Josh Gordon Failed to Prove Critics Wrong in Misguided Letter

By Casey Drottar @cdrottar19 on January 30, 2015

It’s been a tumultuous week for Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon.

His 2014 season was cut short thanks to a failed drug test, and then ended one week early due to his missing a mandatory team walkthrough. It already appeared he was on thin ice with the Browns, but Gordon’s future became even cloudier when it was announced this past weekend he had failed another substance screening.

With Gordon yet again making bad decisions, many around the sports media world gave their two cents. NBA legend Charles Barkley, who lost a brother to substance abuse, said Gordon could possibly meet the same fate if he didn’t change his life. NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter, who also had run-ins with drugs in his career, expressed concern about Gordon’s well-being.

It seemed clear these two were merely trying to enlighten a troubled player who was continually running into problems thanks to drugs and alcohol. Apparently, though, Gordon didn’t feel this was the case.

The wideout took to the internet yesterday, penning an open letter which took the time to clarify his various issues with the league. However, he also lashed out at Barkley, Carter and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. Gordon claimed these three and anyone else critiquing him didn’t know him or what he’s been through, attempting to prove they were all wrong in their assessments.

It’s easy to understand why Gordon felt the need to release this letter. In reading it, it’s also clear to see the position he took in writing it was completely off-base. Quite frankly, it doesn’t look like Gordon has learned anything. Not yet, at least.

This was Gordon’s first real chance to clear the air on his latest disciplinary issue, while also giving him an opportunity to apologize for letting his teammates and fans down knowing he’ll likely be suspended a full year. To be fair, he does take this chance, but it’s obvious this wasn’t why he penned the letter.

Gordon instead seems way too focused on trying to prove critics wrong. He goes on and on about how Barkley or Carter have never met him, and therefore have no right to say such critical things about him. That they have no idea about how rough his upbringing was and how difficult it was to overcome it.

I truly credit Gordon for making it through such a tough childhood. But, what he doesn’t seem to get is that Barkley and Carter weren’t insulting him. No, they don’t know him, but they were merely expressing concern over a player who’s spent the past year making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

On top of this, even when explaining the latest two suspensions he’s encountered, each was caveated with an excuse as if to try and paint himself as being the victim of strict punishment.

When bringing up his drug suspension, he was sure to add the ruling was “harsh, given what my lab results clearly showed, including a backup sample that was under the league threshold.” In noting his DWI from the summer, he felt it necessary to bring up “the fact that my blood-alcohol level was just .01 over the legal limit.”

Despite his attempts to show he is indeed not someone you need to be concerned about, it instead comes off as Gordon attempting to portray himself as a martyr, almost defending himself despite still breaking rules.

Even if you feel for Gordon on these defenses, it doesn’t change the fact he was suspended for them. Saying you were just .01 over the legal limit doesn’t change the fact you committed a crime. Explaining why you felt your original suspension was harsh doesn’t erase the fact you were suspended.

In the end, it was just another failed attempt at trying to make everyone believe the critics have it wrong about Gordon. Instead of giving legitimate insight and proving he’s learned from a year laced with mistakes, he appears more focused on making Barkley, Carter and everyone else who doubts him eat crow.

The biggest issue with this letter, though, is the simple fact Gordon went a long way towards not proving anyone wrong at all.

Sure, we are now aware Barkley or Carter indeed do not actually know Gordon. At the same time, does this prove they were wrong about him in their concerns?

You don’t prove to Carter you’re not the same player as he was by writing a letter talking about your past. You do so by making it an entire NFL season without being suspended. Barkley won’t be coming up to you to admit he was wrong about you because, frankly, discussing your past does nothing to make him believe this is the case.

If this letter proved anything, it’s that Gordon is very thin-skinned when it comes to critiques.

He’s a professional athlete; people are going to talk about him. Such is life when you play in one of the world’s most popular sports leagues. When the only stories you hear about someone involve the words “faces another suspension after a failed test,” pundits are going to offer their opinions. Instead of just accepting this and attempting to tune it all out, Gordon’s response to all of it appears to be attacking doubters by claiming they’ve never met him, as if this will make them apologize for being so short-sighted.

This letter is something you do after it’s been a few years since your last run-in, after you’ve been back on the field for a while, returning to your record-breaking ways. It isn’t something you pen four days after it was announced you’re facing a year-long ban.

I’m not sure what more to say about Gordon other than this letter did nothing to make me think everyone is mistaken in being concerned for him. No, I do not know him. No, I did not know he had such a challenging childhood, and I do credit him for making it as far as he did.

What I do know, though, is Gordon attempted to prove any and all critics wrong, and he failed.

Casey Drottar is a Featured Columnist for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter or “Like” him on Facebook