Brian Cushing Suspended for Steroids?
- Thread starter gimpypimp
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Sources: Cushing might lose award
The Associated Press will decide later Monday whether it is going to change last year's selection of Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing as Defensive Rookie of the Year, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.
Barry Wilner, who oversees the AP's balloting for its postseason awards, earlier had told ESPN.com's Tim Graham on Monday that the wire service was looking into whether to strip Cushing of the award.
Cushing was suspended for the first four games in 2010 for violating the league's steroid policy. He was tested last September, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Although Cushing said his positive test was not for a steroid-related substance, the positive test was for something that was considered performance enhancing. Cushing appealed the decision and lost that appeal.
Cushing took and passed a lie-detector test to prove he was not guilty of taking a performance-enhancing drug, but his four-game suspension still stands, a league source told Schefter.
Texans owner Robert McNair on Monday criticized the suspension and appeal process that he said doesn't provide enough information to the team.
"The club is left completely out of the loop on that," McNair said. "We're not even notified, it's the league and the player and the players' union. All we know is what's been announced at this point in time."
McNair said Monday that the Texans were aware that Cushing had "an issue" with the NFL last season but didn't know the details.
"Brian had mentioned that he had an issue there, but we don't know what any of the details are, we don't know what doctors he may have consulted with, we don't know what evidence that the league might have had ... which is a very bad position to be in because we're the guy that's got the investment in the player. The league doesn't have any money invested in the player, the union doesn't have any money invested in the player, and yet they get the information and we don't.
"So it's a sensitive area because it is sort of like medical information and there's confidentiality and this sort of thing. But I think it's something that needs to be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement."
The NFL did not immediately comment on McNair's statement.
Because the positive test dates to September of last year, AP has to determine whether to stand by its selection of Cushing, who had 39 votes. Bills safety Jairus Byrd has six votes, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews had three and Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo had two votes.
Cushing will miss the Texans' first four games of the 2010 season (Houston's opponents: Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas and Oakland).
Cushing can participate in preseason practices and games.
Cushing, the 15th overall pick in last year's draft out of Southern California, had 133 tackles in 2009. The Texans finished 9-7 last season for their first winning record thanks in part to the improvement of a young defense that features Cushing, star middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and 2006 top overall pick Mario Williams.
Veteran Kevin Bentley, who appeared in each game for Houston last season but never started, is Cushing's backup at outside linebacker.
Cushing was hounded by rumors of performance-enhancing drug use before he became a pro, but the Texans were undeterred. They said then they found no truth to those rumors in their draft preparations.
Cushing's case differs from San Diego's Shawne Merriman, who won the 2005 defensive rookie award, then tested positive in the 2006 offseason for steroids contained in a supplement.
The Associated Press will decide later Monday whether it is going to change last year's selection of Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing as Defensive Rookie of the Year, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.
Barry Wilner, who oversees the AP's balloting for its postseason awards, earlier had told ESPN.com's Tim Graham on Monday that the wire service was looking into whether to strip Cushing of the award.
Cushing was suspended for the first four games in 2010 for violating the league's steroid policy. He was tested last September, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Although Cushing said his positive test was not for a steroid-related substance, the positive test was for something that was considered performance enhancing. Cushing appealed the decision and lost that appeal.
Cushing took and passed a lie-detector test to prove he was not guilty of taking a performance-enhancing drug, but his four-game suspension still stands, a league source told Schefter.
Texans owner Robert McNair on Monday criticized the suspension and appeal process that he said doesn't provide enough information to the team.
"The club is left completely out of the loop on that," McNair said. "We're not even notified, it's the league and the player and the players' union. All we know is what's been announced at this point in time."
McNair said Monday that the Texans were aware that Cushing had "an issue" with the NFL last season but didn't know the details.
"Brian had mentioned that he had an issue there, but we don't know what any of the details are, we don't know what doctors he may have consulted with, we don't know what evidence that the league might have had ... which is a very bad position to be in because we're the guy that's got the investment in the player. The league doesn't have any money invested in the player, the union doesn't have any money invested in the player, and yet they get the information and we don't.
"So it's a sensitive area because it is sort of like medical information and there's confidentiality and this sort of thing. But I think it's something that needs to be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement."
The NFL did not immediately comment on McNair's statement.
Because the positive test dates to September of last year, AP has to determine whether to stand by its selection of Cushing, who had 39 votes. Bills safety Jairus Byrd has six votes, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews had three and Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo had two votes.
Cushing will miss the Texans' first four games of the 2010 season (Houston's opponents: Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas and Oakland).
Cushing can participate in preseason practices and games.
Cushing, the 15th overall pick in last year's draft out of Southern California, had 133 tackles in 2009. The Texans finished 9-7 last season for their first winning record thanks in part to the improvement of a young defense that features Cushing, star middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and 2006 top overall pick Mario Williams.
Veteran Kevin Bentley, who appeared in each game for Houston last season but never started, is Cushing's backup at outside linebacker.
Cushing was hounded by rumors of performance-enhancing drug use before he became a pro, but the Texans were undeterred. They said then they found no truth to those rumors in their draft preparations.
Cushing's case differs from San Diego's Shawne Merriman, who won the 2005 defensive rookie award, then tested positive in the 2006 offseason for steroids contained in a supplement.
The Associated Press announced Monday that it will conduct a re-vote for the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year award, citing previous winner Brian Cushing's violation of the NFL's policy on PEDs.
Cushing is eligible in the re-vote, but he's not likely to win. His All-Pro status is also in danger of being stripped, as the AP will re-vote for one of its outside linebacker positions. Though Jairus Byrd finished second in Defensive ROY voting in the winter, we're betting third-place finisher Clay Matthews would edge him out considering Green Bay's finish to the season. Brian Orakpo, who had 11 sacks to Matthews' 10, may also be a serious contender.
Cushing is eligible in the re-vote, but he's not likely to win. His All-Pro status is also in danger of being stripped, as the AP will re-vote for one of its outside linebacker positions. Though Jairus Byrd finished second in Defensive ROY voting in the winter, we're betting third-place finisher Clay Matthews would edge him out considering Green Bay's finish to the season. Brian Orakpo, who had 11 sacks to Matthews' 10, may also be a serious contender.
So obviously ya'll saw that he kept the award after the re-vote. he did lose his spot on the all-pro 2nd team though.
The attorney for Brian Cushing based his performance enhancing drug defense on the linebacker's enlarged pituitary gland and a surgical procedure he had while at USC.
Cushing's enlarged pituitary gland was "consistent with the natural production of hCG in males," according to attorney Harvey Steinberg. Cushing was actually tested twice, with the initial "A" sample reportedly just over positive mark and the "B" sample negative. The next test, several weeks later, produced positive results on both samples. At the hearing in February one NFL expert testified that Cushing could not have produced the hCG naturally while another expert testified to the contrary. This is all coming from Cushing's attorney, so we'd take it with a sizable grain of salt.
The attorney for Brian Cushing based his performance enhancing drug defense on the linebacker's enlarged pituitary gland and a surgical procedure he had while at USC.
Cushing's enlarged pituitary gland was "consistent with the natural production of hCG in males," according to attorney Harvey Steinberg. Cushing was actually tested twice, with the initial "A" sample reportedly just over positive mark and the "B" sample negative. The next test, several weeks later, produced positive results on both samples. At the hearing in February one NFL expert testified that Cushing could not have produced the hCG naturally while another expert testified to the contrary. This is all coming from Cushing's attorney, so we'd take it with a sizable grain of salt.