Browns' Griffin won't give up on teammate Gordon

Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III is immediately assuming a leadership role with his new club, particularly as it pertains to some of his troubled teammates.

Griffin said Thursday that he's been in contact with wide receiver Josh Gordon, whose petition for reinstatement was denied after reportedly failing another NFL-administered drug test in March. Gordon missed the entire 2015 season due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

Gordon and Griffin were teammates at Baylor, where the latter captured the Heisman Trophy. Griffin said he's spoken to Gordon and hopes they can share the field again.

"Josh is family, so I've had contact with Josh since the announcement and he knows, I'm sure he'll see this or watch this, he knows I'm always there for him no matter what happens, but I'm rooting for him,'' Griffin said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

"I hope he understands the situation that he's in and what's at stake and I think he does, but it's up to him ultimately to make that decision. You can not tell a grown man what to do.''

Griffin said he'd do his best to get his friend back on the right track.

"All you can do is be there for him and try to help guide him, so I've been there for him, will continue to be there for him, and I hope he makes the right decisions so he can get back in the league and show everybody what he's really made of,'' Griffin said.