Ryan Leaf. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Now former Patriots receiver Josh Gordon's issues with addiction stem back to 2013, at least.
Ryan Leaf is familiar with those demons. The old Chargers and Cowboys QB battled them very publicly, and offered Gordon support in a chat with TMZ.
"This is really all about surrender and acceptance," Leaf said. "Surrendering to something bigger than you, and then accepting the help from people who've been through it before. I've reached out to Josh and his manager plenty of times, and they know I'm here for him, and they know I'm available. That's what changed it for me--going to ask people who had what I wanted, which was a peaceful, un-chaotic life, and I asked them how they got it, and then I listened to them and followed that."
Leaf said Gordon has a long road ahead of him, but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
"It just doesn't happen overnight with a snap of the fingers, right? You have to put in a ton of effort," Leaf said. "This'll be the hardest thing he ever does. Making it to the NFL for him was easy in comparison to what he has to battle, and what he goes through on a daily basis, so, if he's able to do that, boy, will I be proud of him."
Leaf is currently a program ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community and its Mentoring Program, which helps people fight substance abuse issues.
WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports