Cleveland Browns voluntary pre-draft mini-camp in Berea

Either Josh Gordon faces his problems, or he may never play for the Browns again.

(John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns should offer Josh Gordon a choice: Come to Cleveland right now and enroll in a full-time rehabilitation program, or you're cut.

That's it.

When Gordon was arrested for speeding over the Memorial Day weekend, I wrote a column about how the Browns should suspend Gordon and work with him on his problems -- while awaiting word on impending NFL suspension.

Irate fans emailed to tell me I was an idiot for wanting to suspend a guy for speeding.

No, it was for riding around with at least one other guy smoking marijuana. That guy was later charged with possession, and the officer smelled marijuana in the car.

It also was for riding around with a guy smoking marijuana while the NFL was pondering the severity of Gordon's suspension for falling a drug test reportedly for marijuana.

My point was that Gordon is keeping some very questionable company for a guy with a history of drug use -- and doing so when his pro career is in major trouble for failing drug test.

Then Gordon was arrested again. This time, it was Saturday at 3 a.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina.

It started as a speeding violation (50 mph in a 35-mph zone), but ended up being a Driving While Impaired charge. His blood alcohol was .09, above the .08 legal limit in North Carolina.

According to Raleigh television station WNCN, Gordon was bailed out by Haydn Patrick "Fats" Thomas. He is known to authorities, North Carolina basketball fans and the media in the Tar Heel state.

According to the WNCN website, "Thomas rented out a vehicle to former UNC basketball player P.J. Hairston. Hairston was arrested June 5, 2013 in Durham in a vehicle from Thomas along with Elizabeth City State basketball player Miykael Faulcon and former college basketball player Carlos Sanford. All three were charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. The charges against Hairston were later dismissed."

I did some research on "Fats" Thomas.

On November 20, 2013, he plead guilty to charges of "possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia." He received a suspended sentence of 24-47 months in jail, and was place on probation.

I found his criminal record in North Carolina. He has a history of minor weapons and drug charges dating back to 2002. Most of the time, he received probation.

Once again, this is the guy who bailed out Gordon.

Remember, it's not just marijuana with Gordon.

He was suspended for two games (and fined four game-day paychecks) for using codeine in 2013. He said it was cough syrup. But the NFL obviously had doubts, especially because codeine is mixed with fruit juice to become a party drink known as "drank."

Gordon admitted to police in North Carolina that he had three drinks with Vodka.

So it's codeine, marijuana and alcohol ... all within the last 12-to-18 months.

Gordon's drug issues date all the way back to his time at Baylor and Utah, and I see no reason to detail all of that.

As far as I know, Gordon has attended drug counseling sessions. And some group sessions. So much support is available to pro athletes with these issues. The Browns have worked hard in trying to guide and help him.

But I'm not aware that he's ever completed a full-time drug treatment program. Even if he has done it before, it's time to do it again. That's because time is running out on Gordon, and the Browns need to put him on the clock right now.

For Gordon, here's the choice: Rehab or release.

And if he turns down rehab, that tells you that he's really not interested in changing or playing football.