CANTON, Ohio -- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam declined to confirm that Josh Gordon failed another drug test and is facing indefinite suspension, but indicated the team will stand by him.

"Josh is learning and growing and improving as a person,'' Haslam said during a speech to 500 fans at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon club event. "He's learning how to work hard. He's learning how to be a professional. Josh is a smart young man. All of us have made mistakes when we were that age. We're counting on Josh being a good football player for the Browns for a long time to come.

"We spend a lot of time with all of our core players and Josh is obviously one of those. We have all spent a lot of time talking to Josh and I'm not going to comment on the situation but I'll say this, but I've been very pleased with his professional growth over the last year and the way he handles himself.''

ESPN reported Friday that Gordon tested positive recently for marijuana and will be suspended for at least a year. Believed to be in stage three of the NFL's substance abuse program, Gordon faces banishment from the league for a minimum of a year and would have to apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell for re-instatement.

But Gordon's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will appeal the ruling and try to get the suspension reduced. Monday Morning Quarterback's Peter King speculated in his column Monday that Gordon would likely be banned eight to 16 games.

King was also told by Browns general manager Ray Farmer Saturday night that the Browns were very close to drafting top wideout Sammy Watkins at No. 4.

"We very easily could have turned in the card with Sammy’s name on it,'' Farmer said.

Instead, the Browns traded down to No. 9 with Buffalo and then jumped back up to No. 8 to draft cornerback Justin Gilbert. As the draft wore, they skipped all of the receivers in the draft despite the fact it was the deepest class in years. Instead, they signed four receivers as undrafted free agents.

"We’re confident we have a plan,'' coach Mike Pettine told reporters at the Browns Foundation Golf outing Monday. "The situation didn’t call for panic. That’s something we weren’t going to do. I agree with Ray 1,000 percent that we have to build this team so that no one player drives the ship. …losing players for extended periods of time potentially is part of the game. Successful franchises are the ones that have enough depth built and enough options that they have from scheme-wise, coaching-wise to account for it.''

Gordon, who led the league with 1,646 yards last season, was also suspended two games last season and docked four game checks for violating the substance abuse policy for at least the second time in the NFL. That time, he said it was for codeine contained in his prescribed cough medicine.