WR Josh Gordon Failed Three Drug Tests in College – Or Did He?
According to NFL.com’s Albert Breer, new Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon failed not one, not two, but three marijuana tests while in college, which contributed to teams being wary of drafting him in last week’s supplemental draft.
But Gordon says he only failed two tests – one in October of 2010 and the other in June of 2011. After the second failed test, Baylor suspended him indefinitely, which led to his transfer to Utah.
While at Utah, Gordon told The Plain Dealer, he never once failed a test.
“The whole time I was in Utah, I never ended up testing positive for any administrative test given by the administrative people there,” Gordon said. “It was just their choice to test me and just make sure I was staying clean.”
Gordon did pass a drug test before the supplemental draft, vowing to stay clean for the Browns after the team selected him.
Whether or not it was two or three failed tests for Gordon, it doesn’t change much on the perception of him as a player. After one failed drug test, people are going to make their assumptions about him no matter what (though falling asleep in a Taco Bell drive-through doesn’t exactly help). The key will be for Gordon to prove everyone wrong by being a high-character player both on and off the field.