orange helmet.
“Definitely. There are a lot of people that I feel I owe that to: family members, friends, people that felt more embarrassed about it than the city of Cleveland. As much as they are, the people close to me feel it harder than anybody. I feel as though I owe them, as well as the Browns. I’d like to do that by performing well.”
However, Gordon did make a point to show his gratitude for all the Browns fans who have stood by him.
“To the fans, I just want them to keep on supporting us like they have been. They’ve been definitely the most dedicated, most loyal fans out of any team in the NFL. That’s for sure. Wins and losses my first two years here, we didn’t do as good, but the fans remain consistent. More so than any player, the fans remain consistent. They could just keep doing what they’re doing, and I’m just trying to pick up the slack where I can and trying to make it easier for them to be a fan.”
He then added his thoughts regarding Browns’ fans believing he wouldn’t have any more suspensions.
“Honestly, people are going to just believe what they want to believe. I can say it until I’m blue in the face, and people still might not believe it. Until it’s done, until it happens, that’s the longevity out of it that I’m trying to make. Three years down the line, hopefully, they’ll see it, but it won’t happen, I think, until years down the line. That’s just where I’m at right now with my past and what’s going on now.
And what did Josh think about the whole “tear this league up” story? No surprise, the comments were just a tad overblown.
“We might have a misquote (laughter). I told him I definitely wanted to outwork everybody at my position or anybody opposing me, just to put that effort out there and that leadership role through showing what I could do on the field as a sense throughout the entire league. He probably took it and [spun] it, but it’s cool. Nate’s my guy so in that context, sure.”
9 Comments
Uh oh, the ‘Gordon is a changed man this time’ piece. I think I’ve seen this harbinger before…
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Everyone has heard it before and has reason to be skeptical but I’ll try and be optimistic on this one only because it will be great to see #12 back out there. I never thought this kid would be anything remotely close to what he has shown so lets all hope for his sake he’s finally learned his lesson.
” … but at his core, he is just a 23-year old kid finding his way in this world.”
Ryan, unless you know this young man personally writing this is ridiculous fawning. His history of atoning statements after past transgressions to college coaches, Browns coaches and media more likely suggest a world-class brown noser, just a 23 year old who has repeatedly violated the trust of every team he’s played for. Let’s finally try to root for our teams like adults. Let’s be thrilled if, knowing he’ll be tested every week, there’s no more second-hand, strep throat, friends holding in my car incidents. Let’s be thrilled if he’s then (incredibly) released from the whole program with a slate wiped clean, and see what he does with additional strikes. But let’s stop celebrating a guy we know absolutely nothing about, other than his sheer physical ability. In retrospect, no one is really proud of the type of hands-over-ears, thumb-sucking fandom we bestowed on Albert or Gaylord or Manny. Make the hero earn your respect. Don’t be so desperate.
Also, while I get that we can’t expect someone in their early 20’s to have the life experience of someone much older, can we stop calling him a kid? He’s an adult. Lets call it like it is.
Did we really ignore Albert and give him the benefit of the doubt? I remember things quite differently, with his transgressions being widely reported and the fans showing him no quarter. In fact, I remember fans being overly harsh on him which just exacerbated the situation. But maybe my memory is faulty.
Heard the same thing about Gordon after his suspension during the 2013 season. The proof is in the pudding …
a lot of fans were a little uncomfortable when he’d do something to them (chuck ball into fan chest, drive down trick-or-treaters) but nearly everyone chuckled at what he directed elsewhere: interviewers or photographers just doing their jobs, Fernando Vina, thermostats. Easy to remember the post-facto bile we directed at him because he returned to full stadiums jeering and throwing money at him beginning in ’97. We loved him because he epitomized Cleveland finally getting to play the bully. Had he stayed to the turn of the century I think there would be almost as many Belle jerseys walking around as Vizquels and Thomes.
Fair points Harv, but I think we need to be careful lumping Gordon into the same category as Albert, Gaylord, or Manny. I haven’t heard any accounts of Gordon being hostile towards teammates or fans.
My position on Gordon stems from the fact I’m not far removed from being a 23-year old myself and have plenty of friends in that age group. It’s a dumb age. One where you think you know it all, but in reality know very little. I agree that anyone who is a hero to you must earn your respect and it shouldn’t be simply given. However, I don’t view Gordon as a hero, but more so as a peer.
Has he let down his teammates and coaches? Yes.
Is he a bad guy? I tend to think not.