Post Cushing OTA Edition

Pure Texans Bull
Post Cushing OTA Edition
5-18-2010

Update: Angry 'dre joined the Texans in OTAs. So I'm a little behind. Bite me.

Brian Cushing
My quick take on Cushing? Not much. After reading a few articles and reading Cushing’s statement, I’m going to give him the benefit of doubt. For now.

I didn’t watch his press conference but most media thought it was insincere and that Cushing raised more questions than answered. I didn’t watch so I can’t make a call. I am a media basher so I take what they say and write with a grain of salt.

As for Cushing’s medical excuse, I admit it is plausible. The NFL and its specialists know significantly more than me about the substance. For whatever reason, Roger Goodell didn’t buy Cushing’s reasoning and suspended Cushing four games. Four big games at that. Cushing is going to miss the crucial opener against the Colts as well as the Cowboys game. Not good.

Pressure to Succeed

Players are under tremendous pressure coming into the NFL. Some cope with it better than others. Some players believe they are to good and don’t need to put in much effort. Some, Vernon Davis comes to mind, have natural God given talent but want to try and get by on talent alone. Mike Singletary was the best thing to ever happen to Davis. Singletary put his foot up Davis’ ass and woke him up. Davis is pretty much a model citizen and a damn good tight end. Other players fear they won’t succeed and look for any advantage they can find.

Some players hire personal trainers and work their butts off.

Other players juice up despite the testing and health risks. They know it’s wrong and dangerous. Yet the pressure to make the team, start or contribute right away is tremendous. So with their livelihood likely on the line they resort to any advantage they can get. Without being in their shoes, I can’t exactly bash them. I don’t understand the pressure they are under. Sure, it’s not right. It’s flat out wrong and it is cheating. All I’m saying is that I can understand why a young man or woman would resort to steroids or other performance enhancers.

Cushing played under the spot lights at Southern Cal. He came into the NFL with the Texans expecting him to start from day one. Despite his marquee college team, he still faced men much stronger and faster than him in college. He was expected to be their equal when the Texans penciled him in at strong side linebacker. The pressure was there for him to succeed right off the bat.

We’ll never know for certain whether or not he really used a PDE or that his explanation is true. If he did use then perhaps this serves as a wake up call and he quits. If he didn’t, hopefully he presents more information to build a more solid case if it comes up again. For now, I feel it’s best to move on and forget the issue. His loss for four games is significant. However it’s best for the team and media to give it a rest and focus on moving forward.

OTA
I’m not a big fan of following OTAs. Player contact isn’t allowed. Basically OTAs serve as workout session for players. The Texans don’t require players to attend. They are just glorified work outs and not much else.

This year Andre Johnson is sitting out. He wants a new contract. I don’t blame him but at the same time I question why did he sign such a long contract? This thing probably gets resolved sooner than later. The Texans have playoff aspirations. Kind of hard to have lofty expectations if your best player, maybe best in the league at any position, isn’t around. I doubt Angry ‘dre sits out summer camp, which is required, but I’d rather pay him and have him happy. Angry ‘dre lining up angry at the defense and not the Texans makes for a good day.