Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Josh Gordon has once again failed a drug test, this time for the use of alcohol, and will be suspended for one year by the NFL.
Gordon was suspended for use of alcohol because he received a DUI last year, meaning alcohol is one of the drugs that he is tested for.
This is another disappointing turn for Gordon’s career. He was suspended for one year by the NFL this season for use of marijuana but after winning his appeal, the sentence was shortened to 10 games. The season before that, he was suspended for 2 games, althought he did still lead the league in receiving yards. This shows that Gordon has the potential to be the best wide receiver in the NFL and be paid a lot of money, if he can only stay clean.
Gordon has a slim to none chance of winning an appeal this time around because of his repeated offenses, and has most likely played his last game as a Cleveland Brown since they are probably going to cut him. He will likely get another shot with a team, but not for the same amount of money he would have received if he stayed clean and produced at the same level he did in 2013.
As a result of this, The Browns will probably draft a wide receiver with one of their two 1st round picks in the 2015 NFL Draft. They have picks #12 and #19 since they receive the Buffalo Bills’ 1st round pick in the trade for Sammy Watkins. It is highly unlikely Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper will be available at either of those picks, so they may look at Louisville's DeVante Parker, West Virginia's Kevin White, or Michigan wide receiver/tight end Devin Funchess.
One player who has superstar potential but will not be picked by the Browns is Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Green-Beckham has numerous drug issues like Gordon and also has a domestic abuse on his record, so it's likely the Browns will look to steer clear of a similar Josh Gordon situation.