Josh Gordon stepped away from team days after child support order in heated case
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Cleveland Browns' Josh Gordon stepped away from team days after child support order in heated case
The latest dispute came during a hearing held July 18 as the child's mother continued to pursue Gordon for child support for their 3-year-old daughter.CLEVELAND -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon was in the midst of a heated and protracted child custody dispute in the days leading up to his abrupt departure from the team, court records obtained by WKYC.com show.
Those same court records allege an attorney representing the child’s mother threatened “to air sensitive information to the public in an effort to embarrass [Gordon],” who has been embroiled in the support dispute since 2015.
Court records also show Gordon earned so little money during his NFL suspension that he did not file income tax returns in 2015 and 2016.
However, court records show he expects to resume collecting his $800,000 salary and return to the Browns for their first game on Sept. 9.
The latest dispute came during a hearing held July 18 as the child’s mother continued to pursue Gordon for child support for their 3-year-old daughter.
Two days later on July 20, a Cuyahoga County judge issued a temporary order requiring Gordon to begin making monthly support payments of $6,765 beginning Aug. 1.
The figure was derived by Gordon’s $800,000 salary and the woman’s $16,952 annual income, court records show.
Gordon took to Twitter on July 23, surprising team officials and fans writing he would not be attending training camp as scheduled:
"To my Cleveland Browns and NFL Family,
"I am reaching out to you all personally and letting you know that I am not only doing great physically but mentally as well. You will notice that I will not be in Cleveland for the start of training camp. Rest assured, this, too, is a part of my overall health and treatment plan. I appreciate the awesome support I have received from teammates, friends, fans, and the Browns organization. Just like you, I am excited to start the season and I have every intention of being ready and available to join my teammates soon to help bring winning football to our fans.
"With the help of the NFL, NFLPA, and the Browns' organization, I have been able to utilize the resources available to me that will ensure my well-being on and off the field. By continuing to follow the plan set up by our medical director and his team and taking this time before this season starts, we believe it will help me maintain the progress I've made for not only today but for many years to come.
"Thank you all for your patience, love, and support! Go Browns!"
The Browns have said little about Gordon's departure, telling reporters they intend to respect Gordon's privacy and allow him the time he needs.
Browns senior vice president of communications Peter John-Baptiste said in an e-mail Wednesday that the team "wouldn't comment on his personal life as we are very respectful of our player's privacy."
It is unclear if the child custody case played any part in his departure.
But in September 2016, on the same day paternity was first established, Gordon abruptly announced he was entering an inpatient rehab program. He didn't play again -- and was not paid -- until the following year when he appeared in the Browns' final five games of their 0-16 season.
Gordon had an All-Pro season in 2013 when he led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards while scoring nine touchdowns. Afterward, his life and career spiraled because of substance abuse that resulted in suspensions. He’s played just 10 games since his breakout season.
This year was expected to be Gordon’s grand return. However, his tweet clearly caught the team by surprise. His absence, however, has not stalled the voluminous child custody case that’s been unfolding in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court since July 2015.
His child lives with her mother, Christina Lockhart, but does have some visits with Gordon, court records said.
Gordon, however, has failed to appear at several hearings, a judge wrote in court papers, as well as an early test to determine his parentage. His paternity has since been established through a DNA test. Court records show he’s also failed to comply with other court orders and discovery requests from Lockhart’s attorneys.
Many of the court disputes focused on Lockhart’s efforts to obtain Gordon’s full financial worth, which the wide receiver’s attorneys have fought to keep private.
His attorney filed court papers that show Gordon did not file income tax returns for 2015 and 2016, when he was suspended by the NFL and not paid.
Court papers also show that Gordon sent a text message in 2017 to Lockhart, which her attorney contends was an attempt to reach a settlement for $4,000 a month for Lockhart and a second woman with whom he had a child.
“After my debt and monthly bills, I’d say it could range from 2-4k for U and [the second mother],” he texted. “My salary goes up next year so I could afford more & after that hopefully a new contract & I can afford more but for now…I can barely afford any of it.”
Gordon did submit W-2 statements for 2015 and 2016 from the NFL Players Association and from training camp payments he received from the Browns. He also included a 1099 form from merchandise sold under his nickname “Flash.” The amounts were not included in records released by the court.
While Gordon has been away from the team, his attorney filed a court motion on July 31 asking that the temporary child support payments be rescinded. The first payment was due Aug. 1. It is unclear if a payment was made.
Gordon's attorney Tanja Holecek wrote in a motion opposing the order that the support payment amount was derived without the introduction of paychecks or testimony by either Gordon or Lockhart.
In a phone call Wednesday, Holecek requested questions be e-mailed to her office. One question e-mailed by WKYC.com centered on whether the child support issue was connected to his decision to leave the team.
Holecek never responded to the e-mail or a follow-up message. Lockhart's attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.
In court papers, Holecek wrote of Gordon's inability to make the Aug. 1 payment.
“In fact, [Gordon] is not working, and according to his contract with the Cleveland Browns, he would not receive his first regular paycheck of the season until Sept. 9, 2018, if everything goes as planned.”
Holecek noted that Gordon would have been due a per diem, had he appeared with the team during training camp.
“However, because [Gordon] is missing training camp to pursue treatment, such income is in doubt.”
© 2018 WKYCYou May Like -
I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
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I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
I agree on both counts, the woman is a serious gold digger.
I also believe Josh stepped away from football, but it wasn't for this reason.
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I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
I agree on both counts, the woman is a serious gold digger.
I also believe Josh stepped away from football, but it wasn't for this reason.
I agree on both counts, the woman is a serious gold digger.
I also believe Josh stepped away from football, but it wasn't for this reason.
I agree it was dirt digging by some local reporters- and could be part of the reason Josh stepped away. He should sue for custody- I don't doubt you could hire a full time Nanny for $6,700 a month. (or less)
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....... His attorney filed court papers that show Gordon did not file income tax returns for 2015 and 2016, when he was suspended by the NFL and not paid.
Court papers also show that Gordon sent a text message in 2017 to Lockhart, which her attorney contends was an attempt to reach a settlement for $4,000 a month for Lockhart and a second woman with whom he had a child.“After my debt and monthly bills, I’d say it could range from 2-4k for U and [the second mother],” he texted. “My salary goes up next year so I could afford more & after thathopefully a new contract & I can afford more but for now…I can barely afford any of it.”.........
And the BROWNS season is caught up in this?
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And she threatened to disclose embarrassing information to the public if Gordon didn't cooperate. If she wasn't a mother, I'd say I hope she gets a terminal disease and suffers a miserable death. THAT'S how much I hate blackmailing pieces of garbage. There's not much worse on the planet than someone who tries to blackmail another, and I wish her serious harm and misery. I hope she eats and never tastes. Breathes and never catches her breath. Drinks but always parched. She's the worst kind of scum, and karma will take care of her sorry butt.
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Or Josh could learn how to use a Shmucking condom...
It baffles me how stupid some of these guys are.
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Gip would know, but ~10% of a "father's" gross pay doesn't seem that high... and hardly "gold-digging".
As for the article... now at least I know what may be contributing to JG's absence... and it's less than I feared.
That said there's a fallacy with staying out when your next contract is at stake. Especially in JG's case he's wasted so many good years that it's likely to be his only shot at a really big one.
"When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196 -
Gip would know, but ~10% of a "father's" gross pay doesn't seem that high... and hardly "gold-digging".
As for the article... now at least I know what may be contributing to JG's absence... and it's less than I feared.
That said there's a fallacy with staying out when your next contract is at stake. Especially in JG's case he's wasted so many good years that it's likely to be his only shot at a really big one.
Gip would know, but ~10% of a "father's" gross pay doesn't seem that high... and hardly "gold-digging".
As for the article... now at least I know what may be contributing to JG's absence... and it's less than I feared.
That said there's a fallacy with staying out when your next contract is at stake. Especially in JG's case he's wasted so many good years that it's likely to be his only shot at a really big one.
And if Josh ever scores the big contract GF is thinking "Iz gonna be rich". And contrary to some of the others- I'd never wish harm to another person, even if they're being a butthead.
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Gip would know, but ~10% of a "father's" gross pay doesn't seem that high... and hardly "gold-digging".
As for the article... now at least I know what may be contributing to JG's absence... and it's less than I feared.
That said there's a fallacy with staying out when your next contract is at stake. Especially in JG's case he's wasted so many good years that it's likely to be his only shot at a really big one.
Gip would know, but ~10% of a "father's" gross pay doesn't seem that high... and hardly "gold-digging".
As for the article... now at least I know what may be contributing to JG's absence... and it's less than I feared.
That said there's a fallacy with staying out when your next contract is at stake. Especially in JG's case he's wasted so many good years that it's likely to be his only shot at a really big one.
Yep, some of guys need to dial it back there. The amount of child support someone will receive is always going to be relative to said person's income. That shouldn't be hard to understand. The issue with child support is that is that be very challenging to prove, sue, and win on the basis of HOW the spouse uses that money.
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Shmuck Gordon. He is way to much of a distraction for a 1-31 team to put up with him.
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Shmuck Gordon. He is way to much of a distraction for a 1-31 team to put up with him.
Shmuck Gordon. He is way to much of a distraction for a 1-31 team to put up with him.
My Gordon countdown clock is ticking. August 25th or I give up waiting for Godot. Ten days from now.
For those not familiar with the play- It's about two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who are waiting for a third, Godot, to arrive. Very little happens, and during their long wait the men talk about their lives. Godot never comes.
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u guys cant appreciate how this situation coukd stress the fuk out of him and potentially make him relapse? he has an issue with alcohol too. This easily could have triggered one of his coping mechanisms.
my god $6800 a fukking month.....for one fukking child. This country is batsht crazy. How does a judge not understand this man is pulling no paychecks and he certainly has no endorsements. Whatbthe judge did potentially ruined that womans chances of collecting anything. Ffs ive been as hard on josh as anybody but damn if some of this sht isnt perfectly understandeable
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u guys cant appreciate how this situation coukd stress the fuk out of him and potentially make him relapse? he has an issue with alcohol too. This easily could have triggered one of his coping mechanisms.
my god $6800 a fukking month.....for one fukking child. This country is batsht crazy. How does a judge not understand this man is pulling no paychecks and he certainly has no endorsements. Whatbthe judge did potentially ruined that womans chances of collecting anything. Ffs ive been as hard on josh as anybody but damn if some of this sht isnt perfectly understandeable
u guys cant appreciate how this situation coukd stress the fuk out of him and potentially make him relapse?
Why should we?
If he was a Steeler you 'holier than thou' people wouldn't give a ratsass about him.
He's got two children with different women...and he's not caring for them. He should GET A JOB and take care of his responsibilities. A Ford dealership DID give him a job after he was kicked out of the league.....but he hardly ever showed up for work. Admit it! He's crap! But he's hard to defend on a football field.
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u guys cant appreciate how this situation coukd stress the fuk out of him and potentially make him relapse?
Why should we?
If he was a Steeler you 'holier than thou' people wouldn't give a ratsass about him.
He's got two children with different women...and he's not caring for them. He should GET A JOB and take care of his responsibilities. A Ford dealership DID give him a job after he was kicked out of the league.....but he hardly ever showed up for work. Admit it! He's crap! But he's hard to defend on a football field.
Why should we?
If he was a Steeler you 'holier than thou' people wouldn't give a ratsass about him.
He's got two children with different women...and he's not caring for them. He should GET A JOB and take care of his responsibilities. A Ford dealership DID give him a job after he was kicked out of the league.....but he hardly ever showed up for work. Admit it! He's crap! But he's hard to defend on a football field.
What cracks me up is that some of the people on here who talk about how so many athletes are entitled prima donnas are the same people who will enable and justify a player like that IF HE'S GOOD AND PLAYS FOR THEIR TEAM.
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I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
If he had an $800,000 annual salary that 6800 a month would not be an outrages amount I do not believe. So just FYI child-support is computed on a formula set by the court using federal mandated standards so if the figure of 6800 comes up is because it was what came out after the formula was applied
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Shmuck Gordon. He is way to much of a distraction for a 1-31 team to put up with him.
My Gordon countdown clock is ticking. August 25th or I give up waiting for Godot. Ten days from now.
For those not familiar with the play- It's about two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who are waiting for a third, Godot, to arrive. Very little happens, and during their long wait the men talk about their lives. Godot never comes.
Told ya Gip would know...
... waiting for Godot. Ten days from now.
Personally I'd rather wait for Bardot... and it's been more than 10 days.
Good God... was she hot in the day...
u guys cant appreciate how this situation coukd stress the fuk out of him and potentially make him relapse? he has an issue with alcohol too. This easily could have triggered one of his coping mechanisms.
my god $6800 a fukking month.....for one fukking child. This country is batsht crazy. How does a judge not understand this man is pulling no paychecks and he certainly has no endorsements. Whatbthe judge did potentially ruined that womans chances of collecting anything. Ffs ive been as hard on josh as anybody but damn if some of this sht isnt perfectly understandeable
1. If JG's still that frail, then he ain't ever gonna make it.
2. It's not a matter of providing for the kid's survival. It's giving the kid the level of living he'd enjoy if he were in Dad's household.
"When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196 -
I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
I hope this woman gets hit by a bus, and I hope the judge and lawyers do too. Charging someone $6800 a month for child support is complete crap. If he's truly ducking his child support obligations, then he should definitely pay A FAIR AMOUNT. You don't get to be knocked up and then rich for 18 years, all because you bent over for a professional athlete. It's ridiculous, and completely unfair.
And screw you journalist for posting this story. Yeah, it's public record, but does everyone have to know about a person's private affairs?
Yeah man and hopefully she has the baby with her too that way Josh doesn't have to worry about anything right jiggins7919?...you moron keep supporting this FU*KING BOZO.
"You see the Rams are still thinking that they are playing Tony Dorsett" -Jim Brown 1978 -
Told ya Gip would know...
... waiting for Godot. Ten days from now.
Personally I'd rather wait for Bardot... and it's been more than 10 days.
Good God... was she hot in the day...
u guys cant appreciate how this situation coukd stress the fuk out of him and potentially make him relapse? he has an issue with alcohol too. This easily could have triggered one of his coping mechanisms.
my god $6800 a fukking month.....for one fukking child. This country is batsht crazy. How does a judge not understand this man is pulling no paychecks and he certainly has no endorsements. Whatbthe judge did potentially ruined that womans chances of collecting anything. Ffs ive been as hard on josh as anybody but damn if some of this sht isnt perfectly understandeable
1. If JG's still that frail, then he ain't ever gonna make it.
2. It's not a matter of providing for the kid's survival. It's giving the kid the level of living he'd enjoy if he were in Dad's household.
Told ya Gip would know...
Personally I'd rather wait for Bardot... and it's been more than 10 days.
Good God... was she hot in the day...
1. If JG's still that frail, then he ain't ever gonna make it.
2. It's not a matter of providing for the kid's survival. It's giving the kid the level of living he'd enjoy if he were in Dad's household.
i understand thar argument "up to a point". No woman needs 81k for one child, thats absurd. I dont know the particulars here tho....if this was a long term relationship thst he bailed on and the woman had the kid with him thinking he was gonna be with her long term....ok, i start to see it. If this was some nfl groupie he smashed off in a couple times?......no uh uh
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