Josh Gordon is ready to speak out about the drug and alcohol problems that derailed his once promising NFL career.
Gordon was granted a three-day leave from Florida Recovery Center to sit down with Uninterrupted following 70 consecutive days in rehab, a decision he deemed "therapeutic" to his recovery process.
Gordon spoke candidly about how his problems with drugs and alcohol took over his life, and how he felt those around him permitted his use rather than confront him over it.
"I've used alcohol on many, many occasions, Xanax on many occasions, cocaine several occasions, marijuana most of my life, codeine, cough syrup, methazine is very prevalent where I'm from,'' Gordon said. "It's what I grew up using.
"I've been enabled most of my life, honestly. I've been enabled by coaches, teachers, professors, everybody pretty much gave me a second chance because of my ability."
Gordon specifically detailed how he was able to avoid positive drug tests while at Baylor, stating an unnamed football coach would provide him with what he called "bottles of detox" prior to being tested, and that the coach instructed him on how to properly consume the product.
"That was my real first experience with getting over on the system and that authority really being taken serious because it was kind of being guided by someone that's employed by the same university," Gordon said.
Gordon admits he didn't take his first two-week stay in rehab seriously, but since entering his most recent stay, Gordon cites a possibly surprising source of support and friendship during his struggles and road back to sobriety.
"I've been able to sit down with Roger Goodell and talk to him, while I was just worried for my career and he gave me some of the most honest answers and information and advice anybody can give to you," Gordon said.
"I respect Roger Goodell, he gets a bad rap because people don't understand him, they don't know him, but for me he's a great guy. He's a great man and he's been a friend to me. He's been a mentor to me in a way in which he may not even understand."
As far as the road ahead is concerned, Gordon appears to know exactly what he needs to do in order to re-establish himself.
"I need to live out my amends, try to make right for all my past transgressions and mistakes, and show and prove that I can be a better person, a better man, somebody that's accountable, reliable," Gordon said.
"If given the opportunity, I believe I can prove my worth."
