Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon says his priorities are in order. Teammate D'Qwell Jackson doesn't sound so sure.
Gordon's second season in the NFL already has been soiled by a two-game ban (and four lost game checks) for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Jackson, the Browns' longtime defensive captain, says it's up to Gordon -- who also failed three marijuana tests in college -- to embrace a transformation.
"No matter how many bodies you put in front of him or people who speak to him, Josh has to be willing to make a change for himself," Jackson told The Plain Dealer. "I could talk to him all day if I wanted to. (Coach Rob Chudzinski) could talk to him all day if he wanted to, but it's not going to do any good unless he takes that next step."
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Gordon, only 22, exhibited dynamic skills as a rookie last season. His ability to stretch the field gave quarterback Brandon Weeden a favorite target down the stretch. Gordon since has become an intriguing talking point for fantasy enthusiasts, because his ceiling is undiscovered. Still, one more false step would sideswipe everything we've just mentioned.
"He doesn't have that many lives left," Jackson said. "He's got one more time to really straighten things up before he's got to leave. I think he is starting to realize that."
UPDATE:Browns CEO Joe Banner chimed in Wednesday as well. "He (Gordon) spent a fair amount of time talking to (Chudzinski) and he's got to do some work," Banner said. "And he understands he's going to be held accountable and he gets (that) the rope that's left isn't long."
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
