Browns begin training camp with a familiar question

BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns players learned on Monday that receiver Josh Gordon would not be here for the first day of training camp. Most of them learned via a Gordon tweet. And that blow among them was real on Thursday.

“Listen, no man knows what another man is going through, especially when you are talking about mental health,” Browns safety Jabrill Peppers said softly. “I was surprised when I found out he wouldn’t be here. I haven’t talked to him. I’m giving him space to get things right. I’ll probably text him this week. He knows he has our support.”

Browns receiver Corey Coleman said Gordon “knows how to handle himself,” and that Gordon “has been through a lot.”

Gordon has been through a lot and so have the Browns.

We all should respect that Josh Gordon, 27, has been dealing with drug abuse, mental health and anxiety issues for most of his life. He has sought help. He Tweeted on last Monday that he would be late to Browns camp. Back soon, he typed.

Dorsey admitted that soon could be “10 days, 20 days, 30 days” but that he “absolutely” expected Gordon back this season. He said Gordon is “100 percent” committed to the Browns and that the Browns are “100 percent committed to Gordon.”

So why didn’t Gordon to show up here before camp to personally announce his decision to seek treatment and not attend, rather than announce it on Twitter?

I spoke with a Browns official who said the reason Gordon wasn’t here Monday to announce his decision because he was already in treatment for sobriety, mental health and anxiety issues.

However, having Gordon here to make the announcement, even if he did it before entering treatment would have been powerful for Gordon and for the Browns. It would have helped general manager John Dorsey, head coach Hue Jackson and Gordon to alleviate public doubts and their fans’ and players’ fears that this isn’t another here-we-go-again moment with this distressed player and this forever flailing franchise.

It’s different now, Jackson said, because “Josh this offseason has done everything we’ve asked him to do.”

When asked if he had talked to Gordon recently, Jackson said, “No. But he knows our lines of communication are open at anytime.”

If Josh Gordon physically and mentally could not have showed up here at any point this week or before entering treatment and said what he said on Twitter, that’s understandable. But it appears, according to the Browns, that he simply chose to do it on Twitter and that they were fine with that.

This is, in part, a classic case of a very talented player getting a very long rope.

It is common in NFL circles that a talented player dealing with challenging times is hard to let go because, first, talent is difficult to find, and, secondly, you fret him going elsewhere, rising and making you look incompetent.

The Browns have been patient with Gordon. He has played in only 10 games over the last four seasons. He re-joined the Browns for the final five games of last season and later admitted it was the first time he had ever played a football game sober.

When he’s good, he’s very good, like in his 1,600-plus yard, nine-touchdown 2013 all-pro season. Old-timer Browns say Gordon reminds them of Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield, the way Gordon floats in the air and eludes and runs with grace. You bet, that will get you a second chance, a third, a fourth …

But the Browns have too much at stake to not do this the right way. To not push Gordon to a higher level of accountability and presence while still being supportive and understanding.

This franchise was 0-16 last year, has lost 17 consecutive games, is 1-31 under Jackson’s two years of leadership, is 4-44 in the last three seasons and has not had a winning season in 11 years.

There is little trust for Browns success across the league or within their fan base.

The Browns know it. Dorsey and Jackson are earnest in their attempt to fix it.

They need to make Gordon – and every Browns player whenever possible - present in trouble as much as in triumph.

They’re talking about Tyrod Taylor being the starting quarterback without a snap of training camp or preseason games completed to see just where rookie Baker Mayfield stands. It is a noble gesture to slowly groom a rookie quarterback. A smart one, too.

But for the Browns to talk in such cemented fashion about Taylor without first seeing exactly how Mayfield grows indicates the Browns have yet to absorb the depths and catastrophic nature of this franchise.

Assuredly, 0-16 last year and 1-31 in two seasons and all of the nonsense and pitifulness during and before that should make everything on the table.

Dorsey said he picks the chess pieces and Jackson will make the moves, play the games.

Dorsey and Jackson are a peculiar pair.

Dorsey is high energy, big voice and severe. Jackson is mild energy, softspoken and thoughtful. Do they really view football in the same manner? No NFL general manager and head coach exactly do, but this does not appear to be a snug fit.

Jackson hired Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator and Gregg Williams returns as defensive coordinator. These are two high-strung, competent coaches who have both been NFL head coaches. Jackson said this will allow him to become “CEO” of the Browns, milling around from offense to defense to special teams. Galvanizing the message. Over-seeing it all.

“I will stick my nose into places maybe where I should not,” Jackson said. “But that’s part of the deal.”

Head coaches don’t have to apologize for getting involved. Especially when they have something to add. Especially when it is their team and their neck on the line.

The message around the Browns complex is this is a fresh day with additions that include receiver Jarvis Landry, Taylor, Mayfield and prize rookie cornerback Denzel Ward. All of the Browns draft picks are signed.

Gordon missing the first day of training camp is OK. Gordon missing camp until his treatment is completed is essential. But his allowance to scoot without more accountability, without showing up at all, is a message these Browns players and everyone else won’t and shouldn’t ignore.