NFL Supplemental Draft: Josh Gordon, WR, Baylor
The 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft will take place in a week, on Thursday July 12th. Josh Gordon is creating some buzz because he is a big (6’4″ 225) receiver with 4.3 speed. He played two years at Baylor, recording 42 receptions for 714 yards and 7 touchdowns during his sophomore year, which included a school-record 94-yard haul. Sometime in July 2011, Baylor Coach Art Briles suspended Gordon indefinitely and he transferred to Utah. Gordon will never play a down for the Utes as he made himself eligible for the supplemental draft. The red flags are everywhere.
On October 3, 2010, Gordon and teammate Willie Jefferson were arrested and charged with Misdemeanor Marijuana Possession. They fell asleep while waiting in a Taco Bell drive-through line. The police responded sometime after 2AM and found marijuana in the driver-side floorboard and the central console of the vehicle that Jefferson was driving. Hours earlier, on October 2nd, Baylor had defeated Kansas at home, 55-7. A few weeks later, Jefferson was arrested again for a marijuana offense and Briles dismissed him from the team. It seems the Baylor coach has a strict two-strike policy.
Less than a year after his arrest, Gordon received his suspension. The reason for the suspension was kept a secret but rumors are that it was marijuana related. There was no publicized arrest so it may have only been a violation observed by someone affiliated to the school or football team.
Time to bring out the rubber stamp and mark Gordon, SELFISH and UNDISCIPLINED. Selfish because he did not consider how his actions would affect his team. Forget leadership. Undisciplined because he knew he could potentially be kicked off the team for a violation but exhibited no self-control. Gordon will also not honor his commitment to Utah. Why not make an attempt to change your image and improve your draft stock? Maybe he’s just not that good and his agent saw an opportunity in a weak supplementary class.
Gordon had Oakland Raider written all over him but Al Davis has passed. He would have likely been a third-round selection like Terrell Pryor, the year before.
Many talented players have had success despite being selfish and undisciplined. Allen Iverson comes to mind, “We talkin’ bout practice.” The operative word is talent and it takes a lot to overcome character flaws.
Now, we get to the Miami Dolphins. A team that appears to have a WR need. I say appears because we don’t really know what B.J. Cunningham, Rishard Matthews, and Chad Johnson are bringing to the table. Gordon may be worth a shot in the late rounds (6-7) but someone will reach for him because of his electrifying speed.
Seven others players are eligible for the Supplemental Draft. They are:
Ed Wesley, RB, Texas Christian
Quaylon Ewing, DB, Boise State
Adam Harris, RB, Syracuse
Adrian Haughton, OT, Iowa State
Larry Lumpkin, LB, Carson-Newman
Montez Robinson, DE, Georgia
Houston Tuminello, WR, McMurray
Gordon is easily the cream of this class. Wesley is a longshot. Don’t expect anyone else to be drafted.
Here are some interesting facts:
Since 1977, the year of the first supplemental draft, only 41 players have been drafted this way.
Cris Carter was drafted in the 4th round of the 1987 supplemental draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bernie Kosar was drafted in the 1st round of the 1985 supplemental draft by the Cleveland Browns.
I know what you’re thinking. What are Carson-Newman and McMurray?
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