The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Less drama the better in Berea, starting with Gordon
With HBO in town, Browns need as little drama as possible, and it starts with Josh Gordon.
HBO’s NFL Films crew is in town as it begins recording for its popular upcoming football reality show “Hard Knocks.”
What could possibly go wrong in Berea, right? For the Browns’ sake, they have to be hoping not much, if nothing at all as training camp officially begins July 26. On July 21, HBO announced it had arrived. A few by the numbers, as provided by the network: 120 » Number of production staff assigned to “Hard Knocks” 32» Number of crew members living with the team at training camp 20 » Number of cameras assigned to shoot camp 1,750 » Number of hours the crew is expected to shoot 46» Consecutive days of filming — from July 22 to Sept. 5
There will be plenty of individuals to spotlight, most notably: QUARTERBACKS TYROD TAYLOR AND NO. 1 OVERALL PICK BAKER MAYFIELD » Expect HBO to do its best to grease the QB controversy fire. COACH HUE JACKSON » Hey coach, about that 0-16 record in 2016 ...? DEFENSIVE END MYLES GARRETT » Hey Myles, about campaigning to replace LeBron James as the face of Cleveland sports ...? GENERAL MANAGER JOHN DORSEY » No way Mayfield plays in 2018, right John?
A team with a 1-31 mark the past two seasons needs as little drama as possible while trying to regain respectability, which is why agreeing to be the subject of “Hard Knocks” is iffy at best. But HBO is here to stay for the next month and more.
The player the Browns can’t afford drama finding him is wide receiver Josh Gordon.
For a player with Gordon’s background, quiet and behind the scenes might be better than bright lights and cameras at every stop.
But there’s no stopping the HBO train now. Expect any and everything.
Part of Gordon’s weekend was supposed to be spent at Kenston High School, where his football camp was scheduled for July 21 and 22. It’s been postponed to Sept. 22 and 23.
Bombers coach Jeff Grubich said he had “no idea” why the switch was made. As of July 17, the camp was still on as scheduled, so the timing of the postponement does raise and eyebrow or two.
Gordon could use a break from less-than-positive headlines. He’s had enough of them the past few seasons.
After he was reinstated the second half of last season — after being suspended the last 51 games for substance abuse issues — Gordon told GQ Magazine he was high before every NFL game he played.
“I used to make a ritual of it before every game,” said Gordon in the 2017 GQ interview. “If I had already been drug tested that week, or the day before the game, I knew I had a couple days to buy to clean my system.
“Even before I was getting tested for alcohol, prior to my DWI in 2014, I would take the biggest bong rip I could and try to conceal all the smell off all my clothes.”
Then, in an interview with Sports Illustrated a few weeks later, Gordon said coming up through the high school ranks and at Baylor, he led a life of crime.
It involved stealing cars, counterfeiting in high school and selling pot in college.
“If I was going to be a thug or a gangster, I was going to be the best gangster out there,” Gordon told SI. “I didn’t plan on living past 18. Not a chance.”
Gordon contradicted himself in the GQ and ESPN interviews. He told ESPN he quit smoking pot early in his NFL career.
Let’s hope Gordon, 27, has turned the corner on his troubled past, follows through on his youth football camp in September, and stays on the straight and narrow.
Anyone who follows football knows the talent is there, and it’s the No. 1 and perhaps the only reason why Gordon still has a Browns locker to call his own. In 2013, he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,646 in 14 games, but he’s played in just 10 games since.
With three suspensions to his name, Gordon is likely down to his last shot in the NFL. If and when he’s asked by HBO staff members about the suspensions, it will be a reminder of the dark times in his life — which he’s been open to discuss.
His first suspension was four games, then his second was 10. His third suspension was indefinite, and required Gordon to apply for reinstatement, which he received in 2017.
The HBO spotlight on Gordon and his story will surely be bright during training camp. There’s plenty of drama to Gordon’s back story.
The Browns need all of that to remain in the past.