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Cushing suspended 4 games for violating policy on performance-enhancing substances

Dont know if it has been posted yet (hard to keep up wit this thread). Rotoworld is reporting Cush may be stripped of DROY award. They are considering a revote
 
Updates

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5176949

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.
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Texans owner Robert McNair said Monday the team knew during the season that Cushing had "an issue" with the NFL.

"Brian had mentioned that he had an issue there, but we don't know what any of the details are," McNair said.

McNair said the team didn't know what doctors he consulted or what evidence the league had. McNair added that being "left out of the loop" is something that should be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.
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CloakNNNdagger said:
I'm not sure that any source has yet laid out a timeline of when he tested positive, to when he was informed, to when he appealed, and if in the interim there was another positive test that sealed his fate.
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From what I've seen from LZ and Schefter:

  • Cush tested positive sometime before September.
  • He was apparently notified some time in September.
  • He appealed in February.
  • His appeal was denied and the sentence passed last week.

If he'd had a second positive, he would have been suspended for a year. So his denial was just based on whatever he presented in his appeal.
 
Brando said:
This is what I'm thinking in light of the Adam Schefter report. If he tested positive in September of 2009 that means he had random drug test the rest of the year and he passed them. That would mean he will be the same player when he comes back.

I like this quote by Cush......


:fingergun:
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Not sure if this has been said, but wasn't this around the time he injured his leg? He had to miss some of the preseason. Maybe he used whatever it was to help his injury and be able to go for Week 1.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
From what I've seen from LZ and Schefter:

  • Cush tested positive sometime before September.
  • He was apparently notified some time in September.
  • He appealed in February.
  • His appeal was denied and the sentence passed last week.

If he'd had a second positive, he would have been suspended for a year. So his denial was just based on whatever he presented in his appeal.
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The reason I even asked is that it takes so long for an appeal to be acted on, could another infraction, say in December or later, not still be in the pike?
Just wondering.
 
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5176949

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.

Texans owner Robert McNair said Monday the team knew during the season that Cushing had "an issue" with the NFL.

"Brian had mentioned that he had an issue there, but we don't know what any of the details are," McNair said.

McNair said the team didn't know what doctors he consulted or what evidence the league had. McNair added that being "left out of the loop" is something that should be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.

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.
 
its a damn good thing beer is not considered performance enhancing I would be pissed if they would suspend me four games for watching NFL football :wesmantexanfan:
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
The reason I even asked is that it takes so long for an appeal to be acted on, could another infraction, say in December or later, not still be in the pike?
Just wondering.
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But while it absolutely doesn't fit the timeline we've seen (Tested positive in 9/09 suspension announced 5/10), if you look at the league steroid policy, is does seem to encourage a speedy process.

Without quoting (and recognizing anything can be deferred given mutual consent to do so), the policy (appendix D points 6 - 9) gives the player 5 days to notify the NFL of an intent to appeal a penalty, it gives 20 days from the date of that notification for the appeal to take place, and it gives 5 days from the "Closing of the record" (Which I am perhaps incorrectly taking to mean the ending of the appeal hearing) until a written decision is rendered. (Note: I do not see anything giving any guidelines on when the rendered decision must be made public).

I realize nothing about the apparent timeline in this even remotely adheres to those guidelines, but I would also like to believe that if there were a possiblity of a second penalty being issued, the NFL and Cushing would agree that it would be best to make everything public at one time.
 
Texecutioner said:
You've rationalized it and brought up other players to help make your point as if it changes the fact that Cush is suspended.



Actually yes, you have.




No, but you just don't seem to care and for anyone else that's even remotely questioned the fact that his play or his confidence might drop off, you've abrasively denounced them or their thoughts.




Not in any exact words, but you practically have for several pages indirectly.





Okay then, so it's not out of the question for either of them to wonder if there will be any effects after the fact then. Neither of them said there would be effects for sure either. They just questioned it. No need to try to pick people apart for that. It's very reasonable.



Don't think I ever said that you were wrong even once. What I did was ask for you to provide some sort of evidence to back up your own claims and this is your 3rd response now where you refuse to provide anything to back up the arguments that you've made to denounce other posters. I'll keep waiting, but I won't expect anything at this point.
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Game set and Match. Winner: Texecutioner!
 
wagonhed said:
There are plenty of people who agree with me. I don't waste everyone's time by quoting them and saying YEAH DUDE I AGREE WITH U. I rep them and move on to those I don't agree with.

As far as trying to "invalidate" people, yeah, if I think you are spreading misinformation or making poor comparisons I will say so. If you think I'm wrong, feel free to argue against me. I've never denied anyone the right to respond to me, so what's your problem?

Also, as far as insults, you seem more focused on attacking me than on what any of my points are. Why is that?
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You and I have very different views over in the NSZ forum, and I think you're bringing that over into the Texans Talk forum here. You're not able to separate the two forums.

Gtexan02 is a guy who has had multiple debates with me in the NSZ forum, yet in THIS forum we're civil as can be...and we find a way to separate the two forums and the subsequent "heat" it generates.

YOU were the one who came onto the NSZ forum and sheepishly asked if this would be a place where you wouldn't get banned for stating your takes on things (Implying--or maybe I just "inferred"--that you HAD been in some trouble on other website forums). Everyone assured you that you could do relatively OK, if you kept some things in mind.

I'd say you're still treading water in the deep end of the pool right now. You're flaming lots of people for so many different trivial reasons that it's not even funny, and I can't believe how much grace has been given you thus far. The mods are sitting back, actually allowing the members of the board to try and h-e-l-p you see how to get along on here. Don't waste the grace. Please?

I have not insulted you here. Show me where I use a curse word that i toss at you. i haven't. Show me where I call you a moron or an *****, etc. You seem to have an inability to treat others with the same respect and honor that you require others to pay you.

Someone once said that most times, the common denominator of all your unhealthy relationships...is you. You've insulted so many of my friends on here that I think I know the fix for my end of the deal.

I just need to go to my control panel to inititate the measure.
 
It is unfortunate for the Texans that this has occurred, but the circumstances leading to Cushing's suspension will probably never be known to the public in more detail. As I understand it, the NFL can't release any further information, and Cushing can say just about anything he wants.

Barring a release of the official NFL report by Cushing, I take anything he says with a large dose of skepticism. I've seen the PED dance with too athletes in too many sports to trust what they say, especially if it is unsubstantiated by indepedent sources or facts.

===============

There was a fairly widespread commitment to this year being the season of "No More Excuses" for the Texans and their fans. It looks like that commitment will be tested early in the upcoming season.
 
I've posted earlier in the thread how disappointed I am in Brian but taking away his DROY is pretty suspect. Chris Mortensen had an interesting tweet about Julius Peppers winning the award in 2002, a year in which he only played 12 games due to a 4 game substance suspension. Is the AP going to take his award away retroactively as well?
 
Texecutioner said:
Shoot, his name is Beerlover. Lol!

He wouldn't be able to even associate with other fans then. He'd be like the Jose Canseco of fans. Lol!
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Yeah, I've got man boobs a little bit. Am I on a PED? No, but I might just try some if I've already got a head start on a nice rack.

Might as well get strong at the same time? :shrugsshoulders:
 
Texecutioner said:
Shoot, his name is Beerlover. Lol!

He wouldn't be able to even associate with other fans then. He'd be like the Jose Canseco of fans. Lol!
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yeah it would be like torture to stand by the lemonade stand while across the concourse fans hit Bud Light Plaza. we be talking some serious roid rage :pissed:
 
GP said:
Yeah, I've got man boobs a little bit. Am I on a PED? No, but I might just try some if I've already got a head start on a nice rack.

Might as well get strong at the same time? :shrugsshoulders:
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You might just try some estrogen........will save you the time of having to shave in the morning........ might even save the hair on your head.:shades:
 
No More 8-8's said:
Wait, so he passed a lie detector test. That says alot. Could it be more of an issue with our S&T coach at the time?
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A masking agent isn't a PED in itself, but it is still a banned substance. You also have to wonder WHO conducted the test, and what specific questions were posed.
 
HOU-TEX said:
Per Schefter Twitter:



http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter
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Well that's going to help him in the court of public opinion, but it's not going to do anything for the suspension. Done. It's coming one way or another.

However, like I said good step in the right direction. I'd just like to see a press release from Cushing and/or his representatives talking about WHAT substance he was using that made the test show positive. It needs to be something viable.

Sooner he does so, sooner he can start rebuilding his image.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
A masking agent isn't a PED in itself, but it is still a banned substance. You also have to wonder WHO conducted the test, and what specific questions were posed.
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Was going to say the same. I'm not trying to be skeptical but ever since there was a nationwide debate on what "sexual relations" consists of I always assume that people are trying to hide the true meaning by splitting hairs.
 
Well if he legitimately passed a detector test then I'm not as worried about him coming back and playing badly due to not being on roids.
 
b0ng said:
Well if he legitimately passed a detector test then I'm not as worried about him coming back and playing badly due to not being on roids.
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This is my main concern as well. I am going to have to deal with the 4 game misser somehow in the meantime. But how is he going to perform moving forward???

We already know that he is one of the hardest workers out there. So if he was busted last September... then he would have had to pass more tests since then correct? So I guess it still comes down to what did he take and is it something that could have lasted the whole season or whatever?? I just dont know much about all of this stuff.
 
I wanted to know if lie detectors were used before and found this

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/28/s...d-for-violating-drug-policy.html?pagewanted=1

Josh Evans, a starting defensive tackle for the Jets, was suspended indefinitely by the National Football League yesterday for his third violation of the league's substance-abuse policy.

Evans issued a statement through the office of his agent, Mitch Frankel, insisting that he had not used a banned substance. He noted that he had taken and passed a lie-detector test that was privately administered. ''I cannot believe I am in this situation again,'' he said. ''I embraced the N.F.L. Program for Substances of Abuse, followed its guidelines precisely and have become a better person for it. Everybody will ultimately believe what they want, but to accept punishment for something I did not do is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to endure.''
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http://cbs4denver.com/broncos/Denver.Broncos.NFL.2.602409.html
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4/AP) ―
Broncos running back Travis Henry won his appeal of a one-year suspension over a failed drug test Tuesday.

Henry appealed his suspension in early November. He earned the full support of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan after he passed a polygraph test and had a hair sample come back negative for marijuana.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said that had no bearing on the decision.

"The defense of hair samples and lie detector tests was irrelevant and unconvincing," Aiello said in a statement. "But our substance abuse program is based on meeting the highest standards and respecting player rights in all phases of its administration."
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HoustonFrog said:
Updates


Texans owner Robert McNair said Monday the team knew during the season that Cushing had "an issue" with the NFL.

"Brian had mentioned that he had an issue there, but we don't know what any of the details are," McNair said.

McNair said the team didn't know what doctors he consulted or what evidence the league had. McNair added that being "left out of the loop" is something that should be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5176949
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Does something about Texans fans give us away to the front office?

images
 
As the world turns

this lie detector claim should be eyed with some skepticism

I hope for the best for Cushing but it's pretty much a done deal
maybe our Texas legislature could follow Minnesota's lead and put down an injunction nullifying the ruling until it can be reviewed by state officials
 
Second Honeymoon said:
As the world turns

this lie detector claim should be eyed with some skepticism

I hope for the best for Cushing but it's pretty much a done deal
maybe our Texas legislature could follow Minnesota's lead and put down an injunction nullifying the ruling until it can be reviewed by state officials
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I think everyone understands the 4 game suspension is inevitable. However, it might ease the minds of fans and media if it was known what he took to fail the drug test. Passing a lie detector test might be a step in that direction?
 
Gonna be a re-vote for NFL DROY


BobGlauber

Just got off the phone with AP Sports Editor Terry Taylor. There will be a re-vote of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
A masking agent isn't a PED in itself, but it is still a banned substance. You also have to wonder WHO conducted the test, and what specific questions were posed.
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I agree. That being said, I can't imagine a series of questions that don't ask him "did you take Stereoids"?... if that question was posed, it is irrelevant whether the test showed a masking agent or not... he would still fail the test.

Certainly, it is an encouraging report. But, I would love to see the questions and find out if the person who administered it is reputable.
 
HoustonSportsFan09 said:
Gonna be a re-vote for NFL DROY


BobGlauber

Just got off the phone with AP Sports Editor Terry Taylor. There will be a re-vote of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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That's ridiculous!

As Mark Schlereth pointed out, are they going to re-vote on Peppers DPOY because he tested positive and received a 4 game suspension also?

Having said that. Frankly, I'm glad he has extra motivation.
 
So are they going to re-vote for 2002 and 2005 as well? Shawn Merriman and Julius Peppers should be stripped of it too then.
 
HoustonSportsFan09 said:
Gonna be a re-vote for NFL DROY


BobGlauber

Just got off the phone with AP Sports Editor Terry Taylor. There will be a re-vote of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Click to expand...


This is crap. Do they have all the details of this case or something? So they strip him and lets say he comes back just as strong and just as good or maybe better than ever and that 2009 "new" winner will be what to anyone? A joke. At least wait till all the facts come out is all I am saying.
 
dtran04 said:
So are they going to re-vote for 2002 and 2005 as well? Shawn Merriman and Julius Peppers should be stripped of it too then.
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Eh, I am going to channel Thorn and tell them to kiss my ass.

They can revote all they want. Cushing won the award, and that is what people will remember. At least that is what I will remember.
 
Personally, I care more about the 4 games he's going to miss than the DROY. Unless one of our existing LB's take a huge step or one of our rookies surprise everyone, we don't have an SLB that can do anything close to what Cushing can. I like Bentley, but he's a year older and is borderline starting material to begin with. Time will tell, I reckon
 
GlassHalfFull said:
Eh, I am going to channel Thorn and tell them to kiss my ass.

They can revote all they want. Cushing won the award, and that is what people will remember. At least that is what I will remember.
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Unfortunately, right or wrong, as things stand now, especially outside of Houston, Cushing's legacy may only be remembered as the Texans LB that took steroids.
 
What I think would be truly Ironic is if they stripped the award from Cushing, gave it to Byrd/Orakpo/Matthews and then a report comes out next week that the player was being suspended for the same the Cushing was. Maybe a test from October and they appealed it and lost. That would be absolutely awesome.

For what it's worth, I'm "okay" with them thinking about taking the award away from Cushing, just not right now. I wish they would let things play out for a while and not rush anything. There is ZERO point for them to do anything right now, ZERO, as opposed to waiting a little while.
 
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