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football March 12, 2018
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JuJu Smith-Schuster proves he’s a marketing genius by being himself

JuJu Smith-Schuster is living his best life and JuJuTV is living proof.

It’s plain as day that Smith-Schuster is a 21-year old renaissance man. If he’s not burning NFL defenders for 97-yard touchdowns, you can catch JuJu on the streets feeding the homeless.

If he’s not on his philanthropy swag, JuJu’s redefining what it means to be a student-athlete at USC. If he’s not hitting the books, JuJu’s clouting up on COD and Fortnite with one of the best American eSports organizations, FaZe Clan.

Smith-Schuster embodies what it means to have your cake and eat it too. In a world where people fear ridicule for being themselves, JuJu “on that beat” thrives. Smith-Schuster’s actions genuinely come from the heart. It’s what makes his personality so infectious.

Now, JuJu is actively recruiting basketball star LeBron James to the Steelers. This might be a longshot, but don’t sleep. JuJu is just helping “King James” maximize all his options.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is going all out for his #LeBronToPittsburgh campaign.

Over the weekend the “Fornite legend” was chilling courtside as he watched his hometown Los Angeles Lakers battle the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sporting a King James #23 Steelers jersey, he even got a flick with James with the caption “BIG THINGS COMING SOON.” You have to admit if JuJu pulls this off, it’d be lit. More lit than a Lil Wayne lighter flick on his No Ceilings mixtape.

When you are consistently doing what you love, you will align yourself with endless opportunities.

Since entering the league, fans continue to hop on Smith-Schuster’s wave. The plays he’s been making off the field are the most groundbreaking aspect of his young career. We haven’t seen a superstar athlete perfect the use of social media this well.

Don’t get it twisted, JuJu Smith-Schuster will be the first to tell you he’s a video game junky. His toughest adjustment to the NFL was putting down the controller to get some sleep. During an interview with CBS Sports.

Smith-Schuster said:

“Being young and just up all night just having fun. Sleep has been the most challenging for me. I just like to be up, playing video games, playing social media, going to bed at 2 a.m. I’m still trying to balance that out.”

In January, JuJu Smith-Schuster made another dream come true. After growing up as a fan of FaZe Clan, JuJu moved into their $14 million mansion just to game. Wild right? It gets better. Since partnering with FaZe Clan, JuJu also launched his own merchandise.

JuJu has been making strides since entering the world of eSports. His “dead-eye” sniper skills would bring a tear to great war veteran Chris Kyle. He’s that good. The boys from UPROXX got to chop it with Smith-Schuster about his gaming.

JuJu said:

“I’ve been playing since I was a kid, since like World at War and then I’ve been growing into sniping, that’s like my thing.”

Steelers fans don’t worry. Gaming helps Smith-Schuster’s hand-eye coordination and on-field communication. He wants to be a Steeler for life. Protect your gem.

Smith-Schuster said:

“I think it helps out tremendously, just because when you’re gaming the communication you have to have when you’re playing a game against other teams, it’s like, ‘Yo, he’s South East, in that bunker, throw a grenade there,’ because that right there creates communication. Communication on the field helps a lot, too.”

Fortnite has been Smith-Schuster’s go to game as of late. Even if he’s not playing it online, best believe it’s going down in the streets.

As JuJu continues to be himself, he could transcend the world of eSports forever. His ability to appeal to fans as a human being rather than just an NFL player is uncanny.

Viewers who watch JuJuTV can see there is no ego when dealing with Smith-Schuster. He just happens to be a cool ass guy who has an affinity for gaming, football, making people smile, and having fun.

JuJu might be the trillest two-sport professional athlete of all time.

football March 7, 2018
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Richard Sherman dipping from Seattle? How he bet on himself until the end

It looks like the Seattle Seahawks will look like a very different team than the one that appeared in Super Bowl 49 just a couple years ago.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was fired earlier this offseason and today, Michael Bennett was traded to reigning the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

With rumors also surfacing about Richard Sherman potentially leaving the ‘Legion of Boom,’ the NFL world is left to wonder what is next for the shutdown corner.

If you are looking for an official response in regards to Richard Sherman and where he’s going, it starts and stops with him. As he enters the final year of his contract with the Seahawks, Sherman will be representing himself in free agency.

Seattle Seahawks Football GIF by NFL - Find & Share on GIPHY

As intelligent and cerebral as Sherman is, there’s no faulting him for thinking having an agent is overrated. Sherman told Business Insider,

“I didn’t feel like I needed one. There’s nothing that an agent could do for me that I couldn’t do for myself or I couldn’t hire someone to do at a smaller fee.”

At this point everything is up to speculation. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the All-Pro cornerback told his teammates goodbye over the past 24 hours.

Kam Chancellor went on Instagram to thank Sherman for Chancellor’s special nickname: The Chancellor.

https://instagram.com/p/BgCCZsvjAkM/

After being challenged by Kobe Bryant last season to break the Seahawks single season interception record, Sherman’s season came to a screeching halt.

Nine games into the 2017-2018 season, Sherman ruptured his achilles, but he’s not letting that hinder his negotiating process. Sherman said,

“I can have conversations with general managers and understand my value in comparison to other players in the league.”

According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, Sherman is slated to meet with head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider to discuss moving forward.

Knowing your value in a league where the money is not completely guaranteed is a blessing. Whichever teams lands Sherman in the near future is landing one of the fiercest corners in the league. But it’s hard to find a cornerback with technique and football IQ like a Richard Sherman.

Not bad for a fifth-round draft pick!

Father time remains undefeated against athletes. Coming back from an achilles injury to play cornerback in the NFL is no easy task. It will be interesting to see if Richard Sherman is still capable of being elite.

As for now, we should let his resume speak for itself. Just know like Kobe, Sherman also has a Mamba Mentality. As for where Sherman will land, did you really have to guess?

football March 5, 2018
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One-handed Shaquem Griffin goes off at NFL combine, inspires the hell out of us

Shaquem Griffin, whose left hand was amputated when he was 4-years-old because of complications due to a rare birth defect called amniotic band syndrome, absolutely dominated the NFL combine this weekend and I’m now ready to run through a brick wall for Shaquem.

His 40-yard dash time of 4.38 was the fastest for a linebacker since 2006, dude was flying.

Griffin’s 40 time absolutely blew the rest of his linebacker competition out of the water. But the wildest part about his sprint might just be that Shaquem’s 4.38 is the exact same time his twin brother Shaquill, a cornerback for the Seahawks, ran last year.

Before his record-setting 40, Shaquem put up 20 reps on the bench… with one hand. He used a prosthetic attachment to help him grip the bench in one of the wildest images from this weekend’s combine.

Griffin told NFL Network afterwards that he was extremely jacked up as soon as he realized how close he was to 20:

“My adrenaline was going through the roof. I ain’t feel like I needed to stop. As soon as I heard 16, I was like ‘Oh yeah, I’m going for 20.’ A lot of people didn’t think I was going to be able to do the bench press.”

Griffin was also motivated (as always) by his doubters. Apparently one anonymous NFL general manager said that he’d be impressed if Griffin got 5 reps up on the bench. About that…

Obviously NFL Twitter blew up after Griffin’s combine.

Griffin has shown time and time again that he isn’t going to let his physical limitations keep him from realizing his dreams.

Coming out of high school, Griffin was sparsely recruited, only getting 3 scholarship offers before ending up at the University of Central Florida. All he did was dominate the collegiate ranks to become 2016 AAC Defensive Player of the Year, 2017 Second-Team All-American, and is now well on his way to an NFL roster.

While 40-yard dashes and bench press reps are not necessarily good barometers of a successful NFL career, Shaquem Griffin has repeatedly proved detractors wrong at every step of his life. I know I’m not betting against this guy.

The NFL has been pretty short on positive stories in the last 5 years or so. Shaquem Griffin’s combine is some truly wholesome stuff. Dude is an inspiration.

football March 2, 2018
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Debate over Lamar Jackson brings up same old tropes about Black quarterbacks

The issue of Lamar Jackson, University of Louisville quarterback and 2016 Heisman winner, has caused everyone around the NFL to lose their shit.

Lamar Jackson was an amazing college quarterback. He’s one of the best athletes in the upcoming draft. But NFL talent evaluators are seemingly trying to find every possible excuse to not take this dude seriously as a quarterback.

Former Colts general manager and current ESPN talking head Bill Polian said Jackson doesn’t stack up favorably to the other top quarterbacks in the draft this season. According to Polian, Jackson doesn’t have the GIRTH of Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, or Josh Rosen. In fact, Polian thinks Jackson is a wide receiver:

“I don’t think that Lamar, the Louisville kid’s in that discussion, in fact there’s a question that he may be, he might be a receiver… No, I’m not kidding you. And that has to do with girth and skill set as well.”

GIRTH, folks. Ya gotta have GIRTH to play the quarterback position in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Everyone knows this.

The issue here is that Lamar Jackson measures up pretty favorably to other top-level quarterbacks. He’s not a huge dude, but at 6’3″ and 216 pounds, he ain’t no tweener.

https://twitter.com/SleeperAthletes/status/969254900168318976

In typical weird-ass NFL combine style, people started bringing out the Body Mass Indexes and comparing Jackson to his main competitors.

https://twitter.com/TheBenNatan/status/969226931098062848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F03%2Fnfl-combine-lamar-jackson-quarterback-wide-receiver-chris-long-nfl-insulting-size

Mel Kiper, the draft guru with the worst hair of all-time, got caught when he claimed that “stats are for losers” in reference to Josh Allen’s completion percentage, then turned around and used Jackson’s college completion percentage (.8 decimal points higher than Allen’s) as a knock against the Louisville quarterback.

Now, with the NFL combine this weekend in Indianapolis, multiple teams have reportedly asked Lamar Jackson to take reps at wide receiver. This begs the question, why the hell would you ask a dude who threw for over 9,000 yards, had a 142.9 passer rating, and had a 69 (nice) to 27 touchdown to interception ratio during his college career? Not to mention, he won the damn Heisman Trophy.

When it comes to Black quarterbacks, we’ve seen this whole thing before…

Deion Sanders Jr. took issue with the various excuses NFL talking heads have offered up in their criticism of Jackson that just don’t add up.

Philadelphia Eagles lineman, Super Bowl champion, and resident woke white dude, Chris Long went on a long Twitter rant about the situation.

https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/969586890897870854

https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/969588794201604096

Look, no one really has any idea if Jackson will be any good in the NFL. No one knows if Allen, Rosen, or Darnold will be any good either. Therein lies the random, arbitrary nature of NFL prospect scouting.

But all these old tropes and codes about Jackson not “making reads,” not “having the size,” or being a “run first” quarterback are all so fucking familiar and dumb. To ignore the role that race plays in these evaluations is just disingenuous.

Ron Jaworski, who spends many important hours of his life obsessing over THE FILM, says Jackson is a star.

NBC NFL draft writer Josh Norris has a pretty awesome breakdown of Lamar Jackson tape.

The kid is wildly talented. He’s a quarterback. Trying to move him to wide receiver is very dumb and just plain ol’ racist.

I’m drafting Lamar Jackson every damn time.

football January 25, 2018
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The XFL is coming back. Is this perfect timing or just a trash idea?

What if I told you that, despite plummeting NFL viewership, health concerns for players, and racist owners, Vince McMahon is still down with his alternative pro football league?

Well, today, ESPN’s Darren Rovell is reporting that the WWE founder is planning to bring back the XFL.

After 19 years and a short one-season stint in 2001, it appears that Vince sees the potential the once-controversial league could have today.

According to PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc.com’s Joshua Gagnon), McMahon wants to take his time in order to have a “proper foundation” in place.

This explains why last month WWE filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell about $100 million in stock to fund McMahon’s company, Alpha Entertainment, which makes investments (like professional football).

The XFL started off very popular and even had players go on to compete in the NFL like Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox and running back Rod “He Hate Me” Smart.

The league did not last due to heavy criticism from NFL loyalists as well as the poor quality of play, but it seems that McMahon thinks he’s learned from his past mistakes.

PWInsider also added that McMahon wants to focus on building rosters and finding coaches before progressing too far with plans for the new XFL, meaning it could take the league until 2020 until it sees the light of day.

Perhaps McMahon was inspired by Ice Cube’s success with his alternative professional basketball league Big3.

Cube managed to round up some retired ex-basketball players who still wanted to compete and completed a full season last year. Big3 was marketable enough that they’ve already re-upped their contract with Fox Sports 1 and plan to be back next summer.

The XFL recently returned to the forefront of our conciseness thanks to ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary This Was the XFL.

The 2017 documentary highlighted the rise and fall of the league and once again got people talking about McMahon’s creation.

McMahon has announced the return of the league at a news conference at 3 p.m. ET. There will be no ‘politics,’ no cheerleaders, or players who have previously been arrested. In this sense, McMahon is veering far away from the old XFL model.

Looks like Johnny Manziel is all aboard the XFL train.

football December 27, 2017
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The Patriots signed James Harrison to destroy his former team

The New England Patriots recently signed former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end James Harrison on Tuesday to add some strength in advance of playoff time being right around the corner.

The Steelers released Harrison to clear roster space for offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert to provide more protection for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

James Harrison is a decorated Steeler to say the least; an iconic Pittsburgh figure, Steelers’ all time sack leader, five-time Pro Bowl selection, as well as two Super Bowl rings in his tenure with the team.

Tired Pittsburgh Steelers GIF by NFL - Find & Share on GIPHY

Regardless of his lack of playing time this season, Harrison for sure still has what it takes to help New England secure yet another Super Bowl under its belt.

He led the defense in sacks in 2016, and overall ended his career in Pittsburgh with 570 tackles and 82 sacks.

GIF by SB Nation - Find & Share on GIPHY

Many knew Harrison would eventually be on his way out the door after Pittsburgh drafted linebacker T.J. Watt in the 2017 draft. Steelers linebacker coach Joey Porter spoke with Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and mentioned that Harrison would serve as the defensive “safety net” and “relief pitcher.”

Even better for New England is the Super Bowl experience Harrison brings to the table. He headlined the stat sheet for Super Bowl XLII with a 100 yard interception return.

What NFL fans around the country will be most intrigued with in regards to the addition of Harrison is the impact he can make on the Patriots’ defense.

Furthermore, the damage he could possibly do to his former team, assuming these two powerhouse AFC foes meet in the conference championship.

Pittsburgh Steelers Football GIF by NFL - Find & Share on GIPHY

New England is known for signing big name players spontaneously throughout the season. It’s who they are it’s what they do.

Now, let’s just see the noise James Harrison will make in the New England weight room, and on the field at Gillette Stadium.

football December 18, 2017
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The grimiest details in the Panthers owner’s workplace misconduct investigation

On Sunday morning, Sports Illustrated published a report exposing alleged workplace misconduct by Panthers owner Jerry Richardson. Richardson’s behavior ranges from comments about women employees’ attire to asking for massages to an alleged racial slur directed towards a scout.

SI reported that Richardson has settled workplace misconduct allegations through numerous settlements in the past.

The details in the SI story, reported by L. Jon Wertheim and Viv Bernstein, are pretty astounding, beginning with Richardson’s behavior on ‘Jeans Day’, a Friday tradition where employees could dress casually. But Richardson used Jeans Day to routinely harass women employees:

“As the team’s owner, Jerry Richardson, made his rounds on the way to his spacious office, he would ask women to turn around so he could admire their backsides. Then, in his rolling Southern drawl, he’d offer comment, drawing from a store of one-liners he’d recycle each week. Among those in heaviest rotation: Show me how you wiggle to get those jeans up. I bet you had to lay down on your bed to fit into those jeans. Did you step into those jeans or did you have to jump into them?”

Yeesh. Despite the blatantly uncomfortable environment Richardson’s creepy-ass behavior was fostering, it was ignored for the most part:

“‘No one ever said anything, at least not that I heard,’ says one former Panthers employee. ‘He was the boss. It was [viewed] more of a creepy-old-man thing than a threat.'”

But, as SI reported, a long list of non-disclosure agreements and settlements between Richardson and former Panthers employees reveals more nefarious undertones of Richardson’s actions in the workplace:

“SI learned that on multiple occasions when Richardson’s conduct has triggered complaints—for sexual harassment against female employees and for directing a racial slur at an African American employee—he has taken a leaf from a playbook he’s deployed in the past: Confidential settlements were reached and payments were made to complainants, accompanied by non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses designed to shield the owner and the organization from further liability and damaging publicity.”

For women and Black employees at the Panthers, Richardson’s ‘aura and mannerisms’ were representative of an unsettling and antiquated, specifically Southern, attitude:

“His aura, mannerisms and values ring through the Panthers’ headquarters. Though the antebellum echoes trouble some African-American employees, Richardson is referred to by all simply as Mister, no surname required.”

Mister. In a league that has increasingly seen friction between (predominately Black) players and (completely white) owners over protests about racial inequality, having an 81-year-old Southern white guy go by Mister in the workplace seems wildly uncomfortable and inappropriate.

The SI piece went on to describe how ‘Mister’s’ behavior went totally unquestioned for the most part, with the team even erecting a massive statue of the owner last year:

“When Mister swings by and asks you to lunch, you accept the invitation even if you’ve already eaten. When he confuses your name, you don’t correct him. When the Panthers hold staff meetings, you know to arrive early—punctuality is a core Richardson virtue—and sit as close as possible to Mister’s position, a bar stool and high-top in the middle of the room. Even before you park your car in the lot, you feel Mister’s towering presence: On the occasion of Richardson’s 80th birthday last year, the Panthers unveiled a 13-foot statue of him outside Bank of America Stadium.”

But the public image of Richardson as a self-made fast food mogul who even played in the NFL at one point, bears in stark contrast to the Panthers owner’s pattern of harassment and questionable behavior within the office:

“Richardson’s various accusers, speaking independently, describe a strikingly similar pattern of behavior that they say created a hostile work environment. Rather than making sudden bursts of lewd comments or committing isolated lapses in decorum, Richardson worked gradually, starting with kind gestures and pleasant interactions before pivoting to inappropriately intimate behavior. ‘Looking back,’ says one former employee, ‘he was gaining our trust before doing things he shouldn’t be doing.'”

Richardson grooming Panthers employees is a classic trait of an abusive, powerful man whose behavior is beyond question. For women at the organization, Richardson would take an especially inappropriate interest in their appearance:

“Multiple female employees recall that their notes eventually came accompanied by small cash payments and encouragement to use the money to treat themselves to massages or dresses. The women would thank Richardson; when he responded with lines on the order of You won’t find another man to treat you the way I treat you, it was still viewed as flattery, if clumsily rendered, by an older man from an older era.”

That “older man from an older era” behavior became harder to deal with as Richardson’s conduct became increasingly intrusive and bizarre:

“Multiple former female employees recount that Richardson’s behavior began to feel like a violation when he spoke of their bodies. He had a special interest in female grooming, they say. He would notice when their nails were not up to his standards, and pay for them to get manicures. Multiple female employees recalled to SI that Richardson asked them if he could personally shave their legs.”

And Richardson’s actions were not limited to comments, he had an entire ‘maneuver’ that he pulled off while in a car with women that he used as an opportunity to grope passengers:

“Richardson was also known for what multiple women call the ‘seatbelt maneuver.’ He would invite female employees out to lunch, and in keeping with his reputation as a self-styled gentleman, he would open the car door for his guests. Once they were seated, however, he would insist on fastening their seatbelt for them, reaching across their lap and brushing his hand across their breasts before putting the belt in the clasp.”

Black employees at the Carolina Panthers described an environment that ranged from containing ‘occasional racial overtones’ to outright racial slurs:

“But multiple former employees told SI that there were also occasional racial overtones in Richardson’s interactions with his workers. Pressed for specifics, they cite everything from Richardson’s expressed preference that black players not wear dreadlocks to an alleged request that an African-American employee apply sunblock to Richardson’s face.”

A former Panthers scout, who is Black, negotiated a confidential settlement with Richardson over an apparent racial slur directed his way by the Panthers owner:

“Perceptions of casual racism hardened recently when, multiple sources told SI, Richardson directed a racial slur at an African-American scout for the Panthers. The scout left the team this year—but not, according to sources, before he sought the counsel of a Charlotte attorney who negotiated a confidential settlement on his behalf. Contacted by SI and asked if he wished to comment, the scout responded, ‘I’m not in a position to talk.'”

Richardson’s chain Denny’s, owned by his larger corporation Flagstar, was the subject of numerous racial lawsuits in the early 90s. In 1994, Flagstar paid more than $54 million in settlement lawsuits to thousands of Black patrons.

This whole thing is gross. It’s clear that the richest and most powerful men in industries across the cultural spectrum are in for a continued reckoning for workplace misconduct.

In wake of SI’s piece, Richardson is now looking to sell the team. Sell this squad to Diddy. That’s the only way to rectify this situation.

football December 5, 2017
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Odell Beckham goes off on double standard in the NFL. Is he right?

He may be sidelined with a fractured ankle but that doesn’t mean has nothing to say.

On their way to a 23-3 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr took to Twitter to express his opinion on Tom Brady’s abrasive behavior towards Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

https://twitter.com/Sean_Lyric/status/937452200862855170

Odell may have a point though. Tom’s outburst on Sunday was not the first for the five-time Super Bowl Champion but it seems that whenever it happens it’s brushed under the rug or laughed about.

Take a look at Tom Sunday night talking to his offensive coordinator. Brady’s “passion” is the same behavior or “antics” that Odell has been accused of distracting his team with. It makes you wonder if it comes down to winning, coaching personnel, or something more sinister. Either way, there is clearly a double standard.

Because what’s the difference between Brady on Sunday and what Odell was doing here against the Giants rival the Washington Redskins?

From Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco to Randy Moss, the NFL’s greatest wideouts have always been Prima Donnas and Odell is no different, but if the media is going to call out one super talented star for his love of the game, why won’t they do the same to another?

Odell explained himself further in his tweets.

Why have there not be unsavory headlines about Brady? Why is his lack of a cool head brushed off as passion for the game and not Odell’s?

Brady’s explanation for his outburst was even more downplayed. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported that “McDaniels started that sideline argument by telling Brady multiple times Gronk was ‘wide open’ on the incompletion to Cooks.”

“It’s just football,” Brady added after the game, per Howe. “We’ve been around each other a lot. I love Josh.”

Being that Odell is home watching games instead of on the sidelines, I’m sure it gives him a completely different perspective — one that he had to talk about on Sunday.

As the NFL and “the shield” continues to see money and ad sales disappear, maybe catering to players — their health, personal expression, and pockets — would be a great start to turning that around.

If there continues to be a double standard like this, the NFL won’t have talents like Beckham wanting to even join the league in the future.

football November 2, 2017
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Josh Gordon is returning to the NFL and he’s a totally new person

Embattled Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been conditionally reinstated to the NFL.

Gordon can immediately begin participating in conditioning workouts and team meetings, can practice November 20th, and be fully eligible to play on November 27.

Josh Gordon burst onto the scene in 2012 as a relatively unknown rookie out of Baylor University. The next year, despite being suspended for the first two games of the season for testing positive for a banned substance, Josh Gordon led the league in receiving yards, breaking the NFL record for yards over a two, three, and four game span.

That’s when the trouble started.

Gordon only played five games in the 2014 season and was then suspended the entire 2015 season for various positive tests and a DUI.

During the 2016 preseason, one week away from being reinstated to the NFL, Gordon left the Browns to enter an in-patient rehab center. Gordon wrote at the time:

“After careful thought and deep consideration I’ve decided that I need to step away from pursuing my return to the Browns and my football career to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility. This is the right decision for me and one that I hope will enable me to gain full control of my life and continue on a path to reach my full potential as a person. I appreciate the support of the NFL, NFLPA, the Browns, my teammates, my agent and the community through this extremely challenging process.”

Gordon’s long and arduous road to redemption seems to have taken a turn for the better recently. He sat down with LeBron James’ UNINTERRUPTED in a revealing video to talk about his journey, his addiction, and his latest steps to get back on the football field.

The wide receiver spoke openly about his past drug use:

“I’ve used alcohol on many, many occasions. Xanax on many occasions, cocaine several occasions, marijuana most of my life, codeine, cough syrup. Promethazine is very prevalent where I’m from. It’s what I grew up using.”

Gordon, who is training with former US track & field sprinter Tim Montgomery (one of the central figures of the BALCO scandal), is looking to make the best of his current circumstances and help others struggling with addiction:

“I’m in the position I’m in now and I’m grateful for it. I’m able to give this message and this opportunity for you to learn from my mistakes and for me to tell them my story.”

In the video, Gordon also talks about his coaches at Baylor helping him beat drug tests by giving him detox drinks:

“Not too long after I got arrested for possession of marijuana at Baylor, one of my coaches came by saying ‘You are going to get drug tested by the compliance office. This is how it’s going to work, this is what they are going to do. If they do call you in, here goes these bottles of detox.’”

This obviously shaped Gordon’s attitude about the seriousness of drugs and drug testing. He said, “That was my real first experience with getting over on the system and that authority not really being taken seriously because it was kind of being guided by somebody that’s employed by the same university.”

During Gordon’s first experience in rehab, he looked at it as a vacation, not taking the situation seriously at all,

“I was there for like 14, 15 days. It was a joke. It was pretty much a vacation. I had a bunch of gourmet meals and took a little break. Then got right back to work and led the league in receiving yards.”

Over the years, Gordon’s name has been dragged through the mud by the Stephen A. Smith’s of the world, but he’s a smart, eloquent, and analytical dude with some serious demons.

Seeing an athlete speak so openly about their struggles with addiction is inspiring and Gordon is now in a place to help others, professional athlete or not, deal with their own battles.

Not only is Gordon a good dude, he’s a transcendent talent. Kid could be a legitimate star in the NFL and at 26, he has plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time.

We hope Gordon gets back on the field, but more importantly that he finds his peace and keeps taking the steps to become the person he wants to be.

Keep doing the good work, JG.

football October 28, 2017
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Should the Houston Texans kneel Sunday amidst owner’s comments?

In 2017, an era where Trump has seemingly made outlandish, jaw-dropping statements a norm, he was outdone by Texans owner Bob McNair on Friday.

Earlier this month in October, NFL owners hand-selected by Commissioner Roger Goodell and a handful of NFL players met in New York City to talk about the protests sparked by Collin Kaepernick last year.

According to a new ESPN The Magazine piece by Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr., Bob McNair, who is a Donald Trump supporter and campaign contributor, had his two cents to add with regards to the protests. Except it ended up costing a lot more. While talking to his colleagues, he said:

“We can’t have the inmates running the prison.”

Stunning doesn’t really give justice to my reaction when first reading Jemele Hill break the ESPN Mag segment to her mass online following.

I wasn’t the only one either. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors pretty much echoed everyone’s sentiment on the subject, saying he wouldn’t play for an owner like that.

As you can imagine, some players for the Texans felt the same, telling ESPN that they contemplated staging a walkout. They learned about the owner’s comments when Texans head coach Bill O’Brien relayed it to them in an effort to prevent them from being “blindsided” by it later.

That still did not stop star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from missing the ensuing practice for a “personal day.”

Bob McNair apologized for his comments saying that he did not mean them and that he wasn’t referring to his own team. But as someone who stands behind Jerry Jones — who told his players to stand for the anthem or not play — and Donald Trump, it’s hard to take his word to heart.

There were players that left but returned and those that were plotting a walk out were talked out of it by the coaching staff, so clearly there are unsettled feelings. So why don’t they kneel during the anthem?

The reason Colin started sitting in the first place was to shed light on injustice, and in doing so, he, and others who have joined the cause, have uncovered more injustices — many of which are embedded in their own organizations.

O’Brien said he expects Hopkins to play against the Seahawks. While the team has not decided what they’ll do for the national anthem, Pro Bowl tackle Duane Brown said that he “can’t stay quiet about it.” For Brown’s full comments, check out the ESPN story here.

The Texans will play the Seahawks at 4:05 ET this Sunday.