Sex, Drugs, and Football

In a world where golf has suddenly become more sexy than American Football, it's good to know that when it comes to professional sports and drugs, the ever-reigning leader is still the gridiron.

Word leaked today that the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year - Houston LB, Brian Cushing (formerly of USC) - failed a banned substance/steroids test way back in September 2009.  Yes, as in the first playing month of his NFL career.  Now I'm sure everyone out there is thinking, "Well, Tinshaker, it's not like Cushing had any history of mammary-expanding drug use before this.  There's no way Houston could've known before they spent the 15th overall pick on Cushing that he was a cheater."

Of course, then I would say, now would be a good time to check the archives, my friends, and note that I said this prior to the draft in 2009:

"[Brian Cushing] has been constantly accused of using steroids and has been proven to be obsessed with muscle-building supplements. He had moved past Maualuga on the draft boards prior to this and if found guilty he would vanish from the first day. His only saving grace would be to come clean and hope that the NFL GMs believe his willingness to stay clean. But he hasn't done this. So maybe he's clean. Maybe he's just dumb. After following him quite closely here on Tin's Fins, I'd already come to the conclusion that he was dumb. GUILTY!"

Well, it turns out he was guilty as well.  Some may remember that a web-site swore up and down that both Cushing and fellow USC LB Clay Matthews (now in Green Bay) had tested positive during the NFL Combine.  They were eventually sued into oblivion for slander.  However, they stood by the story throughout the bashing they took and we'll likely never know who was right since the law got involved to protect the privacy of the former Trojans.

In any event, Cushing failed an NFL mandated test and he lost his appeal, and will now be suspended for up to 4 games in 2010.  He could also be stripped of his 2009 Def. POY award.  I'm sure he got a nice bonus for getting that award - which will likely have to be paid back.  Plus he'll be tested more routinely now for the rest of his career.  But it's not all doom and gloom for this meathead - at least he's got an impressive C-cup!

In the meantime, Cushing will be able to use his time-off to work on his relationship with Fox's Jay Glazer, who had this to say about the player he's been training at his MMA training grounds:

["In today's NFL guys have to be fully responsible for what goes in their bodies," Glazer wrote on his Twitter account. "I don't care if it was steroidal or not, it's on the player! ..

"Right now, no, we will not be training him. We do not want to be associated with any of this crap. Gotta cool off before we make a final decision."

Glazer has been working with former UFC champion Randy Couture to train Cushing.

"I talked with Couture last night, we are both extremely pissed about the whole mess," Glazer wrote. "just being associated with any of this crap."] ~Aaron Wilson, NFPost

Of course, Cushing isn't the only one taking supplements he shouldn't be taking.  The Dolphins' own Jason Ferguson, also failed a drug test and faces an 8 game suspension this year.

So my question to the readers - do you think the NFL is right in suspending these players or should they go back to the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy of the 70s and 80s, when half the league was either roided or coked out of their skulls?