On Tuesday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will report to the team after being reinstated on a conditional basis by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. After receiving too many chances to count on one hand, this is his final opportunity to turn around his professional football career.
For years, Gordon has been battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol. In an interview with GQ, the 2013 Pro Bowler reveals that he would take either substance before every NFL game. In addition to taking "the biggest bong rip I could," Gordon would consume a medley of "little pre-made shots" before taking the field. "I used to love Grand Marnier," he said. "I could drink it down smooth. I could usually drink a lot of it. But if it wasn't that, it might be a whiskey or something. And I would drink probably like half a glass, or a couple shots to try and warm my system up, basically. To get the motor running. That's what I would do for games."
Gordon tracks his drug use back to seventh grade when someone gave him Xanax. "Truthfully, that's where it started from for me," he admits. "The anxiety, the fitting in and stuff. Not being comfortable with who I was. Socially, I felt awkward, talking with people, telling them where I was living. Other kids have nicer stuff than you, 'you're poor' type of shit. A lot of inadequacy, I think, is the reason why I initially got into it."
To read the interview where he discusses his close call with death last year and how getting out of rehab this time differs from all the other instances, click here.
