Cushing's Bad Joke

Eddie Murphy once made a joke, in the movie "Raw", about a man who was caught red handed coming out of another women's house. The punchline of the joke is the confrontation of the man by his wife and his response of, "It wasn't me". Laughter insued.


Two - time NFL Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing held a press conference in Houston today. He stated that he never ingested the drug HCG - which is a female fertility drug that masks hormone levels after taking steroids. 


According to NFL.com, he made the statement, “It’s something I’m very concerned about. The fact that how it’s there, and what’s going to determine it from happening again. That’s going to be something that we’re going to medically investigate.”


The song and dance sounds a lot much like the argument that many baseball players used in their sport's steroid scandal.  However, the more information that came out, the less probable it was they were telling the truth. At least, Cushing didn't try the "I'm not here to talk about the past" defense.


If Cushing thinks that this press conference improved his image or answered any questions - he is sadly mistaken. His reputation is damaged beyond repair. If he is dominant, then it is because of PEDs. If he is no longer dominant, it is because of the lack of performance enhancers. Trust is something that is earned, and Cushing has made his athletic ability questionable forever.


If there is a positive from this situation, it is that the NFL has egg on its face. The AP re-voting, and Cushing's less than stellar reasons for having a fertility drug in his system have shined a light on the NFL Steroid Policy. The lack of consequences for players that cheat their way to fortune and fame has been overlooked and excepted for far too long. Perhaps this will inspire some real change.


Cushing can look us all in the face and say, "It wasn't me". That doesn't mean we have to laugh at his bad joke.






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Tainted Love - Cushing Wins ROY Again

Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing has done what no other player has done before. He has been recognized as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year twice by the Associated Press. After Cushing failed a test for steroids last September and was suspended by the NFL on Monday, the AP ordered a re-vote for the 2009 award that Cushing had won.

The giving of an already tainted award to another player would have done nothing to solve the real issue. The voters understood that stripping Cushing of the award wouldn't actually have made the new recipient the winner, it would have made him "the guy who got the award because Cushing cheated."  There was no satisfactory outcome to the issue. The award will stay Cushing's and so will the controversy surrounding it.

The use of anabolic steroids, HGH, and masking agents is happening in the NFL more than we care to know. Is it fair to strip a guy who got caught using and possibly give it to player who used and didn't get caught? The AP voters are simply sending us a message - Brian Cushing is not the only person in the NFL using these substances. The limitless contradictions are a can of worms best left unopened. Performance enhancing drugs have robbed fans of enough faith.





Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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A Policy That Needs Enhancement

Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing is being stripped of the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors he was awarded last season because he failed a test for steroids last September. He is also losing any credibility he has as an NFL player.

The issue is the double-edged sword that is known as the NFL steroid policy. Per the collective bargaining agreement, the results of the testing are confidential. Though hardcore performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids are the main focus of this policy, the NFL has a list of banned over the counter substances that fall under the policy also. It is equivalent to grouping together the crime of selling fifty pounds of meth with the crime of public drunkenness and giving them the same legal name and punishment.

The players who use steroids and get caught can always claim that it was simply an over the counter supplement. The players who are careless enough to buy the wrong bottle from GNC are automatically given the "steroid abuser" label.

  

I happen to be one of the people that automatically assumes it was steroids. The NFL is a competitive league and some players are looking to gain an edge. And if I can find out if an over the counter supplement is allowed under the policy, then any NFL player with an Internet connection and a telephone can too. Here is an excerpt from the policy at nflplayers.com:

"Players are responsible for what is in their bodies, and a positive test result will not be excused because a player was unaware that he was taking a Prohibited Substance. If you have questions or concerns about a particular dietary supplement or other product, you should contact Dr. John Lombardo at (614) 442-0106. As the Independent Administrator, Dr. Lombardo is authorized to respond to players’ questions regarding specific supplements. You may also contact the NFL/NFLPA Supplement Hotline at (866) NFL-SUPP or NFLSupp@DrugFreeSport.com. Having your Club's medical or training staff approve a supplement will not excuse a positive test result."

If players want to shed the "cheater" reputation that comes with a steroid policy violation, then the NFL and the Players' Association need to create separate policies or allow the players to consent to release the test results. If the player truly did drink a sports drink laced with a banned stimulant and releases the test results, then we will know. If the player doesn't consent to release the test, then we will also know. The players and the fans deserve better. 

Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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