CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter, who overcame drug addiction early in his career, stressed that Browns receiver Josh Gordon won't change until he finds his own rock bottom and asks for help.

"It's fairly obvious that (using substances) is more important to him than anything else,'' the former Ohio State star told cleveland.com in a phone interview. "It's always been very, very important to him. It's well-documented that it's been primary since early college. Maybe it even goes back to early high school.''

Carter stressed that if Gordon can overcome his issues and stay healthy, he could be one of the best to ever play the game.

"He's really one of the few receivers that's playing in the game now that with a sustained long and healthy career you can say he's got the potential to wear a gold jacket,'' said Carter. "He's pretty special.''

Carter, who turned his life and career around in Minnesota after Eagles coach Buddy Ryan cut him in 1990, helps plenty of players in the NFL struggling with substance abuse, but only the ones who are open to it.

"If the building is on fire and the person decides to stay in there, I don't run in there and get him out,'' Carter said. "If you see them breaking the glass, if you see them struggling and trying to get out -- that's my analogy of how I help out the guys in the league and the kids that really, really need help.''

He indicated that Gordon, who's facing an indefinite suspension from the NFL for what's believed to be at least his third violation of the NFL's substance, might not be ready to quit yet. On May 25th, Gordon was ticketed for speeding, and the Cuyahoga Count Sherriff's deputy detected the smell of marijuana in the car, a source told cleveland.com. One of the Gordon's three passengers was cited for marijuana possession.

"I'd much rather help an undrafted free agent that has a problem and he says I've got a problem and he wants some help, then help a guy who's first-team All-Pro (and hasn't reached out),'' said Carter.

Carter said he and other NFL veterans are there for all of the players who need them, and that a lot goes on behind-the-scenes.

"We get involved privately when guys have certain issues,'' said Carter. "But some players run away from the help as opposed to running to the help. Most of these kids, they don't want to have a heart-to-heart conversation. They've got enough people lecturing them and telling them what they should be doing.''

He cautioned that Gordon's situation could get worse before it gets better.

"But unless you've talked to Josh, you don't know where he is,'' said Carter, who admitted using alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine. "Just like no one could explain my story, no one's going to be able to explain his.''

Carter said he wasn't willing to change until Ryan released him in 1990, just three years into his 16-year career.

"My bottom was getting cut and I was so upset because even though they cut me, I wasn't using at the time,'' said Carter. "They cut me because they couldn't trust me. At the time, I had only flunked two tests. The next one, I would've been suspended for a year. I was clean for over six months at the time I got cut.''

During his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Carter thanked Ryan through tears for saving his life, calling the move "the best thing that ever happened to me.''

When he got to Minnesota, he was open to all the help the Vikings had to offer.

"Man, [the Vikings] invested so much time in me," Carter told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "They got me to see the right people. Man, when I got there, I needed a lot of help. Oh my goodness."

"It was a lot of hard work, but there were a lot of people helping me, not on the football field, but just getting my life together. They really cared about me. I owe everything to the Vikings. What they invested in me was more than money. What they taught me was how to live the rest of my life. I didn't have to be a prisoner to the things that held me back before. That I could finally, finally tap into my athletic ability. That was the first time that I really feel like the car was running 100 percent."

Carter, who shares his story with rookies at the NFL's Rookie Symposium, declined to comment on whether or not he thinks Gordon would benefit from a stint in rehab.

He added that fans are angry because most of them don't understand addiction.

"Fans are unrealistic because they all think if they were in that situation, they would never do that,'' said Carter. "Everyone always thinks it's easy.''

But, he said, the fans are the least of Gordon's problems.

"Josh can't even help himself,'' said Carter. "How can he help the fans?''

Gordon, who's spent time with Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin, was set to spend about three weeks in Minnesota this summer at Larry Fitzgerald's pro receiver camp, which is attended by Carter, Irvin and others.

Carter doesn't know if Gordon is still planning to come "and I haven't thought a second about it. Josh is not my responsibility. Not everyone is in a position to be saved.''