Gordon plans to make a difference for winless Browns

Josh Gordon dropped three passes early in practice on Nov. 30 and then, just before the session open to the media was about to close, he ran a pattern toward the right sideline, turned because the ball was behind him, and caught the ball using only his right hand with the ease of plucking an apple from a tree.

Those 15 minutes three days before Gordon is to suit up for his first NFL game since Dec. 21, 2014, parallel the way his life and career have gone the last three years. He and the Browns can only hope for the same happy ending as the practice session when the Browns play the Chargers on Dec. 3 in Los Angeles.

“I’m excited as ever; I can’t wait,” Gordon, who has been activated, said in the locker room after practice.

“I think I can do everything that’s within my power to do. Anything that I’ve done before and anything that I haven’t done, hopefully I can achieve it, really.

“I think the sky’s the limit. I feel that I’m in great shape and if I can just help out there and try to make a play and try to put us in position to win. It’s a question mark on it, but I know that I expect to do something positive. I know that much.”

The buildup to Gordon’s return has taken on a life of its own, starting with Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing on Nov. 1 that Gordon had been reinstated after numerous suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Gordon has missed 54 of the last 59

games.

The very same day Gordon was reinstated, he told GQ Magazine he was high on one substance or another in virtually every game he has ever played.

On Nov. 28, Gordon, in a Sports Illustrated story, said he stole cars, got into gunfights, broke into houses to rob them and counterfeited when he was in high school. He made $10,000 a month selling marijuana when he was a sophomore at Baylor.

“That was just for me, just felt like using my platform, let my voice be heard, let people have a window into my life and get a full image of what I’ve gone through, what I’ve lived and my story,” Gordon said. “I don’t think anybody wants to question or have you guys just question me and want to guess what’s happened in Josh Gordon’s life. So now you know.”

And now Gordon, who in

2013 led the NFL with 1,646 yards receiving, is being counted on to rescue the 0-11 Browns by playing straight for (by his own admission) the first time in his career.

The pressure on Gordon to live up to such expectations is nearly impossible to conceive.

“You know what? Honestly, I don’t really feel any pressure that’s like put on me directly,” Gordon said. “I haven’t gotten that from anybody.

“More than anything, I’m just excited. I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had doing this, just playing ball for the love of it. It’s the only thing that’s really giving me any type of, not really pressure but kind of just a boost, more than anything, but I haven’t felt any pressure in any aspects.”

An incredulous look crossed Coach Hue Jackson’s face when asked on Nov. 30

whether Gordon will start against the Chargers. Gordon will not be eased into a heavy workload.

“Are you kidding me? Yeah, he’s going to start,” Jackson said. “Let it rip. Pitch count? With this guy? No, it’s been what? Three years? I want three years of that pitch count back out there right now. No, he’s done a good job this week. He’s worked extremely hard. He’s excited about playing. It’ll be a big day for him.”

Peppers fined

Browns rookie safety Jabrill Peppers was fined $24,000 by the NFL for his illegal hit on Bengals receiver Josh Malone on Sunday.

Peppers said he was informed of the fine in an email from the league on Wednesday night. The firstround pick said he stopped reading the letter when he saw the dollar amount.