I just think you answer your own question everytime you try to determine why a sport whose primary appeal and legacy is based on the creation of an high-octane spectacle in which violence, or the threat thereof, is the driving force, has a higher tolerance for steroids, than a sport which inherently depends on idealized nostalgia for most of its appeal. I think it defintely made him faster (witness all the sprinters taking it). Also the ability to recover quickly from nagging injuries is a huge benefit in the NFL, probably more so than in any sport.
I am scared the lateral speed may be a problem but steroids cause more injuries than they heal. As in they don't heal injuries.
No. Under the NFL's steroid policy the first positive test results in a four-game suspension. If a player tests positive for a second time then it's eight games; for a third time it's a 12 month suspension.
Bob McNair's comments on the suspension: "Of course we're disappointed and Brian's disappointed, but it's one of those things you have to deal with." http://twitter.com/NickScurfield
I think they only appealed to have it postponed to the 2010 season. I believe they will be suspended the beginning of this season too. There's no reason now why a suspension established during the offseason wouldn't be instated for 2010.
Schaub's comment: "It's an unfortunate circumstance right now. As a team, we're going to hang together & stick together and be behind Brian."
Not sure what that means but basically taking AAS will cause injuries not heal them. This whole recovery crap is about muscle recovery froma workout. You will not be sore after a monster workout on steroids as you would be naturally.
obviously i disagree with your jab at baseball...but i can't convince you to like the sport anymore than i can convince you to like a song, so i won't try. the NFL's broadest appeal is through its skill players, I think...not the guys who hit the hardest. My wife could name a ton of skill position players, but wouldn't have the first clue who Ronnie Lott or Jack Tatum are. Everybody knows Drew Brees' name right now...as they knew Montana's and Rice's back when I was growing up. However, I recognize, for the purpose of this discussion, that Cushing is one of the high-octane, hard-hitters that plays right into your point. I just wonder what people would think if Peyton Manning tested positive...would he still find his way into Canton? Would he be tossed aside from endorsements and goodwill?
A better analogy for this thread is probably asking that question about Matt Ryan or something. Throwing Peyton Manning out there is closer to something like... if Reggie White tested positive, what would happen?
The underlying threat of violence is what makes the popularity of a skill position player possible. It's been part of the game for over a century and can't really be divorced from it. American Football was almost banned in the early 20th century to to the high number of fatalities. The violent world of Sam Huff was one of the signature pieces of the 50-60's. The Raiders/Steelers etc in the 70's and 80's. At present the NFL and NFLPA are doing their best to sweep the dirty secret of the NFL and chronic head injuries. This has been an innate part of the game's appeal since it's inception- at no point even during the banning scandal in the early 00's, did anybody seriouslyl suggest that we move to Flag Football, or touch football. It's precisely because Skill Position player X, Y, or Z is able to run away from 11 very large men trying literally to stop him in the most violent way possible. Take that away, and you don't have football, instead you have football. If skill was all it took, we'd be talking about Lionel Messi or Didier Drogba instead and UEFA Championship Sunday instead of super bowl sunday.
If you get caught cheating it should be a 1 year ban. Its not fair to everyone else, and if its just a slap on wrist (4 games is a lot, but sill not that much). everyone works hard now if one guy makes a team or gets the big contract cause he roided why is that fair?
Cushing's Defensive ROY award may be stripped 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.
To late to take back awards. Let's go ahead and take back every other player who's ever cheated awards back.
I think we're arguing to argue at this point. Evidenced mostly because I have to keep starting every post with, "I'm not saying....." Do you disagree with my comment that the reaction to this story would be totally different if it were Peyton Manning as opposed to Cushing????
Just saw this on the RSS feed from ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=5176949&type=story ESPN.com: NFL Monday, May 10, 2010 Sources: Cushing might lose award ESPN.com news services 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. • Blog network: NFL Nation 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.
Adam Schefter on ESPN Live just said that Cushing was given a lie detector test and passed it. Also said that he was believed to be taking some sort of blood thinner. Not a performance enhancement drug.
