Many players — and many people — who have substance abuse issues have to bottom out before they can bounce.
And that’s what suspended Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is in the process of doing now, according to teammate Donte Whitner.
“I understand he’s a young guy,’' Whitner said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “He’s made a few mistakes in his career, and when you hit rock bottom the way he did, there’s nowhere else to go but up.”
Whitner said he’s seen Gordon work his way back into shape after seeing him up to 255 pounds, 30 more than the listed weight of 225 his 6-foot-3 frame was carrying the last time he played.
“Over the last couple months, just watching him, watching Instagram and the hard work that he put in, the transformation that he made with his body, I remember seeing him at the 9 downtown and him being like 255 pounds, and then going on down to four or five or sixth months later, shedding 20, 25, 30 pounds and looking like he did before the suspension started,’' Whitner said. “I understand that he’s very dedicated. I understand that he can go out there and do anything he wants to do on the football field.’'
Gordon has applied for reinstatement, and could hear back from the league soon. The Browns made it clear at last week’s Scouting Combine that he was welcome back so long as he’s on the right path.