Krafts address Josh Gordon's suspension, absence: 'It makes us sad'

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and president Jonathan Kraft lamented the absence of wide receiver Josh Gordon on Tuesday night, ahead of Super Bowl LIII.

"He was a real good guy, and there was a connection," Robert Kraft said on "Boston Sports Tonight," via Justin Leger of NBC Sports. "Unfortunately, people like that need mentoring at a young age, but when it becomes addiction, addiction is something that is way beyond our ... We gave him tremendous support on a daily basis, and he was worthy. But I think we as a society have to try to help these young people not to get addicted in the first place. And that's the sad part of this. He's a good guy - a really good guy. It makes us sad."

Gordon reportedly remains in an inpatient drug treatment facility following a December suspension for repeated violations of his reinstatement under the league's substance abuse policy.

The 27-year-old started 11 games for the Patriots this season following a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Due to multiple suspensions, he played only 10 games between 2014 and 2017, and Gordon appeared on the field 12 times in 2018.

Jonathan Kraft said that Gordon was embraced within the Patriots' locker room.

"This wasn't a troublemaker in the locker room," he said. "That football locker room, especially in our place, you have to be somebody that's smart, that's committed to week-in and week-out understanding what's going to be asked of you mentally as well as being willing to work physically and then being selfless. And that doesn't describe everybody on every football team, and our team took to Josh very quickly because he had those attributes, and unfortunately he had some personal demons.

"As a person and as a teammate, he was beloved in the locker room. And I'm sure if you ask guys this week, they would tell you they wish he was here with us. He was not a guy that was disruptive or a problem."

Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett called Gordon's absence "heartbreaking" at his press conference on Tuesday.

Gordon will receive a championship ring if the Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, and his eventual return to the team hasn't been ruled out at the conclusion of his indefinite ban.