CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon stressed that he's not an addict and regrets that he's been portrayed as "a junkie'' throughout his suspension process.

In his first extensive interview, with ondecker.com, Gordon said he doesn't have a drug problem and is looking forward to coming back and being better than ever after his suspension under terms of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. (See the videos below.)

He was not asked by the interviewer, DJ Stevie J of Club Liv in Miami Beach, Fla. if he thinks he'll be reinstated this season.

"Do I believe I have a drug problem? Definitely not,'' Gordon said. "In this case, I was exposed to it from second-hand (smoke), and prior to I've been drug-free and have been staying that way - and this incident has been causing a backlash of negative attention and negative media of me being an addict or a junkie, or using drugs terribly too much, which is definitely not the case and I'd like to definitely have that out in the open and be clear with that for sure.''

He acknowledged that he checked himself into rehab after his DWI in July.

"I chose to go on my own accord, my own thoughts,'' he said. "I thought it would be beneficial for me to go out to Cliffside in Malibu, California, and seek out some help. …They made their diagnosis and said I wasn't addicted to anything, and I didn't have any drug problems, but still I wanted to stay and figure out anything I could do. I already went halfway across the country…..I did the therapy, I did the groups. I found it beneficial and somewhat fun meeting new people and getting other people's perspective on real-life situations…''

He admitted that his season-long suspension and the drawn-out process leading up to it left him feeling depressed.

"My personal feeling toward the verdict: I was definitely upset because you won't be able to play for a full year, and that I believe has rarely been seen in a positive light ever in the NFL or hardly even seen anybody come back from a full year suspension and become a fundamental part of the team again and go on to do good things and great things. So all of those things play on my mind and you get emotional, you get depressed,'' he said.

"You touch all of your emotions I believe at once and it was definitely a dark period of time for me, definitely probably the worst experience I've had in my life for sure, having your livelihood being possibly taken away, so now we're just trying to turn it into a positive and taking the best things out of it as best we can.''

He confirmed he tested negative 70 times before his recent positive test for marijuana.

"The frequency in which I was tested in the NFL was very high, around 70 times before the incident occurred,'' he said. "…..We believe (my positive test) was associated with second-hand smoke, and in this case it was. We were trying to make that point clear to the NFL and explain it and come to terms to with it, but in that case, I've definitely been tested quite often.''

He said the Browns have been supportive.

"They refused to let go of me,'' he said. "I'm sure another team would've let me go. But they believed in me and definitely thought there was something more to my character, not only the negative, but moreso the positive. They decided they wanted to stick with me, so I appreciate that."

He said he's not sure if he'll sue the league.

"It's been dealt with by my lawyers and my agent, so we're keeping things really tight-knit, under wraps on that, but as far as I know, nothing has been moved forward on it,'' he said. "Let's just let things play out as they play, if anything comes up, I'm sure they'll let me know, but for now, I don't really know too much.''

Gordon could be reinstated if the NFL and NFLPA approve the revised drug policy.

He said he feels like his situation was the catalyst for the NFL's new drug policy, which will include HGH testing, and an automatic two-game suspension for a DUI. Gordon was arrested for DWI in July, and is hearing is in November. Even if he's reinstated, he could have to serve two games if convicted on the DUI.

“I do believe my situation had a lot to do with it,'' he said. "It somewhat made me the poster child for advancing into a new, a different policy. I’m sure it’s a good thing and a bad thing as well. Sad I had to be the example for it as well. It’s good to see I guess progress made in the league on their behalf and that they’re doing something about it.”

He said he appreciated the NFL hearing his appeal, which lasted 13 hours.

“They’ve been doing everything I think, everything they could to hear me out and hear the case, hear the story and make their judgment on it,'' he said. "Considering the rules that they have to abide by, I believe that there is nothing more that they could have done to help me, and I appreciate them just for hearing me out and for taking their time.”

Until Gordon receives word on whether or not he's reinstated, he's working for Sarchione Auto Group in Randolph, Ohio, selling cars and learning the car business.

Here are all the videos from OnDecker.com.

Part 1: Who is Josh Gordon?

Part 2: Are you suing the NFL?

Part 3: How do you feel about the NFL's verdict?

Part 4: How often were you tested since your 2013 suspension?

Part 5: How are the Browns standing behind you?

Part 6: What was your reaction to the appeal?

Part 7: Does he think he has a drug problem?

Part 8: What can you do differently to stay on the field?