2009 Defensive ROY Suspended

[joejlitz]

I think that's awesome - if the test occurred at some point during the 2009 season and the results are just being released now. I would have loved to have seen Shawn Merriman ineligble for MVP two years ago when he tested positive.

However, if this is a test from last month, I don't think that should be allowed.

Personally, I don't like the precident that this will set.

You mean the precedent that if you cheat you can't win awards? I don't see the problem with that...quit juicing and play legitimately or take the consequences when you get caught.

Agreed. I'm optimistic that this will act as a deterrant towards future steroid use, but not overly so. Great players may think twice and decide not to use, however I suppose borderline practice squad/special teams players will always be tempted.

[dream_017]

Personally, I don't like the precident that this will set.

You mean the precedent that if you cheat you can't win awards? I don't see the problem with that...quit juicing and play legitimately or take the consequences when you get caught.

I mean the precedent of where does it end? How far can you go back to take an award away? Is it only if they are caught in the year in which they won the award? What if it is a team award?

[mattb47]

It wouldn't make much sense to go back years and inspect those things...nobody remembers things like that in the past as much anyway but a recent award that could also potentially change things like contract bonuses or things like that based on what you win is definitely something that should be looked at. I think that even though he ended up winning it again, it showed a good step by deciding to re-vote and see who wins...it wasn't "taking away an award", it was re-voting with all of the information that is available out there as part of the decision making process.

[joejlitz]

Interview with Chris Mortenson on why he abstained from revoting on the award.

Cushing dropped from 39 votes to 18. Byrd came in 2nd with 13 (up from 6). Matthews got 10 (up from 3).

Chris Mortenson Video

[Metroid]

Interesting. He cheated, voters know he cheated, and they still voted him to win. Next time you utter the words, "cheaters never prosper" to your kiddies make sure to add, "unless you're up for the defensive ROY award, in that case it doesn't matter if you cheat at all."

[Cowboys 4 life]

Shocked he won again to. From those picture posted by LS2 it really looks like he was juicing. I never really paid that much attention as to whether he did or not when he was at SUC.

[moochman]

Personally, I don't like the precident that this will set.

You mean the precedent that if you cheat you can't win awards? I don't see the problem with that...quit juicing and play legitimately or take the consequences when you get caught.

I mean the precedent of where does it end? How far can you go back to take an award away? Is it only if they are caught in the year in which they won the award? What if it is a team award?

I agree with Dream. Just where do you draw the line? Using Matt's logic, shouldn't we strip a few SB titles away from a certain team that was caught cheating? No, they were fined. So fine Cushing for getting caught, but the award was given. Remember, the surprise isn't that an award winner juiced, its when (or if) we have one who didn't.
As for this being a deterrent. Doubtful. The option is juice and play in the NFL, or not juice and work at Wendy's. You decide.

[mattb47]

Once again...did they strip anything from anyone? No. They simply allowed the people who vote the ability to vote with ALL of the circumstances out in the open so that they could make an informed decision. You guys are talking like they were just stripping it from him...I could see what you were saying if they had a re-vote and didn't allow Cushing to be voted for but they simply found some new information that could have significantly changed the voting process and decided a re-vote was appropriate.

I think that the "I pretty much think everyone does it so it's not a big deal" stance is a pretty weak one and I don't think that people should simply get a break when they get caught because many others may or may not be doing it. Like I said pretty clearly before, it would be ridiculous to go back years and start taking things away from teams or players, but using banned drugs to gain an advantage to win an award is something that should not be simply ignored...I'm glad they aren't just rolling over and letting this sport become baseball.

[moochman]

Once again...did they strip anything from anyone? No. They simply allowed the people who vote the ability to vote with ALL of the circumstances out in the open so that they could make an informed decision. You guys are talking like they were just stripping it from him...I could see what you were saying if they had a re-vote and didn't allow Cushing to be voted for but they simply found some new information that could have significantly changed the voting process and decided a re-vote was appropriate.

I think that the "I pretty much think everyone does it so it's not a big deal" stance is a pretty weak one and I don't think that people should simply get a break when they get caught because many others may or may not be doing it. Like I said pretty clearly before, it would be ridiculous to go back years and start taking things away from teams or players, but using banned drugs to gain an advantage to win an award is something that should not be simply ignored...I'm glad they aren't just rolling over and letting this sport become baseball.

If you can go back and re-vote with new information to determine if a given award should be honored, how big of a leap is it before you go back a little further? Cushing won the award as fairly as he helped the Texans win games, sell tix, and gain viewers. Unless you are willing to take away what was gained, you should not take away what was awarded. The problem wasn't that Cushing juiced, but that the league didn't catch him in a timely manner. They have to award his play since, in a way, they sanctioned it by not catching him and punishing him when they should have. Billion dollar industry with limited personell and they can't test in a timely manner? Please.