Mike Freeman's 10-Point Stance: Is Josh Gordon Getting a Fair Shake?

1. NFL players have little confidentiality when it comes to drug testing

Whether you think Josh Gordon is troubled or a martyr or stupid or all of the above or none of the above, one thing you need to understand about him and his situation: He is like many NFL players, in that he has no privacy when it comes to drug testing. 

That's the only thing that's clear.

Gordon's rights were violated with the news that he failed a drug test. In fact, I'm told by several league sources that the union is looking into the leak. (So, yes, I was leaked information that an investigation is commencing into the leaking of information.)

Gordon isn't the only one to have his rights violated. Drug-test results are leaked all the time. I've reported on players who failed drug tests. After the combine, we always know who failed what test within a matter of weeks. At one point, the combine drug-test leaks were so frequent, a prominent lawyer called for penalties for the media who reported on them.

One of the most egregious and offensive cases involved quarterback Josh Freeman. The fact that he was subject to tests as part of the NFL's substance-abuse program was leaked. He had entered the program voluntarily and hadn't failed any tests in the program. It enraged the union.

These leaks happen all the time. It got so bad that when the NFL and players union agreed to new drug-testing parameters in 2014, they mandated discipline for violations of confidentiality. A release from the union summarizing the new deal included this paragraph:

"

DISCIPLINE FOR BREACHES OF CONFIDENTIALITY: The NFL and NFLPA will have the right to retain independent investigators to review cases where player confidentiality as related to the drug policies has been breached. Employees of the NFL/NFLPA/Clubs, players, certified contract advisors (agents) and policy administrators found to be in violation will face fines up to $500,000 and/or termination or other discipline.

"

Well, fire up those investigators because Gordon has a case.

And there's this from section 1.2.1 of the substance-abuse policy:

"

The Medical Advisor, Medical Director, Program Administrator, Team Substance Abuse Physician, Chief Forensic Toxicologist and all employees and consultants of the NFL, NFL Management Council, NFLPA (including its employees, members and Certified Contract Advisors), Evaluating Clinicians, Treating Clinicians and NFL Clubs (Interested Parties) shall take all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of information acquired in accordance with the provisions of this Policy, including but not limited to the history, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, test results, or the fact of participation in the Intervention Program of any Player or the Club(s) employing or having employed the Player (Intervention Program Information).

"

None of this is to place blame on journalists who report this information. The writer who broke the Gordon story, Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo, is excellent and honorable. He's just doing his job. Again, I've taken advantage of similar leaks.

How do the leaks occur? Often what happens is a player tests positive, tells teammates and the teammates blab. Sometimes, it's an agent, ratting out a client to maintain favor with journalists. (Yes, that does happen. It's not uncommon, either. Agents will deny this, but it's absolutely true.)

The combine leaks are usually done in an attempt to negatively impact a player's stock, so that player can fall, usually to the team that leaked the info. Yes, that absolutely happens.

This is how it's always worked.

What I see are things getting worse.

The leaks are becoming more strategic, calculated.

I don't know who leaked the Gordon info, but everyone has been asking why the NFL hasn't made a decision on Gordon and—presto—there's a leak that Gordon failed a test. Then the league announces that it has denied him reinstatement.

The timing seems rather conveeeeeenient.

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

This is not how the drug-testing policy is supposed to work. No one is supposed to know jack until the appeals process is done and a final decision is made. It's that simple.

Instead, we get information like this, from ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Think about that information. Even that leak—and nothing against Schefter, who is the best of the best and just doing his job, too—is pretty bad. Not only are Gordon's test results being leaked, but the conditions of him getting back into football are as well.

Again, this isn't about Gordon's guilt or innocence, right or wrong. It's about what's supposed to be a collectively bargained right to privacy that clearly doesn't exist.

And the latest with Gordon is example No. 1 billion.

2. Do NFL teams really want well-rounded players?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

I remember a conversation I once had with former Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall. It was after a Steelers game, and we were talking about books.

Not playbooks. Just regular old books. I forget what books we were discussing, but it was clear he'd read a great many different types of them. A great, great many. It was obvious that he was destined for something bigger when he left the game.

I thought of that story when I saw something Mendenhall said on MEL Radio recently. When he was going through the combine in 2008, teams were worried that he had interests outside of football. In essence, they were saying he was too well-rounded.

Here's what Mendenhall said:

"

When I was going through the NFL combine, there was a team that asked me, "If you have all these other interests—like reading, dancing or art—what makes you a football player?" There is this idea of what a football player is and what he looks like. Especially playing in a place like Pittsburgh, where the Steelers are such a part of the history of the town. The fans live, die and breathe it.

While I respected that culture totally and knew that I was a part of it, it was tough for me personally. I would tweet a picture of a book that I was reading, and there would be people who would write, like, "Why are you reading books? You should be reading a playbook." I was like, "Dang, this is the offseason." It's just crazy. ... It was a bit much for me. I felt hemmed in. I wasn't able to fully be me and express myself, because if I did, people questioned my love of the game. That was always a tough thing for me.

"

So, the question becomes: Have teams changed on this? Do they still want robots as players?

Part of the answer is that it depends on the team. But there's no question a number of franchises (and fans) are still wary of players like Mendenhall. There is still an old-school strain that runs through the sport where players who have outside interests are seen as less passionate about football than ones who do not.

Players like Mendenhall are seen as a threat to the power of teams and coaches. If they dip their heads into a book, and out of the Matrix, then they aren't dedicating all of themselves to football.

To some teams, still, players with outside interests are a threat. Of course, that's just dumb.

A player can be obsessive about football and, say, reading. It's weird that that even needs to be said, but apparently it still does.

NFL teams that want robots may be disappointed in the future. I get the sense that players are becoming more like Mendenhall, not less like him. This is particularly true when it comes to head trauma. Players are speaking to their own experts outside of the NFL universe. They're reading everything about brain trauma.

Mendenhall made one other point: that teams are more comfortable with the player who parties all night than the one who reads books all night.

"As much as they say, 'We don't want a guy who's in trouble, blah, blah, blah,' that guy is familiar to them," he said. "He is comfortable to them because they understand him better than a football player who has different interests, a guy with an expanded worldview. Now that's fearful."

And sad.

Mendenhall is now a writer on the show Ballers. So now, he's not only a voracious reader. He's a writer.

3. A beautiful tribute to Will Smith

Will Smith's publicist, Lauren Renschler, posted this on Instagram this week:

"

Five years ago [Will Smith] took a risk and believed in me when I needed him the most. After working with him, I knew why he was so successful and so beloved on the football field. He was always challenging me to reach higher and not settle for less. He made me a better publicist and by welcoming me into their family, he and his wife [Racquel R. Joseph Smith] made me a better person. He cared about New Orleans so deeply and believed he could make life better for its residents, by providing them resources so they wouldn't have to turn to drugs or violence. It breaks my heart to have Will taken from us in such a senseless way. Even though he never let me win an argument, I'll cherish our long talks about life, religion and politics forever. Love you, Will.

"

It was one of the more beautiful things written about a good man. Smith was killed over the weekend.

4. NFL career already over for best TE in draft?

Michael Noble Jr./Associated Press

A scout told me recently he believed former Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee had a chance to be a high-round pick and potentially an outstanding NFL talent. Maybe not any longer.

These are all allegations and haven't been proved, but it looks awful. Another scout thinks it's possible he won't get drafted at all now.

This is another one of the yearly cautionary tales for potential draft picks. The draft will be here soon. You're about to become millionaires. Stay in. Chill. Star Wars is out on DVD now. Order in for pizza.

Just stay the hell out of trouble. You're almost there. 

5. Roger Goodell's power officially cemented

Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press

The NFL, following the Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy cases, used an exempt list that allows players to be put on leave with pay while the accusations are sorted out by the NFL and legal system. The union objected and filed an arbitration. The judge in that case has now ruled in the NFL's favor.

What this means is that Roger Goodell's system of punishment is here to stay. For better or worse.

6. Massive change continues in league office

Alison Yin/Associated Press

Merton Hanks, the former 49ers player who was the vice president of football operations, is out of that job. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio first reported the news.

There's been a great deal of change on almost every level of the league office. This move is another sign. This hellish stretch in NFL history apparently caused some serious looking inward among top people in football. I get the feeling these changes are only the beginning.

7. It will be an interesting year in Cleveland

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

There's been a belief in league circles ever since Hue Jackson took the Cleveland job that his style and the Moneyball style of Paul DePodesta would clash. This story from ESPN's David Fleming suggests that as well. I tend to disagree. I think the Browns getting Jackson was one of the best moves of the offseason—if not the best.

Yet I have to admit the situation will be fascinating to observe. Nothing like this in football has been done before, and Jackson is a hardcore football guy. Many hardcore football guys view the Moneyball approach with great skepticism.

I cannot tell you how many times I've heard some variation of the phrase "analytics geeks" when talking to longtime assistants. They trust stopwatches, game tape and their eyes—not analytics. Not all of them, but a lot of them. Jackson would be an exception if he doesn't view analytics that way.

So, yes, this will be interesting to watch.

8. Beckham vs. Gilmore, Round 2

Two things about the Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. and the Bills' Stephon Gilmore trading barbs on social media.

First: I love this. It's great when players show personality.

Second: Why even delete the posts? Someone always gets a screen grab.

But please, keep fighting. It's fun.

9. The Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick still at odds

RICH SCHULTZ/Associated Press

This is one of the strangest contractual entanglements I've seen in a long time. Ryan Fitzpatrick must know that no other team is going to pay him what he wants. I mean, he went to Harvard and all.

And the Jets know there's no way in hell they can go into the season with Geno Freaking Smith as their starting quarterback.

They need each other, yet here we are. I continue to hear that the sides are fairly far apart. That can change in an instant, but the waiting goes on.

10. Salty Aqib Talib

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib was asked on ESPN's Russillo & Kanell about Brock Osweiler's leaving for Houston. He recounted the advice he gave to Osweiler and other young players contemplating leaving. 

"It's not always greener on the other side," he said. "I've been on the other side before. It might look like $100 million, but after about two 3-13 seasons, that contract is gone."

He added, "You're a backup quarterback, then that's your job title. Backup quarterback. You back up. And then when starter comes back, you back—back up again."

Talib also speculated that Osweiler departed to escape the shadow of Peyton Manning and John Elway.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.