In the latest inauspicious chapter in the lives of Browns receiver Josh Gordon and free agent quarterback Johnny Manziel, someone identifying himself as Gordon was with Manziel at a rented home in Los Angeles that had incurred damage, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Further, alcohol and what appeared to be drugs were visible, rental agency owner Nicholas 
Goodwin told Cabot.
“I didn’t recognize Josh because he’s not as recognizable as Johnny,” Goodwin stated. “I sat and talked to him and said ‘how do you know these guys?’ He goes, ‘I played with Johnny over at Cleveland.’ I said, your name? He said ‘Josh Gordon.’ And I was like ‘wow, OK, I don’t know if it’s a good idea for these guys to be hanging out together.'”
While Goodwin said he didn’t witness either Gordon or Manziel engage in drug or alcohol use, he claimed to see what appeared to be cocaine on a table. Goodwin also saw substances that looked like mushrooms and marijuana when Gordon and Manziel were in the home, in which they partied from April 4-6, he said. As a result of the damage done to the home, Manziel has been served with a legal demand for nearly $32K in damages, Cabot writes.
Gordon’s troubles are particularly frustrating given that he looked like one of the premier players in football in 2013, the last time he took the field for an extended period of time. In 14 games that year, Gordon racked up 87 receptions, a jaw-dropping 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. However, various substance abuse-related suspensions have cost Gordon 29 of the Browns’ last 48 games. He missed all of the 2015 season thanks to a positive alcohol test and could also sit out the 2016 campaign after the NFL denied his petition for reinstatement this week on the heels of another failed substance test.
Gordon, who turned 25 on Wednesday, will have a chance to reapply for reinstatement Aug. 1. However, the league will keep the ban in place if his off-field behavior doesn’t do a 180. The league’s decision to not reinstate Gordon came after it collected a tainted urine sample from him in March. Both the “A” and “B” samples were flagged as diluted and came up positive for marijuana. While the actual level of marijuana was below the 35 nanograms per milliliter required for a positive test, the diluted sample is considered a positive test.
Unlike Gordon, Manziel – a 2014 first-round pick – hasn’t shown much promise on the field. Manziel’s off-field behavior has been far worse than his on-field performance, though, as his checkered history helped lead the Browns to release him over the winter and has stopped teams from pursing him as a free agent. Super agent Drew Rosenhaus, who began representing Manziel in March, announced earlier this week he would drop the 23-year-old as a client if he didn’t seek treatment for his substance abuse problems. That came after Erik Burkhardt, Manziel’s previous agent, publicly cut ties with the former Texas A&M star in early February. Rosenhaus told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that he is only thinking about the QB’s well-being.
“This is a life or death situation right now,” Rosenhaus said. “This is not about football. I’m not going to stand by and watch him injure himself.”
Rosenhaus provided an update on the situation Friday, suggesting to Mike Florio on PFT Live that he doesn’t think he and Manziel are “on the same page” about the life changes the ex-Brown needs to make.
After a storied college career which included winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012, Manziel has made just eight starts in the NFL, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It’s difficult to imagine Manziel ever setting foot on an NFL field again without a complete turnaround away from the gridiron. Unfortunately, though, an off-field about-face doesn’t appear imminent.
Zach Links contributed to this report. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Wow…thug life
I’m truly saddened by Josh Gordon. So much talent, so much potential. After what we saw in 2013, there’s a chance that he could have been one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game. To think he wasted his life by letting somebody like Johnny Manziel prevent him from getting the help he needs is extremely disappointing. Granted, I’m pro-marijuana, so I think it’s ridiculous that he’s being vilified for it, but that’s an entirely different conversation. He understood the rules regarding weed and he deliberately chose not to follow them.
Wow you really have NO IDEA!
To which part of my post are you referring?
This sad story highlights the Systemic incompetence of the Browns franchise. From ownership cultivating the culture where GMs take extreme risks to draft players like this to the coaches and staff failing to put support systems in place to help these young guys develop.
Pathetic.
I’m not exonerating Josh or Johnny but you have to place a fair seamount of blame on the most inept franchise.
How do you blame the Browns? You have no idea how much they have or have not tried to help them. Gordon has had drug problems since high school and Johnny’s partying has been extremely well documented since college. They need to take responsibility for their own actions like every other adult does. I understand they have a problem and can’t help themselves but I’m sure they have more people trying to push them in the right direction then your average joe
“Johnny football” is trash. Thought it would be dumb for any team to have drafted him, let alone in the first round. I rather have Tebow than him. Horrible football player, worse of a human being
Johnny Alcoholic needs to be locked up. He’s at the point where he is likely going to kill someone during one of his drug/alcohol induced episodes. Hardly a week can go by without a sad story coming out about this guy. It’s one thing to go out, but it’s another thing to beat up your girlfriend, be in a hit
There is more going on in the NFL than Johnny Manziels party life and problems. Wish everybody would just forget about the Billionaires spoiled son…
I think its bs that your report this about josh gordon without verifying it. He haswnough trouble without this crap being published.
They must be shooting for a reality-TV show.
I’m not the only one to figure this out: Johnny Coward doesn’t want to play in the NFL. It hurts. A few sacks by the big boys, a torn Achilles-geeze, this never happened at A&M. He’s also no longer capable of making good decisions. Give the Heisman back Johnny Loser. Your Dad is probably right.