New Details Emerge From Josh Gordon’s Recent Absence From The Browns

Josh Gordon was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 2nd round of the 2012 Supplemental Draft.

The receiver clearly had 1st round NFL Draft talent, but because of a number of college incidents, mostly related to marijuana, he was subjected to the Supplemental Draft.

Gordon instantly flashed his talent in his first two seasons. He was available for 30 of 32 possible games and totaled 137 receptions, 2,451 yards and 14 touchdowns, proving to be one of the elite talents at receiver the NFL had ever seen.

After missing two games in 2013 for violating the NFL substance abuse policy, he came back and led the league in receiving yards with 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. Impressive numbers, especially since he was dealing with unstable quarterback play.

Following his breakout 2013 season Gordon has only been available for 10 of a possible 48 games, including missing the entire 2015 season because of more violations of the substance abuse policy.

Last season the talented receiver returned to the Browns for the final five games of the season and showed he still had the talent to be an elite weapon.

Gordon seemed to be turning a page and went the entire 2018 spring without any incidents.

That’s why the Browns and their fans were shocked to find out the receiver would be missing the beginning of camp for what he called in a open letter “a part of his health and wellness plan”.

Many questioned whether he had fallen back into his old ways, but Phil Trexlor of WKYC broke a story earlier today highlighting why Gordon may be missing time.

Here’s an excerpt from Trexlor’s story:

“Browns receiver Josh Gordon was in the midst of a heated and protracted child custody dispute in the days leading up to his abrupt departure from the team, court records obtained by WKYC.com show. Those same court records allege an attorney representing the child’s mother threatened “to air sensitive information to the public in an effort to embarrass [Gordon],” who has been embroiled in the support dispute since 2015.”

Trexlor goes into great detail on wkyc.com about the ongoing battle between Gordon and his daughter’s mother, Christina Lockhart.

He states because of Gordon’s suspensions in 2015 and 2016 he did not file income tax returns for lack of income. Here’s another excerpt from his story.

“It is unclear if the child custody case played any part in his departure.

But in September 2016, on the same day paternity was first established, Gordon abruptly announced he was entering an inpatient rehab program.

He didn’t play again — and was not paid — until the following year when he appeared in the Browns’ final five games of their 0-16 season.”

Trexlor clearly states that it is unknown whether Gordon’s child custody case has any role in his departure but some question whether it is a coincidence that he’s had two departures so close to his cases.

Gordon is still expected to return to the Browns by at least the first game of the season and hopefully he’ll be mentally and emotionally in a good state of mind.

For more in-depth information you can find Phil Trexlor’s story at wkyc.com.