BEREA, Ohio _ The more Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has opened up about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction, the more people around him have become increasingly understanding.
"It's been a resounding positive feedback across the board so far," he said Friday. "I haven't really had the opportunity to entertain any negativity because I just haven't received any."
Coach Hue Jackson is among the people in Gordon's life who became fed up with him, only to later alter his attitude about the situation. Jackson admitted Wednesday he slammed the door shut on Gordon returning to the Browns when he left them in September 2016 to check into rehab, but the coach also explained he welcomed the 2013 All-Pro selection back earlier this month because he realized the player is dealing with a disease and had done everything necessary for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to reinstate him on a conditional basis Nov. 1.
"That just shows the humanity of it," Gordon said of Jackson's change of heart. "People can make a turn. People can make a change at any given moment just depending on the situation and the variables in place. For him, it was just being enlightened on the situation.
"It can happen for many people, many fans, and many whoever that may have thought they were done with me or wanted to be done with me are giving me another opportunity. They kind of just wanted to see it through, and I'm glad that he was patient enough to do so, so I appreciate him for doing that."
Gordon, who's been suspended for the past 43 games and 53 of the past 58 because of recurring violations of the league's substance-abuse policy, practiced Wednesday with the Browns for the first time since Aug. 31, 2016. He said his life off the field has been going well since he reunited with the Browns on Nov. 7.
"It's been pretty slow, pretty quiet for me, but it's how I like it," said Gordon, whose fourth known stint in rehab lasted more than three months and ended in late September. "It's consistent. I know what to expect. I know what to do. So it's comfortable right now.
"I'll kind of consume myself with work, and some of the free time that I have, to be a father, take care of my daughter, things of that nature, spend time with family."
As long as Gordon meets the conditions of his reinstatement, he'll be eligible to play in the final five games of the season beginning Dec. 3 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
"I'm ready to go any day they want to make that call," said Gordon, who hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since Dec. 21, 2014.
Gordon will be on the sideline Sunday at Paul Brown, hoping the Browns (0-10) defeat the Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) and earn their first win. If they fail, he could play a part in helping them avoid a winless season.
"If it doesn't happen (this weekend), if it happens the week I'm in, that's great," Gordon said. "If it doesn't, we'll continue to fight every week until it's over to get a win."
The NFL's receiving leader four years ago with 1,646 yards, Gordon trained for the last year, returned to the Browns in phenomenal physical shape and hasn't been plagued by any rust on the practice field.
"None that I felt, and none that I was told about, so I felt pretty good," Gordon said. "I think I knocked that rust off prior to getting back into the building, and that was something I was looking forward to doing and I think I accomplished that. The first day of practice I was able to adjust pretty quickly, being in shape and making it through."
There hasn't been much mental rust, either. Before Gordon's departure from the team last year, he became familiar with Jackson's playbook.
"It's come back to me pretty quickly," Gordon said, "and it doesn't take me too long to pick up on the offense."
The Browns have certainly felt Gordon's presence at practice.
"He's just one of those guys who he's too big and strong to be that fast," rookie safety Jabrill Peppers said. "It's different when you're watching him than actually being on the field with him. You can feel the speed going by, and I think us having him back for this week, he was doing what (Bengals six-time Pro Bowl receiver) A.J. green does when he goes against our defense. I don't think we can get a better look than that.
"We're definitely grateful to have him back. I can't wait to see him in action next week. But for right now, we've got to do without him this game. But definitely having him out there definitely ratchets everything up. You don't see too many guys like that."
Gordon said he loves his teammates and coaches.
"It's been an all-around conducive environment in what I'm trying to do," he said. "There hasn't been any type of negativity or any kind of energy being sucked out of the room or anything like that. I'm in a good mental space.
"It's a surreal experience (to be practicing again). It's just so much fun. It's just such a blessing when I'm able to just sit back and realize what I get to do for a living. It's an honor. I do love it."
And the Browns love to see Gordon back where they believe he belongs _ on the field.
"Heck, he's a playmaker," rookie defensive end Myles Garrett said. "We want to win, and he's one of the best receivers out there. It's been awhile since he's been here. He's been off for a while, but he came in with his head up, and he wasn't making any excuses for himself. He took it face on. He's ready to roll. He's ready to go.
"He hasn't lost a step. He came in, and he immediately went into the weight room and he was working from day one. So that's why we accepted him back so quickly because he's ready to go. He wasn't out of shape. He wasn't taking any time off. When he was back, when they said he could be back in meetings and practice, he was the first one there."
