Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon, in many ways, is in a fight for his life.
This is not an overstatement. Any player who has failed at least three drug tests and battles constant mental health issues (like millions of Americans) is in a hardened battle. That needs to be acknowledged and respected.
His announcement on Thursday that he is stepping away from football again to attend to his mental health, combined with the fact he allegedly violated the terms of his reinstatement, according to the NFL Network, under the substance abuse policy, is far from a surprise.