Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon remains away form the team attending to personal issues. Most figured said issues are about him remaining sober and clean off the field.
Substance abuse has threatened to derail Gordon’s once-promising career. Now that he’s seemingly tuned things around, he’s just making sure a relapse isn’t in his future.
Unfortunately for Gordon and the Browns, there’s another major off-field issue that could threaten his ability to suit up this season.
TMZ Sports is reporting that Gordon is in the midst of a child support battle with ex-girlfriend, Christina Lockhart, surrounding the three-year-old daughter they have together.
“Christina Lockhart has been fighting like h**l to get the troubled NFL star to fork over child support for their 3-year-old daughter for years … but it’s been a fight every step of the way. She clearly feels Gordon’s screwing her over,” the gossip rag notes.
According to the report, Lockhart’s reps are demanding a monthly support payment of $6,765.00. This takes into account his $800,000 salary with the Browns last season. She was successful in getting a court order demanding that Gordon pay that amount. On the other hand, Gordon’s reps are arguing that Gordon won’t get his first check until Week 1.
To make matters even more interesting, the judge has set penalties for missed child support payments in a pretty stiff manner. A first missed payment results in up to 30 days in jail. A second missed payment includes 60 days. And if Gordon were to miss a third payment, he could spend as much as three months locked up.