on wednesday the nfl upheld the 16-game suspension of cleveland browns all-pro wide receiver josh brown for violating the league's substance abuse policy. brown is a repeat offender, yet appealed the earlier ruling, hoping it would be reduced so he could play this season.
but the league announced arbitrator harold henderson supported gordon's year-long suspension for marijuana use. gordon, who was subject to more frequent testing, will begin serving his sentence immediately. he's not allowed to practice with the team, attend meetings or other club functions. the league said, "his eligibility for reinstatement will be determined following the 2014 season."
gordon said, "i'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the cleveland browns organization and our fans. i am very disappointed that the nfl and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. i would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the cleveland browns staff."
browns general manager ray farmer said, "while we may have strong feelings on the timing and the process of this decision, we have also consistently communicated that we will focus on what we can control in our day to day approach. right now that is preparing our team for the 2014 season and at the same time, supporting josh however we are able under nfl guidelines during his suspension."
the gifted 23 year-old led all players with 1,646 receiving yards and 18.9 yards per catch last season. he caught a team-high 87 passes - nine for touchdowns. gordon was highly productive, despite being banned the first two games for a failed drug test. it was his second known violation as a pro: gordon said he had inadvertently taken codeine contained in a prescription cough syrup. he also failed three drug tests in college for marijuana use.
gordon hired attorney maurice suh to represent him at the appeal hearing. suh, whom successfully gotten a suspension reduced for seahawks all-pro cornerback richard sherman, argued gordon tested positive for marijuana due to secondhand smoke. gordon's representatives also said test results of his samples were inconsistent, and should be thrown out.
while he's out, gordon must pass drug tests, comply with treatment, and apply for reinstatement with commissioner roger goodell before he plays again. if he stays clean, its possible he could return within a year. recently, gordon posted an instagram of himself catching a pass on the practice field from their rookie quarterback johnny manziel. the caption reads, "only place i can find peace."
i am
- mark j. tuggle
- harlem, usa
- same-gender-loving contemporary descendant of enslaved africans. community activist, feminist, health educator, independent filmmaker, mentor, playwright, poet & spiritual being. featured at, in & on africana.com, afrikan poetry theatre, angel herald, bejata dot com, bet tonight with tavis smiley, blacklight online, black noir, brooklyn moon cafe, gmhc's barbershop, klmo-fm, lgbt community services center, longmoor productions, nuyorican poets cafe, our corner, poz, pulse, rolling out new york, rush arts gallery, saint veronica's church, schomburg center for research in black culture, sexplorations, the citizen, the new york times, the soundz bar, the trenton times, the village voice, upn news, uzuri, venus, vibe, wbai-fm, wnyc-fm & wqht-fm. volunteered with adodi, bailey house, inc., black men's xchange-new york, colorofchange.org, drug policy alliance, east harlem tutorial program, imagenation film & music festival, presente.org, save darfur coalition, the enough project, the osborne association, the sledge group & your black world. worked on films with maurice jamal & heather murphy. writing student of phil bertelsen & ed bullins. mjt975@msn.com.
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