DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum New Gordon Thread

Ok I get what your saying.

I agree with that I mean hes a WR yeah you need to learn the routes and the WC is alot of timing stuff but if you can fly and catch your going to play.
I would probably at this moment have him 4th on the depth chart and after a few preseason games 2nd isnt unreasonable.
I figure hes about equal to Cribbs at this moment because as you said he did practice with the team all year. He was getting reps.

I expect a huge jump for Greg Little this year. I expect Gordon to get a few less catches than Little did his rookie year because Little came on last year without a true number one receiver on roster to compete with. I think when Gordon gets a catch, he will have more yards per catch than Little did because the Browns will have a better QB and line (and RB and coaches, etc). So here here are the stats for Little and Gordon their rookie yrs.

Little: 61 catches for 709 yards (avg 11.6 yards / catch) 2 TDs
Gordon: 50 catches for 750 yrds (avg 15 yards / catch) 4 TDs

It's just the beginning. Improvement in 2012 and Superbowl in 2013 Hell is just starting to freeze!!

If we suck this year, the only one probably on thin ice will be Weeden because if we are sucking and with this schedule that probably means a top 3 pick. We would use it on another QB. I think this regime is safe for a few more years.

No, no, no - please.........not another qb.

We have Weeden. Contrary to what SOME people think - I give him this year in its entirety - and next year. The ONLY way he doesn't get next year is if he's so bad it's pathetic.

Dang - Browns fans - already talking about possibly taking a first round qb NEXT year when practice for this year hasn't even started? Come on, man.

Potential and ability are one thing, stupidity is another.

When you get busted with pot, fail a drug test, and get kicked off a team, you should learn a lesson. When you transfer to another college, and fail another, that's just stupid. This guy better have his head on straight for us to take him in the 2nd round.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/14/josh-gordon-failed-three-marijuana-tests-in-college/


Josh Gordon failed three marijuana tests in college
Posted by Darin Gantt on July 14, 2012, 2:25 PM EDT
gordon-running-baylor-apjpg-cdbd0b937ccd0df4 AP

The Browns using a second-round pick (which they’ll lose in next year’s draft) to take wide receiver Josh Gordon in Thursday’s Supplemental Draft has been described as risky.

It’s Gordon’s off-field problems, more so than his on-field lack of polish, that worries teams.

In a detailed look at the quandary Gordon presented for NFL teams trying to evaluate him, NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported that Gordon failed three marijuana tests during his time at two colleges.

Gordon admitted last week to failing a test at Baylor which led to his suspension, but there were apparently two others he didn’t mention. The first was after he and a teammate were arrested while falling asleep in a Taco Bell drive-thru line (nice camouflage, stoners never go there). The other was at Utah, where he transferred after his second failed test at Baylor.

To his credit, Gordon’s at least saying the right things.

“The Cleveland Browns stuck their neck out and risked taking me and put their faith and belief in me, and I won’t let them down,” he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Breer notes that Gordon passed a recent drug test, and those results were given to all 32 teams. He also scored a respectable 24 on his Wonderlic.

“It’s very hard to find a comparable player,” an AFC personnel executive told Breer. “The off-field issues, you try and draw on those players like that who have turned into huge successes, and having those examples tends to give executives some peace of mind. I struggled to come up with a high volume of players that have had his amount of issues and done a 180. We’ll see. The rest of it is up to the kid.”

“It’s just something where you say, ‘Hey man, put [the marijuana] down’,” said an NFC personnel director. “You never know which way they’ll go when they get here. It’s hard to know how important football is, and how important weed is to the kid. And the environment he goes into is important too. Then, it’s how they mature through the process you put them through.”

Those issues are compounded by the fact Gordon has relatively little tape to look at. He had two 100-yard games in college, though he was overshadowed by a host of talented teammates.

Some have suggested he was a physical equivalent to players such as Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd, and maybe he is.

But unless he’s truly matured, the Browns have taken an incredible chance.

I guess if he failed to tell Heckert that he failed a drug test at utah, he will atleast have a good reason. memory loss is a side effect lol That makes this an epic reach. Heckert really put his reputation on the line for this kid.

In that case, maybe they will throw out all these concussion lawsuits and attribute it to pot use.

web page

Despite a report, Browns receiver Josh Gordon says he never tested positive a third time at Utah
Published: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 7:50 PM Updated: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 8:00 PM
Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
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gordon-2010-baylor-vert-bu.jpgBaylor photoJosh Gordon says he was clean the whole time he was at Utah in 2011.

CLEVELAND -- Despite a report to the contrary, Browns rookie receiver Josh Gordon told the Plain Dealer on Thursday that he never failed a third drug test at Utah.

Gordon admitted to the Plain Dealer that he failed two tests for marijuana at Baylor, one in October of 2010 a day after falling asleep in the drive-through of a Taco Bell with a teammate and one in June of 2011 after he returned from summer break. He said the second failed drug test was the last straw for Baylor and they suspended him indefinitely in July 11. He then transferred to Utah.

Albert Breer of NFL.com reported Friday that according to four NFL clubs, Gordon, 21, failed a third test at Utah, where he practiced with the team but wasn't permitted to play because of NCAA transfer rules.

"The whole time I was in Utah, I never ended up testing positive for any administrative test given by the administrative people there,'' Gordon told the Plain Dealer Thursday. "It was just their choice to test me and just make sure I was staying clean.''

Gordon declined to elaborate Saturday, but said the quote was accurate. Breer reported that Gordon submitted to a drug test before the supplemental draft and passed. He also said Gordon scored a solid 24 on the Wonderlic test.

. Gordon admitted to the Plain Dealer Thursday that while at Utah, he underwent group therapy and saw a psychiatrist three times a week. He said he had to report back to the team while football was in session.

Gordon left Utah after the year to help ease the financial burden on his mom and brother, and was trying to enroll in the University of Houston on a hardship transfer waiver as recently as June 27th. He said his grades weren't exactly what Houston wanted and they asked him to attend a four-week academic program before admitting him.

When it became apparent his playing status for this season was in doubt, he declared for the NFL's supplemental draft two days later, on Jun. 29. The Browns picked him in the second round and identified him as an eventual starter.

Gordon vowed to stay clean for the Browns and repay them for "sticking their necks out to draft me.'' He also said he doesn't have a problem staying off marijuana and that he's not addicted.

Well.....he could have worded it in a favorable way.

Time will tell.

Browns report: Josh Gordon won’t have trouble catching up, Baylor coach Art Briles says

By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published: July 13, 2012 - 10:07 PM | Updated: July 13, 2012 - 11:33 PM

Josh Gordon, the Browns’ newest wide receiver, will have an uphill battle as he tries to play catch-up this summer.

Gordon missed the installation of coach Pat Shurmur’s offense during organized team activities and minicamps. Now after being picked Thursday by the Browns in the second round of the NFL’s supplemental draft, Gordon is cramming to prepare for the start of training camp, which opens to the public July 28.

But Baylor coach Art Briles believes Gordon, who spent two seasons with the Bears before transferring to Utah, will conquer the daunting task he’s facing. If Gordon proves to be a quick study, he should be able fulfill the expectations of Browns General Manager Tom Heckert by immediately contributing in an offense desperate for reinforcements in its receiving corps.

Briles, though, has an even bolder prediction.

“I think opening day, he’ll be a starter,” Briles said Friday in a phone interview. “He’s that kind of talent. He’s got camp. He’s got four exhibition games. He’ll be ready to start on opening day.

“He just happens to be intellectually gifted enough that he’s going to pick stuff up in a hurry. Missing OTAs and all that, that’s not going to have any effect on whether or not he’s starting opening day — not if you like winning games.”

The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Gordon will need to surpass Mohamed Massaquoi if he wants to earn a starting job opposite second-year receiver Greg Little. It would be quite a feat, not only because Gordon must learn Shurmur’s sytem, but also because he hasn’t played in a game since the 2010 season, when he caught 42 passes for 714 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gordon was arrested for marijuana possession in October of that season. Baylor gave him a second chance, though he squandered it. Gordon recently told the Houston Chronicle that Briles suspended him indefinitely in the summer of 2011 after a failed marijuana test. Gordon then enrolled at Utah, where he practiced last season but was not permitted to play in any games because of NCAA transfer rules.

Briles, who still talks to Gordon on a regular basis, believes Gordon has learned from his transgressions and will stay out of trouble.

“I’m not concerned about that, I don’t think Cleveland’s concerned about it and Josh isn’t concerned about it,” Briles said. “If all we’re going to do is talk about what went wrong with somebody at one point in their life, not just him, but in general, then we’re going to spend time talking about a lot of people.

“He’s a great guy. He’s got a good soul, good heart. He’s very, very intelligent, very articulate and will be a great pro.”

Briles is convinced Gordon will prove himself despite all the hurdles he must clear. Heckert said Gordon needs to improve his route running, and Briles didn’t dispute the critique. However, Briles also thinks Gordon, who posted a respectable score of 24 on the Wonderlic test, a league source said, will adjust at an accelerated pace.

“He’s not a guy that you have to groom or that you have to get to play above his head,” Briles said. “His athletic ability along with intelligence and along with his desire and competitive nature is going to make him a great pro.

“Since the day he stepped on our campus, all he did was get better. That’s what you look at. If he’s standing in the room and you’re looking at the ceiling, there’s not one there when you’re talking about his ability.”

Briles insists Gordon’s upside could have made him a coveted prospect in April’s draft.

“He’d have been a first-rounder this year,” Briles said. “If he would have played the 2011 season, we would have had three first-rounders from Baylor. We’d have had Robert Griffin III. We’d have had Kendall Wright. We’d have had Josh Gordon. No question. I mean zero question.”

The Browns certainly hope they got the bargain Briles believes they did. web page

Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' confidence, Josh Gordon's problem, the Cavaliers' decisions and Nick Hagadone dispute with the Tribe
Published: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 11:50 PM
Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Fourth has passed, and this qualifies as those lazy, hazy days. But let's start talkin' ...

About the Browns...

1. Tom Heckert doesn't care what the experts think of his draft. The Browns' general manager doesn't care that some thought Brandon Weeden at No. 22 was too high, or that picking a 28-year-old QB is a bad idea. Heckert likes Weeden's arm and attitude. After watching Weeden in minicamps, the general manager and coaching staff are convinced they are right about Weeden. The quarterback play will improve with the former minor-league pitcher and Oklahoma State football star.

2. It's the same with picking Josh Gordon in the second round of the supplemental draft. Yes, Gordon sat out last season after transferring to Utah. Yes, he had two failed drug tests at Baylor. Yes, it's believed the Browns are the only team to submit a second-round bid. But it's also true that the supplemental lottery system gave Buffalo a higher spot than the Browns, and they feared Buffalo would submit a third-round pick. If that was the case and the Browns waited, Gordon would have gone to the Bills.

3. Just as the front office was not shy about trading a fifth-round pick to Minnesota to make sure they got Trent Richardson in April, Heckert and Co. were determined to grab Gordon. Heckert remembers being criticized for second-round picks used on T.J. Ward (2010) and Greg Little (2011), and both ended up as productive starters as rookies.

4. The Browns target about 20 players in the first few rounds -- and go after them. They know other observers may have some of them graded for the middle rounds, but they only are concerned with getting as many of that top 20 as possible. They projected Gordon to be in their top 20 next season, assuming he played at Utah.

5. They believe there's some speed with Travis Benjamin (fourth rounder) and Gordon. They have Little, who led the 2011 team with 61 receptions, 20 more than anyone else. For all the compliments given to Mohamed Massaquoi, the Browns have added three young receivers -- Little, Gordon and Benjamin. They know Massaquoi has yet to establish himself as a starter, and has a history of concussions.

6. Add Joshua Cribbs and Jordan Norwood to the mix, and there are six receivers. Seven if you want to count Carlton Mitchell, but he didn't impress the last two coaching staffs enough to get on the field for this receiver-hungry team. Cribbs will be primarily on special teams, as he is really valued on coverage along with returning kicks and punts.

7. For all the talk of Gordon, the receiver most likely to take a big step forward is Little. The Browns love how he's lost 15 pounds and seems quicker. He arrived after sitting out his last season at North Carolina for accepting money from an agent. Little missed rookie and minicamps in 2011 because of the labor dispute.

8. Yes, Little dropped a lot of passes, but he also had more thrown in his direction than any other player in an orange helmet. The Browns threw to Little 121 times (14 drops, 61 catches). Next was Massaquoi (74 targets, 31 catches, 4 drops).

About Josh Gordon and risk...
gordon-running-baylor-ap.jpgView full sizeAP fileJosh Gordon hasn't run away from the reasons for his departure from Baylor, which is an encouraging sign.

1. Yes, there is a risk about a guy who flunked two tests for marijuana and was suspended at Baylor. In most circumstances, I would be against it. I admit, a disputed report of a third failed drug test at Utah makes me nervous.

But I like how Gordon said the reason he had to leave Baylor was the marijuana tests. The school simply said "breaking team rules." He owned up to the second offense. He messed up and said so. His honesty impressed the Browns.

2. He stayed in contact with Baylor coach Art Briles, who believes the young man can turn around.

3. Gordon told the PD's Mary Kay Cabot: "I was in a rehabilitation program with group counseling, and I saw a psychiatrist, like, three times a week. ... I had to report back to the team while I was practicing. But I never tested positive at Utah."

4. At some point, we will find out if the report of failed test at Utah is true. I do know that Gordon's comments matched what the Browns discovered in their dealings with Utah, where coaches said Gordon was no problem off the field and their most talented receiver in practice.

5. The Browns have strong connections at Baylor. Brian (father of receiver Jordan) Norwood is the assistant head coach. They have been watching Baylor tape and attending practices for years. They heavily scouted Phil Taylor (their No. 1 pick in 2011) with the Bears. They believe they've done their homework.

6. When Gordon played in 2010, he tied Kendall Wright for the team lead with seven touchdown catches. Wright led the team with 78 receptions. Then came Tevin Reese (45), Terrance Williams (43) and Gordon (42). The quarterback was Robert Griffin III. Entering his junior season, Gordon was listed as the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart when he left school.

7. The bottom line will be how Gordon conducts himself with the Browns, where he should be drug tested regularly and remain in a support group. Staying straight will be the key to his success. web page

Does Brandon Jackson have a role with the 2012 Cleveland Browns? Hey, Mary Kay!
Published: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 10:30 PM Updated: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 10:31 PM
Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer


Hey, Mary Kay: I was just wondering whatever became of RB Brandon Jackson. I thought he was a good FA pickup last year but since he hurt his toe in preseason and went to IR I haven't heard anything about him. -- Joe Fratena, South Bend, Ind.

Hey, Joe: Jackson is healthy, ready to roll and looked explosive in OTAs and minicamp. He even revealed his goals, which include Pro Bowls and the Hall of Fame. He'll contribute mainly on third down and special teams.

Hey, Mary Kay: Isn't it to Brandon Weeden's advantage to go against the Browns' second-ranked pass defense in practice? I think it will make him a better quarterback. -- Tim Hartman, Strongsville

Hey, Tim: Weeden is a gunslinger who loves to fling it around in practice, and the young defensive backs have been getting their hands on plenty of balls. I think it will help him tremendously to go against Joe Haden and T.J. Ward in camp.

Hey, Mary Kay: Why are we not talking about replacing Pat Shurmur instead of McCoy? He was horrible in his first year as a head coach and play caller. Instead, the Browns are making McCoy the scapegoat for a failed season. With the weapons that the Browns now have I feel that McCoy can be successful in Cleveland. -- Howard Campbell, Atlanta, Ga.

Hey, Howard: Shurmur will be a better coach for three reasons: a year's experience, an off-season and an offensive coordinator. I also think McCoy would've been much improved this year in his second year in the system, with off-season camps, a new right tackle, premier running back and two new receivers in Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin.

Hey, Mary Kay: Last year I thought the equipment manager had a vested intrest in Clorox. White on white is okay for some games, though I prefer the Kardiac Kids colors (brown on orange). I'd like to see a mix. What was your vote? -- Jim Dial, Cleveland

Hey, Jim: The Browns will go four white and four brown at home this year. I'd love to see the orange pants mixed in, too.

Hey, Mary Kay: If the Browns finish as poorly as many suspect and are drafting at the top of the 2013 draft, do you think they'll make the strategic decision and take the best QB available. Or would they fear the fallout from taking Weeden in the first round this year? If they are picking No. 1 and don't take a QB, what position do you think they'd try to fill? -- J. Smith, Rocky River

Hey, J: No way will the Browns be picking first in the draft next year. I expect them to win more games than they did last season and could surprise folks if Weeden is good.

Hey, Mary Kay: What kind of comparisons can we draw between Brandon Weeden and Andy Dalton coming out of college? -- Richard Zunt, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Hey, Richard: Both ran spread offenses in college, and Dalton adjusted quickly to a pro-style scheme in Cincinnati. Both are very accurate, but Weeden is at least an inch taller and has a much bigger arm. He looked natural under center in OTAs and minicamp.

Hey, Mary Kay: When is Mike Holmgren going to actually reach out to Jim Brown in private and work something out with him to represent his team? It would be nice if the feud ended. It seems Holmgren needs to make the first move. -- Lou Kovach, Cary, N.C.

Hey, Lou: I think the Browns will reach out to Brown if they haven't already. Brown seems open to a reconciliation. Let's hope it happens soon.

Hey, Mary Kay: Shouldn't the Browns be supporting Scott Fujita in his efforts to have his suspension overturned? It seems ridiculous that the team should be punished for something they had nothing to do with. It seems the Browns as a team would have a case against the NFL here. -- Lucius Ferris, Rome, Ohio

Hey, Lucius: The Browns are staying neutral here, supporting both Fujita and Roger Goodell's decision to suspend him. They won't be challenging the commish on this one.

Hey, Mary Kay: I am very worried about Phil Taylor being hurt. Do you think this John Hughes will be the starter? Some analysts said they didn't even think he would be drafted. Was he at OTA's and how did he perform? -- Mark Occhionero, Cleveland Heights

Hey, Mark: Hard to tell until the preseason games just how effective Hughes and Billy Winn will be, but the Browns are excited about both and think they'll surprise people. They might end up rotating at the spot.

Hey, Mary Kay: The Patriots signed Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Gonzalez and others to compete at WR, supposedly in anticipation of not having Wes Welker due to a contract holdout. Belichick has moved star WRs before, and he loves draft picks. What would it take to get Welker in a trade? -- Ed Todd, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Hey, Ed: I don't see it. The Browns are excited about their receiving corps, especially with Thursday's addition of Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft.

Hey, Mary Kay: Has there been any official release of the training camp schedule and what is open to the public? Also, does Pat Shurmur plan to have a team scrimmage at the stadium on a Saturday afternoon like has been done in the past? -- Kyle, Coldwater

Hey, Kyle: The Browns have 16 practices open to the public from July 28-Aug. 22, including Family Night at the stadium Aug. 8 from 7-8:30.

Terry Pluto, ladies and gentlemen, with today's justification post of the week...

Pot and Gordon...No, pot is not physically addictive, and isn't of the same caliber as other drugs or alcohol which can derail not only a person's career, but their life. However, since he can be booted from the league for pot, and since he's failed multiple tests, the real question isn't whether or not pot is physically addictive enough to cause problems. The question is whether or not Gordon loves football more than pot. Jamarcus Russel loved purple-drank more than football. Let's hope Gordon doesn't love smoking pot more than being an NFL receiver.

I think he will love money more than pot and football. If he becomes a pro bowl receiver I would worry about paying him the big bucks for a new contract.

You can't really say H&H are taking a big gamble, since their only free-agent signings were nondescript defensive linemen. I think the fact that it feels like they went all in is more testament to how many holes they addressed through the draft.
No one player in the draft had a chance to make them better in the short term than Richardson. They fixed the OL, got the most NFL ready QB available and added defensive depth. The only criticism I had was not getting a WR other than Benjamin. Now, between Benjamin and Gordon, WR suddenly becomes one of the holes they may have addressed most effectively.
This team has gotten an incredible makeover. Gonna be interesting.

I hope that the fact that Gordon desperately wants to help his family financially will keep him on the straight and narrow. I am certain that the Browns will have a contract provision about failed drug tests, and that any such failed test will cost him dearly.

Im just guessing here, but wasn't phil taylor kicked off penn state? Greg little was suspended by ncaa, and i think jabal sheard had issues as well.

j/c

Josh Gordon failed three marijuana tests in college

The Browns using a second-round pick (which they’ll lose in next year’s draft) to take wide receiver Josh Gordon in Thursday’s Supplemental Draft has been described as risky.

It’s Gordon’s off-field problems, more so than his on-field lack of polish, that worries teams.

In a detailed look at the quandary Gordon presented for NFL teams trying to evaluate him, NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported that Gordon failed three marijuana tests during his time at two colleges.

Gordon admitted last week to failing a test at Baylor which led to his suspension, but there were apparently two others he didn’t mention. The first was after he and a teammate were arrested while falling asleep in a Taco Bell drive-thru line (nice camouflage, stoners never go there). The other was at Utah, where he transferred after his second failed test at Baylor.

To his credit, Gordon’s at least saying the right things.

“The Cleveland Browns stuck their neck out and risked taking me and put their faith and belief in me, and I won’t let them down,” he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Breer notes that Gordon passed a recent drug test, and those results were given to all 32 teams. He also scored a respectable 24 on his Wonderlic.

“It’s very hard to find a comparable player,” an AFC personnel executive told Breer. “The off-field issues, you try and draw on those players like that who have turned into huge successes, and having those examples tends to give executives some peace of mind. I struggled to come up with a high volume of players that have had his amount of issues and done a 180. We’ll see. The rest of it is up to the kid.”

“It’s just something where you say, ‘Hey man, put [the marijuana] down’,” said an NFC personnel director. “You never know which way they’ll go when they get here. It’s hard to know how important football is, and how important weed is to the kid. And the environment he goes into is important too. Then, it’s how they mature through the process you put them through.”

Those issues are compounded by the fact Gordon has relatively little tape to look at. He had two 100-yard games in college, though he was overshadowed by a host of talented teammates.

Some have suggested he was a physical equivalent to players such as Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd, and maybe he is.

But unless he’s truly matured, the Browns have taken an incredible chance.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/14/josh-gordon-failed-three-marijuana-tests-in-college/

Josh Gordon, on and off the field, a risky project for Browns

There's little doubt that Josh Gordon had a nice couple weeks showcasing his talent for NFL scouts. Otherwise, the Cleveland Browns wouldn't have burned a second-round pick in next year's draft to take the ex-Baylor wide receiver in Thursday's supplemental draft.

Still, questions remain: Was this a jumping-off point for a 10-year career as an NFL playmaker for Gordon? Or was it simply a guy straightening up when he had to, with millions of dollars on the line? Put another way, has Gordon really grown up, or was all this just a matter of how he showed up to evaluators?

There's a wide range of opinion on how good Gordon can be. There's plenty of room to wonder whether he'll ended up harvesting his considerable potential. That makes him a fascinating prospect to insert into the rookie class of 2012.

"It's very hard to find a comparable player," an AFC personnel executive said. "The off-field issues, you try and draw on those players like that who have turned into huge successes, and having those examples tends to give executives some peace of mind. I struggled to come up with a high volume of players that have had his amount of issues and done a 180. We'll see. The rest of it is up to the kid."

Gordon the football player is a project, which means the Browns have to trust his development will come. Like the AFC exec said, that is up to Gordon. The problem is that the reason for that stunted development falls squarely on the shoulders of the player himself.

According to sources with four NFL clubs, Gordon failed three drug tests as a collegian. The first two came at Baylor. The latter, according to these sources, came after charges were dropped in his marijuana-related arrest of 2010, and that led to his dismissal from the Baptist school, which has a reputation for being tough on drugs. That led to his transfer to Utah, where he failed another drug test.

Both the Browns and Gordon, through his agent, declined comment when presented with that series of events.

The truth is it's not uncommon for players to enter the NFL with an off-field issue on their records. Where it becomes troubling, to scouts, is when it starts to affect the player's career.

"It's just something where you say, 'Hey man, put [the marijuana] down'," said an NFC personnel director. "You never know which way they'll go when they get here. It's hard to know how important football is, and how important weed is to the kid. And the environment he goes into is important too. Then, it's how they mature through the process you put them through."

Tight end Aaron Hernandez is one who has seemed to grow after carrying a truckload of such baggage from Florida to the New England Patriots, having had minimal problems and plenty of production as a pro. Conversely, running back Mikel Leshoure, another first-round type of talent knocked down the board for these types of reasons, has yet to prove he can shake the problems he had as a collegian at Illinois as a pro with the Detroit Lions.

Gordon voluntarily submitted to a drug test prior to Thursday's supplemental draft, passed it, and the results were made available to all 32 teams. He also took a Wonderlic and posted a respectable score of 24. He's handled himself well and convinced some that the problems he had in Waco and Salt Lake City are behind him.

"I talked to a zillion guys at both Baylor and Utah," Browns GM Tom Heckert said on a conference call with the Cleveland media. "To be honest with you, I couldn't find anybody to say one bad thing about the kid. I really enjoyed meeting with him. It's something that is out there that we have done our homework on. To say we're 100 percent, we're not 100 percent on anybody in the draft, but we felt good enough that he's going to be a positive influence on our team."

There are also significant questions about Gordon as a player, most of which can be linked back to his lack of a track record. He only posted two 100-yard games in college. He totaled four catches for 36 yards in games against Texas and Oklahoma, the cream of the Big 12 crop, in 2010. His athletic ability isn't in question. What that ability will add up to on the field is.

"Take the background stuff out of it, let's talk about the player and his talent. He plays at just under 6-4 and at 220, that's hard to find, and does play with legit speed," an AFC college scout said. "I know he ran 4.52, but he plays like a 4.40 guy. … The issue is those Baylor guys are tough, there's no playbook, there's a lot of route conversions. He's gonna be starting over from a fundamental standpoint. He doesn't know how to run routes, and he has some natural tightness."

An NFC personnel executive called him "a straight-line guy." He agreed with the college scout who said Gordon would've gone in the late rounds if he'd been available in April. Others disagree.

"I think all that stuff is fixable," the NFC personnel director said. "Some things he does better than (Justin) Blackmon. He plays faster than Blackmon, has a similar body type. He has better body control and is a more fluid athlete. The difference is, Blackmon's finished product. Think of it this way, say you get 20 reps running a specific route at game speed, and add it up. Think of many reps he missed. That's how far behind he is. And then you have to think of how far he can go."

Asked if he stacks up with Blackmon or Michael Floyd, the 2012 draft's top two receivers, the NFC personnel man answered, "Physically, yes." And posed with the same question, the AFC personnel director said, "Floyd's a bit faster than him, he has similar speed to Blackmon. Both guys, Floyd and Blackmon, at this point, are better route runners than he is. And that's probably it. But yes, there are some common traits."

That Blackmon's name was raised is interesting, too. He had a DUI in college that was roundly dismissed. Then before he even got to his first training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he got a second one.

That's why clubs are careful. No one in the NFL is trying to put together a church choir. But they know that a player's off-field problems can do wide-ranging damage.

The difference with Blackmon is the Jaguars knew that he was, at least, able to manage whatever problems he had in college, stay on the field, and continue to improve, progress and give the NFL a full picture of who he was as a football player. Gordon couldn't do that in his three years at the college level. That's why, to so many clubs researching him going into Thursday, the picture was murky, and why he had to spend the last few weeks trying to clear things up with all those people.

The Cleveland Browns bought that Gordon has grown up. But only time will tell whether or not that's truly the case. That part is up to him.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82...ject-for-browns

Quote:

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The last university he was at? For a whole year injured?

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No he had to sit out a year, due to NCAA transfer rules.

Just the facts man.

why does it matter how many drug tests he failed?

I don't think it indicates a "pattern".. the guy failed drug tests in college... Heckert and company have pretty much given him a clean slate.. and now we just have to see what he does with the opportunity.

Then why did Phil taylor transfer to Baylor if he stayed with the team? Joe PAterno Kicks Chris Baker, Phil Taylor off team

Your saying they haven't drafted a guy kicked off another team. Not saying it's the same situation as Gordon, But don't try to say soemthing as a fact when it's not.

Its easy to quit. You dont even think about it unless its offered. Lets hope some players dont smoke it and try to mask it for test results. If the rest of the team is off weed, which I highly doubt it, he has no problem.

I think with his financial problems, hes reasdy for a pro career. Its so easy to quit with incentives. You dont even think about it. Easier to quit than drinking.

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I don't see why not unless we are going to get stuck on what blossom means.

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I'm basing that on one thing and one thing only, 2 years away from Football. I'm sure he's in good shape, but perhaps not "Football' shape. Timing issues, new offense to learn.. I think it adds up to us having to perhaps not expect big things the first year.

I won't be disappointed in him if he comes in with 25 to 30 receptions and 400 or so yards and a couple of TD's his first year. I'd call that ok for a guy who hasn't played for 2 years.

Greg Little didn't play for a year and you could see the rust on him.. Gordons been out 2 years.. see what I'm saying?

As far as what = blossoms,, for me, it's when he's considered a threat by opposing teams. I mean a scary threat.

Gordon wasnt all 2 years, this would be his 2nd year. He played 2 seasons ago. I think some are getting confused with that 2nd year, thats really this year. Hasnt played since 2010, which is the 2010-2011 season. Then he had his 1st eason off LAST YEAR but still practiced with Utah. Just couldnt play. Im not sure if Little practiced with anyone during his year off .

Being Optimistic, Gordon will have a year under his belt instead of a 2nd round pick rookie next year. Plus, it will be a later pick than 34 IMO. This would be Gordons 4th season in college after missing 1 YEAR. But he still practiced.

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Gordon wasnt all 2 years, this would be his 2nd year. He played 2 seasons ago.

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So all the reports are wrong then?

How many football seasons has he missed? if you say 2 (which you did) then, that's two years. right?