NFL Supplemental Draft 2012: Pulled Quad Should Put an End to Josh Gordon's Hype

It's nearly impossible to make it in the NFL when you're coming out of the supplemental draft, but Josh Gordon—and the immense hype surrounding him—seemed to be defying all conventional wisdom. 

Until now, when a pulled quad could be putting an end to his NFL campaign before it even begins.

Given the attention he's been garnering over the last few months, you might have thought Gordon was a potential first-round draft pick.

The Baylor wideout, who had scouts buzzing this week because of his 4.52 40-yard dash and his spectacular athleticism, even has former teammate and new Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III campaigning for his cause.

But that was before he pulled his quad during a workout in front of scouts on Tuesday, according to NFL reporter Adam Caplan:

"

Josh Gordon pulled his left quadriceps, but was able to finish all routes etc during workout. Didn't drop a pass.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) July 10, 2012"

Gordon may have been a standout wide receiver at Baylor at one point, and he may even have as much upside as any receiver selected in the draft a couple of months ago. But is a risky supplemental draft selection with a quad injury and a history of character issues worth surrendering a pick in the 2013 draft?

There's no question Gordon is (or was) the top prospect available in this supplemental draft. His athleticism can't be questioned, especially after clocking in at 4.52 in the 40, and coupled with the facts he doesn't drop passes and can explode for a gain after the catch, it's hard to look at him and not think about what kind of playmaker he can be at the next level.

But you also have to consider the fact that, in 2010, after his stellar sophomore season at Baylor, he was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules, and he hasn't played since. Or the fact that he was arrested for marijuana possession in 2010.

Another concern is that so much of his potential is based on that one season at Baylor, where he clearly displayed the athleticism necessary to be a star but has never shown he has the maturity to make a long-term impact at the next level.

This quad injury isn't going to end Gordon's career, but it should at least make teams pause and really think about the realistic impact Gordon is going to have in the NFL. It's hard enough for a player coming out of the supplemental draft to vie for a roster spot after missing all of his team's minicamps.

It's now going to be harder for Gordon, who's going to be recuperating from a quad injury just a few weeks before training camp begins.

And you know what they say: You can't be a star in the NFL until you prove you can get on the field and stay on the field. 

Could Gordon be a star playmaker in the NFL? Absolutely.

But more importantly, are there enough red flags on his record to give teams serious pause as they consider selecting him on Thursday? Definitely.