Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon Doing All the Wrong Things After Rookie Year

Dec 9, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (13) runs for a first down after a catch in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Brows wide receiver Josh Gordon is in a heap of trouble after being suspended by the league two games after testing positive for codeine. He will also be docked four game checks.

Apparently none of this should come as a surprise.

According to ESPN’s Tony Grossi Gordon changed in a big way after his rookie season:

"As a rookie, Gordon was somewhat shy and a bit of a loner. He was force-fed into a starting role after not playing in college for two seasons due to suspensions and transfer. During the Browns season, Gordon had virtually no leisure time away from football. As a result, his phenomenal skills were directed to a productive first season. The third-youngest player in the NFL last year, Gordon took small steps on the road to stardom.But when his first season ended, something happened to Gordon. He changed agents. According to a source, he gravitated to South Beach in south Florida – the party haven of young pro athletes — and ran with a different crowd. He was influenced by the wrong people. He tested positive for a banned NFL substance — codeine, Gordon said in a statement — and was slapped with a two-game suspension to start the 2013 season, and fined a total of four game checks."

Grossi goes on to write that the rookie symposium, which Gordon apparently didn’t attend, wouldn’t have been able to save Gordon. His transition from quiet rookie to outgoing star athlete was quick and thorough.

You have to remember that Gordon is only 22 years of age. He did explode on to the scene last year with over 800 yards receiving and five scores, but at some point his maturity is going to have to catch up to his on-field production.

Hopefully Gordon’s suspension will send him a wake-up call. He’s a phenomenal player who has yet to even scratch the surface of his potential. It would be a real shame if he never reached his full potential because he was too concerned with off-field events and the lavish style that comes with being an NFL superstar.

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