Look no further than Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon for the reason NFL teams keep taking chances on talented players with issues off the field.
Gordon was run out of Baylor after an arrest and a failed drug test and hadn't played a game in 18 months when the Browns took him in the 2012 supplemental draft. He was suspended for this season's first two games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy and was at the center of trade reports leading up to the deadline.
Yet he has been remarkably productive on the field, and seems to be getting better, as the past two weeks have shown. He's the first NFL player with back-to-back 200-yard receiving games, with 237 on 14 catches last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and 261 on 10 catches Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Only Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson has more receiving yards this season (1,299) than Gordon's 1,249, and Gordon has done it in 10 games to Johnson's 11, with Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer and Jason Campbell throwing him the football.
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Gordon is only 22. He has size (6-3, 225 pounds), speed and hands. He also has a spot in the drug program that leaves the Browns to debate trying to sell high on a player who could be looking at a one-year suspension if he violates the substance-abuse policy again.
For all their talent, the likes of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon have gotten popped this year for failing to shake their demons. But there's a reason their teams haven't given up on them, either.
Gordon's contract makes it easy to keep taking a chance on a player who's showing he can be a game-changer if he stays out of trouble. He's signed for two more years with reasonable base salaries of $825,604 in 2014 ($380,000 fully guaranteed) and $1,068,406 in 2015, plus $50,000 workout bonuses in each year.
A stockpile of 2014 draft picks give the Browns a chance to put more pieces around Gordon as well as options if something goes wrong. And they need to stabilize a quarterback position that's one big reason they have lost three in a row, despite Gordon's breakout, dropping from the AFC playoff chase at 4-8.
VIDEO: AROUND THE NFL AFTER SUNDAY'S WEEK 13 ACTION
More hot reads
— The Miami Dolphins' domination in a 23-3 road rout of the New York Jets wasn't even fully reflected on the scoreboard. Miami also finished with huge margins in yards (453-177), first downs (25-10) and time of possession (38:52-21:08) and could have made it a laugher early if not for mistakes in the red zone. The benching of QB Geno Smith isn't the only issue for the Jets, who have lost three in a row since the bye following what looked like a statement win Nov. 3 against the New Orleans Saints. Which team remains the subject of an ongoing investigation into its workplace culture again?
— It'll be quite a seven-day stretch for the Seattle Seahawks, who host the New Orleans Saints Monday night, then head to San Francisco to face the 49ers, who looked more like themselves with WR Michael Crabtree back from Achilles' surgery. Bad timing for the Seahawks with their issues in the secondary, especially if Crabtree's presence creates space inside for veteran WR Anquan Boldin. That's where suspended Seattle CB Walter Thurmond normally would be.
— Will Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder's concussion open the way for QB Josh Freeman to get back onto the field? Coaches have been reluctant to start QB Matt Cassel, who helped rally the Vikings past the Chicago Bears in overtime Sunday. Freeman surely knows he's running out of time to leave a good impression with scouts as free agency approaches. Playing his way into anything more than a one-year deal would be a surprise, though. A lot of questions remain unanswered, dating to his ugly divorce from the Tampa Bay Buccabeers in October.
Scoreboard (HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
INDIANAPOLIS 22, Tennessee 14: Colts offense remains maddening and startlingly unproductive — 264 net yards, 3-of-14 on third downs. Is OC Pep Hamilton to blame? Titans are finished in the division race now, but not an AFC wild-card race that remains packed.
Jacksonville 32, CLEVELAND 28: Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts couldn't have picked a better spot for his most important play this season — a 20-yard TD to beat his hometown team. Browns QB Brandon Weeden's mark remains unblemished in his third shot. He's 0-5 as a starter this season.
CAROLINA 27, Tampa Bay 6: Cam Newton's burst around the edge on the 56-yard run for the Panthers is something most QBs just don't have. When CB Darrelle Revis is getting burned by Panthers WR Ted Ginn, it's probably not the Buccaneers day.
MINNESOTA 23, Chicago 20 (OT): Vikings CB Chris Cook's ejection was an embarrassing end to a bad day; good thing rookie CB Xavier Rhodes looks like a player. The NFL's worst rush defense, belonging to the Bears, got gashed again (40 carries, 246 yards). More startling, the pass "D" wasn't much better, even when Cassel took over.
Miami 23, N.Y. JETS 3: The Dolphins got into Jets territory on all six first-half drives and didn't score a TD. Good thing the defense rose up. Geno Smith's benching as Jets QB was overdue. But can QB Matt Simms really be the one to lead a rally?
New England 34, HOUSTON 31: If they're spying again, as Texans DE Antonio Smith suggested, then how were the Patriots losing to a bottom-feeder late? Texans QB Case Keenum keeps making enough plays to tantalize, but not enough to win as Houston's losing streak hits double-digits.
PHILADELPHIA 24, Arizona 21: Talk about equal-opportunity offense. Who had Eagles TE Zach Ertz leading the way with 68 yards and two TDs? For the Cardinals, failing to force a turnover while committing three rarely works. Now Seattle can clinch a playoff berth Monday.
Atlanta 34, BUFFALO 31: The Falcons' five-game skid is over. WR Roddy White (10 catches, 143 yards) remains a terror when healthy. Bills TE Scott Chandler's OT fumble was the dagger. Blame Toronto mayor Rob Ford for wearing a Fred Jackson jersey.
SAN FRANCISCO 23, St. Louis 13: WR Michael Crabtree had a 60-yard catch in his return for the 49ers, and that no doubt helped WR Anquan Boldin (nine catches, 98 yards). The Rams had more penalties (11 for 105 yards) than WR Tavon Austin's offensive touches (five for 35 yards). Enough said.
Cincinnati 17, SAN DIEGO 10: The Bengals defense contained QB Philip Rivers and the Chargers' high-powered passing game to 243 net yards. It's tough for the Chargers to make the playoffs without winning at home. They are 2-3 at Qualcomm Stadium.
Denver 35, KANSAS CITY 28: The Broncos' sweep of the Chiefs clears the way for wrapping up the AFC West. But there is work ahead to get the No. 1 seed. Chiefs QB Alex Smith completed passes to 11 receivers while getting the Chiefs 13 yards from reaching OT. So close, so far.
N.Y. Giants 24, WASHINGTON 17: Giants DE Justin Tuck matched his 2012 total with four sacks and S Will Hill made the play to seal it. They're not finished yet. The officials' first-down gaffe on Washington's final didn't help. But once again, the Redskins were in desperation mode late.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 13
Numbers game
1: Player who reached 900 career receptions faster than Texans WR Andre Johnson, who got there in his 150th game. Marvin Harrison did it in 149 games.
1: Low-five given by Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson to a reluctant official after his 33-yard TD run in the second quarter against the Bears.
1: Touchdown pass Seahawks QB Russell Wilson needs Monday night to become the fourth player in NFL history to throw for 20 TDs in each of his first two seasons. The others are Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Andy Dalton.
2: Players who reached the 10,000-yard career rushing mark faster than Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, who did it in his 101st game. Eric Dickerson did it in 91 and Jim Brown in 98.
5: Seasons the Browns went between 1,000-yard receivers until Josh Gordon surpassed the mark against the Jaguars. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow each surpassed 1,000 yards in 2007.
10: Consecutive losses for FS Ed Reed, who was released by the Texans seven games into their slide and joined the Jets in time for their three-game skid.
19: Consecutive touchdown passes without an interception thrown by Eagles QB Nick Foles, the second-longest streak to start a season in NFL history. Peyton Manning threw 20 TDs before his first interception earlier this season.
Coming Monday
The No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs could be on the line for two teams that thrive on home-field advantage. Will Saints QB Drew Brees exploit a short-handed Seattle secondary? Or will the Seahawks defend CenturyLink Field, as they did in the last meeting — a playoff upset three years ago?
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Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero
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