On Saturday, life couldn’t have gotten much worse for Cleveland Browns wide receive Josh Gordon. The 2014 NFL-leading receiver was arrested for a DWI in Raleigh, North Carolina after initially being pulled over for speeding. Normally, a DWI wouldn’t be a huge offense for an NFL star. However, this is not Gordon’s first run-in with the police. Gordon has suffered from substance abuse addictions for some time now, failing multiple drug tests while in college at Baylor and during his short stint in the NFL.
In response to Gordon’s recent struggles, former NFL wide receiver and current analyst Chris Carter had some advice as to what the Cleveland Browns should do in order to combat Gordon’s struggles with drugs: “He loves football more than anything, so I would take that away. When I say they should cut him, I say that because I believe that will be the catalyst to help. When you’re falling in life, at some point you have to make a bottom floor and say ‘this is it for me. I’m going to establish my house on this right here. And I’m going to build up.”
Carter’s advice stems from his personal experiences with substance abuse. In 1990, Carter was cut from the Philadelphia Eagles due to his inability to stop using drugs. Carter believes that being cut was the sole reason he was able to kick his addiction and become a Hall of Fame receiver.
If the Browns release Josh Gordon, Vikes pick him up and turn him into Chris Carter 2.0?
— BenJamin Hammer (@Hammertyme30) July 7, 2014
While many people would agree with Carter’s analysis, another Hall of Famer took exception to Carter’s words of wisdom.
In speaking on the “Dan Le Batard Show” on ESPN Radio Tuesday, former Dallas Cowboy’s wide receiver Michael Irvin had a few, choice words for Chris Carter and his advice:
You know, I love Cris Carter and he’s a good dude and I know what he’s trying to do and he’s doing his job because his job is to bring his experience to the desk, to a microphone, and share his experiences. But he’s touching these lines, just like I’m touching when I’m trying to help guys, and you’re on TV. You have to toe a thin line here, you have to toe a very thin line. People consider you, like, you talked to Josh so you must know more. If you said they need to cut him, then my god, maybe they should cut him. Now, isolation for Cris may have been the best thing. Separation, for Cris, may have been the best thing. For Josh, maybe it’s the worst thing and I’m going to put a little personal on this even though I love Cris to death. I don’t know what year it was we were in the Pro Bowl. And all Cris is trying to do, he’s just trying to share his experiences. He said to my wife — he said to my wife –you know, Michael would never come out of this problem until you leave him. Till you leave him. For years, I’ve held it. I’ve never shared that with anybody. I’ve never in my life shared that with anybody. I was so irked with Cris because he was out of line then. His ass is out of line now. He is out. of. line.
don't cancel UFC 176 yet @danawhite! @criscarter80 vs. @michaelirvin88 is a main event the streets NEED.
— Dewey U. Soileau (@primetimeRYNE) July 10, 2014
To add more insult to injury for Carter, Irvin and his wife, Sandy Harrell, have been married now for 24 consecutive years, even though Irvin was suspended from his ESPN analyst job in 2005 for minor drug possession charges.
At the end of the day, the only person to judge what is right for Josh Gordon is Josh Gordon. However, one thing is for certain – Chris Carter should check himself before he wrecks himself.
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