Brian Cushing’s DROY Award Goes Up For a Re-vote

The fallout of Brian Cushing’s failed drug test is now producing a few intriguing developments. According to Adam Schefter, the banned substance the tests caught was a slightly elevated level hCG, a non-steroid produced naturally by the body that is often used by those who are going off steroids. Incidentally, it was a prescription for hCG that got Manny Ramirez a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball last year.↵↵In addition to a four-game suspension and being blocked per league policy from going to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year, his failed test has led to Cushing being, at least temporarily, stripped of his Defensive Rookie of the Year award, which is being put up to another vote to determine the winner. Cushing is still eligible to win and he carried the initial vote overwhelmingly. The first runner-up, Jairus Byrd, only received six votes the first time around to Cushing’s 39. Obviously, one would assume things will work out somewhat differently this go-round.↵

↵↵The rationale from the AP is that the 50 voters didn’t know that Cushing had failed the test in September and were unable to factor that into their voting. The deadline for writers to submit their new vote is 11 a.m. on Wednesday, so it may be a little while yet until we see the full results. We do know at least where Houston Chronicle’s John McClain fell on the matter:↵

↵↵⇥I voted for Cushing for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award the day after the season, and I voted for him again today. ↵⇥↵⇥Why? Because a lot of players have won AP awards after being suspended.↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥The AP explained that it’s taking this unprecedented step because the voters didn’t know Cushing had failed a test and was appealing when we cast our ballots. The AP said we did know that Julius Peppers had been suspended for the last four games in 2002, but we still voted him NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. It said we did know Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams had been suspended when we voted him first-team All-Pro.↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥I’ve never seen a four-game suspension of a player create so much controversy. What is this, baseball?↵⇥

↵↵Of course, other writers may not necessarily share that glib sentiment or the possible hometown influence. The tone is also odd considering yesterday McClain Tweeted that Cushing needed to “man up” and reveal which substance he tested positive for. The decision would be much easier for the voters had the league taken immediate action after the failed test, which would have not only informed voters of the slip-up, but would have countered any positive effect he could have received from the drug. Instead, the league oddly waited to take action. Ultimately, it’s just another fairly meaningless individual award, but it does create the concern about why the NFL would allow Cushing to continue playing after a failed drug test.↵