04/24/24
May 10, 2010
AP Strips Brian Cushing's Rookie Award: Associated Press decided today to remove the Defensive Rookie of the Year award given to Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, who has been suspended four games in 2010 for violating the league's drug policy by failing a test for a performance-enhancing drug. A new vote will be held.
Cushing should be stripped of the award. The timeline in which he won the award is in the season during which he violated the NFL's drug policy. If he is going to piss on the NFL, he better be prepared to take any consequences.
posted by roberts at 04:54 PM on May 10, 2010
I'm pretty sure he isn't going to lose any sleep over his Rookie of the Year award being revoked.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:20 PM on May 10, 2010
It could've been a bonus clause in his contract.
posted by rcade at 06:32 PM on May 10, 2010
The way people in the media carry on about steroids I'm surprised that they don't have it in their rules that violation of this policy is an automatic disqualification for this (and other) rewards.
If it's not in baseball, it generally does not count. At a minimum, it does not warrant as much attention. Of course, MLB is tougher on PED cheats (and what appears to be at least some innocent users) than the NFL, but some weird sort of double standard seems to apply.
Interestingly enough, the AP voted Shawne Merriman to its NFL All-Pro team a scant three or four years ago in a season (2006) in which he sat out 4 games due to a suspension for taking a straight up steroid (nandrolone) and not a precursor. And they did this after they knew he had tested positive. Different situation than here, as Merriman was, I believe, suspended for a test from the offseason (not during the season in question) and had a monster year in the 12 games he played, but interesting nonetheless and perhaps indicative of a changing tolerance of this in football.
posted by holden at 06:34 PM on May 10, 2010
He could still win it again. Cushing is on the ballot as the Associated Press takes a full revote on the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Apparently the rationale behind this is that he's still allowed to play in the league (after the suspension).
This is still unprecedented though.
posted by NerfballPro at 07:11 PM on May 10, 2010
This could set an interesting precedent. What about a team who wins the Super Bowl and it turns our a player was on steroids the whole season? What if Drew Brees was taking steroids? The NCAA strips away victories. Could the major leagues start doing the same for substance abuse issues?
posted by jmd82 at 09:49 PM on May 10, 2010
No.
posted by bender at 07:51 AM on May 11, 2010
If he is going to piss on the NFL
In his defense, they require him to in the collective bargaining agreement.
posted by yerfatma at 08:26 AM on May 11, 2010
Brian Cushing won the revote, so it's all moot now anyway.
Or is it....?
posted by NerfballPro at 02:34 PM on May 12, 2010
Looks like the media only cares about PED use in baseball.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:03 PM on May 12, 2010
What a bunch of hypocrites!
posted by bperk at 03:49 PM on May 12, 2010
The way people in the media carry on about steroids I'm surprised that they don't have it in their rules that violation of this policy is an automatic disqualification for this (and other) rewards.