There is a difference between chugging some drinks and being an alcoholic, at least according to Cleveland Browns superstar Josh Gordon.
In an open letter addressed to Charles Barkely, Cris Carter and Stephen A. Smith, Gordon blasted the high profile media personalities for criticizing his issues with substance abuse.
In the letter, posted on The Cauldron, Gordon adamantly denies being an alcoholic or having an addiction to weed, but does acknowledge he’s made some bad decisions.
Gordon claims that he hasn’t smoked mary jane in years, and when he tested positive for marijuana during an NFL drug test, it was because he had inadvertently inhaled second-hand smoke last offseason. In the letter, Gordon says:
“Truth is, I have not smoked marijuana since before I was drafted by the Browns in 2012 — and there are years worth of drug tests to prove it.”
Now, when it comes to Gordon testing positive for alcohol earlier this month, despite being banned from consuming any sort of booze by the NFL, Gordon came clean about downing 4 drinks on a private jet to Vegas after the team lost the final game of the season. Still, the star wide receiver insists he’s not an alcoholic.
“Just days after our season ended earlier than we all had hoped — and yes, my actions during the prior offseason definitely contributed to our failure to make the playoffs; it killed me seeing our guys fight so hard when I wasn’t out there with them — I boarded a private flight to Las Vegas with several teammates. During the flight, I had two beers and two drinks.” Gordon says, “It was the first time I had consumed so much as a drop of alcohol since July 4, 2014, the day of the DWI.”
While in his piece Gordon admitted he had failed himself, he wraps up his letter by challenging Charles, Stephen A. and Cris to one day recognize their judgments about Gordon were wrong.
“If you see me someday, Chuck, Stephen A., Cris, or any other well-intentioned person to whom this letter is directed, please come on over, shake my hand, and say hello. I won’t be holding a grudge, but I will expect you to admit you were wrong about me.”
Read the entire letter at The Cauldron
