Texans’ Cushing suspended for PEDs
Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has been suspended for 10 games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance enhancers policy.
It’s the second time Cushing has been suspended; he missed four games in 2010 under the same policy, testing positive for a fertility drug. Cushing had won 2009 defensive rookie of the year, an honor which was jeopardized by the suspension. He kept the award after a re-vote by The Associated Press’ awards panel.
Currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol after being injured in Houston’s opening loss to Jacksonville, Cushing will be eligible to return on Nov. 28.
Cushing has had a checkered career since his sensational rookie season. Injuries curtailed the 2012 and ’13 seasons, when he got into a total of 12 games.
He’s never come close to matching his first-year production of 86 tackles, 47 assists, four sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed.
The 2009 defensive rookie re-vote came after Cushing tested positive for HCG, a fertility drug that is on the NFL’s banned substance list. He had one positive test from a urine sample
taken in September 2009 and then subsequently tested negative several times. Hall of Fame nominees: Former Packers wideout Donald Driver and star linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are among 11 first-year eligible players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also part of the 108 early nominees who are eligible for the first time, having been retired for five years when the class is chosen next February, are game-breaking wide receiver Randy Moss, cornerback Ronde Barber, and Steve Smith (former Giant, Eagle and Ram), offensive linemen Steve Hutchinson, Matt Birk, and Jeff Saturday, and defensive linemen Richard Seymour and Kyle Vanden Bosch.
The roster of nominees consists of 53 offensive players, 38 defensive players, five special teams players and 12 coaches. Modern era nominees will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November and, from there, to 15 finalists in January.
During Super Bowl week, 48 voters will discuss the finalists, plus senior nominees Robert Brazile and exPacker Jerry Kramer and contributors nominee Bobby Beathard. There is no set number for any class of enshrinees, though between four and eight new members will be selected.