BEREA, Ohio -- It’s time flip the prism on the return of Josh Gordon on Sunday in Atlanta.

So far it’s been viewed from the on-field perspective, what Gordon can bring as a player. But Gordon has this opportunity in part because the Cleveland Browns stood by him.

There is validity in saying the Browns supported Gordon because of his immense talent. Had he been released when word of his year-long suspension first broke, someone would have signed him -- eventually.

The Browns easily could have gotten fed up and released Gordon, especially after his DUI arrest in the offseason that followed news of his failed drug test, which followed a 2013 season when he was suspended for the first two games. Hall of Famer Cris Carter was crying out that Gordon needed to be released.

The Browns never wavered, though. They challenged Gordon privately and publicly, but stood by him for months. He took part in training camp, played in preseason games and practiced with his teammates -- with the team well aware Gordon might lose a significant part, if not all, of the season while his case was being appealed.

They kept him around, tried to set up a program to help him.

At this point, Gordon owes not just something to himself and his team on his return, but also to his organization.

He conceded as much during his media gaggle Wednesday.

“There are a lot of people that I feel I owe that to: family members, friends, people that felt more embarrassed about it than the city of Cleveland,” he said. “As much as they are, the people close to me feel it harder than anybody. I feel as though I owe them, as well as the Browns.”

The way he’d like to repay the faith?

“By performing well,” Gordon said.

That means being himself. It was actually good to hear him say he wouldn’t put forth any extra effort or something inane like that. Because doing so implies he wasn’t doing his best in the past.

If Gordon goes out and is himself, he’ll be doing just fine (understatement alert).

And if he’s just fine, he’ll be remembering what the team did for him, and paying things forward.