Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon once again opened up about his drug and alcohol abuse, this time in an interview with GQ Magazine, just days after the NFL officially reinstated him.
In speaking with GQ, Gordon revealed that taking some substance, whether it be drugs or drinking alcohol, became part of his pre-game ritual before every game.
Per GQ,
"We would stay at the team hotel, and then players are allowed to go back home, get what they need and then go to the game," Gordon said. "So I'd leave the hotel early morning, go home, eat breakfast, do my little ritual, whatever it may be, some weed, some alcohol and then go to the game. And then, I'd definitely be partying after every game, win or lose. Every game."
Gordon, who completed a stay in a rehab facility just last month, explained that he began taking drugs in seventh grade and continued to do so throughout college. He did something before every game he played in 2013, when he led the NFL in receiving yards while playing 14 games.
"When I got to the league, I think they had their doubts from the very beginning," Gordon said. "From the day they drafted me, they had to know there was some type of risk involved. I don't think that they specifically knew. But I'm sure they had their doubts. [I] missed a lot of meetings, showed up late a lot of times, eyes were probably bloodshot on many occasions. But I guess you couldn't really draw a definitive conclusion because I thought I was evasive enough. And because nobody told me anything."
The 26-year old wide receiver also opened up about the harassment he received in Cleveland, which is why he ultimately decided to move to Gainesville, Florida.
"Living in Cleveland, sometimes it could be a nightmare," Gordon said. "I've been harassed, had drinks thrown at me. I've been [followed] in the grocery store, heckled everywhere. At the games, people harassed and heckled my brothers and my mom. [My] brothers got into fights in the stands. Cars [have] been jumped on. Somebody dented the hood of the car. Had to sue a guy and get the money back 'cause he damaged the car. People are throwing money, pennies, to break the windows. So Cleveland was rough, man."
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Gordon is expected to be at the Browns' training facility today and the team hopes he will be ready to go for their Week 13 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 3rd. He is permitted to actually practice with the Browns starting November 20th and will be eligible to return to active status November 27th.
When he was eligible to play, Josh Gordon was one of the most dynamic receivers in the league, leading the NFL in receiving with 1,646 yards on 87 receptions in 2013. He last played for Cleveland in 2014 and has sat out the past two seasons.