The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ...Gordon has been suspended without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the NFL announced today. In a statement, Gordon said the positive test was triggered by codeine in a cough medicine he was prescribed to combat strep throat in February. "Apparently, the medicine I took contained codeine, which is prohibited by the NFL policy," Gordon said in a statement released by the team. "The policy terms are strict about unintentional ingestion, but the NFL has not imposed the maximum punishment in light of the facts of my case. Therefore, I have chosen to be immediately accountable for the situation. I sincerely apologize for the impact on my team, coaches, and Browns fans. I look forward to working hard in training camp and pre-season, and contributing immediately when I return in week three.”
Diehards Line:The second-year pro also will be fined a total of four game checks. Gordon, the club’s top wideout, will be eligible to return to the roster on Sept. 16. He can participate in all preseason practice and games. “Obviously we are all disappointed in this news,” HC Rob Chudzinski said in a statement. “In our short time with Josh, he has done everything that we’ve asked him to do and he has exhibited substantial improvement. We believe that he will continue to work diligently through training camp and the preseason. I am confident that others will step up in his absence. ..." According to Plain Dealer staffer Mary Kay Cabot, Rumors around Gordon and a possible suspension have been swirling for days. Gordon had a history of positive tests for marijuana at Baylor and Utah. He was kicked out of both schools and entered the supplemental draft last summer. While hardly a positive, the situation could have been worse.