It is time for the NFLPA to help suspended players.

NFLPA

Tonight Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports, former NFL scout Kelron Sykes and I will discuss this issue and others at 6PM EDT on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Please join us.

The players pay the NFLPA a lot of money. Now is the time for the association to step up to do something for the suspended players like Josh Gordon.

The current NFL rules allow absolutely no contact at all between a suspended player and his team. Suspended players need more support than those on the active roster. A player like Gordon, who was already expected to be suspended for a substantial part of the 2014 season, has gotten into trouble when he is away from the structure of football. He was arrested for a DWI while he was waiting for his appeal of a suspension for a failed test. The chances are slim for him getting any relief on the drug test failure given his DWI.

Players tend to hang around with their old friends. When they have issues with failed drug tests, it often is in part due to the people around. The proof of this is the friend with weed found by police when Gordon was stopped over the Memorial Day weekend. Without the ability to get help from the team, the NFLPA needs to step in and fill the hole.

As for Gordon, rehab is the only way for him to save his career and his life. I doubt he is ready to admit he has a problem that requires rehab. But unless he gets the help he needs, he won’t survive. At this point the most important issue is Gordon’s health not his career. I tweeted that I doubt he will ever play again for the Browns. The chances of him staying clean for a year or more without a strong support system are very slim. He will likely drift back to his old friends and his old ways.

The issue is simple. Gordon cares more about his weed and liquor than he does about football. That is too bad. But it looks like he cares more about his vices than he does his life. That is a crisis.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. On Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports, former NFL scout Kelron Sykes and I talk football with just a little Indians and Cavs thrown in. The archive is available on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Please join us.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .

He also edits .

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

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