Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

NFL | Cushing, Matthews tested positive for steroids
Share:
Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:23:40 -0700

Rick Serritella, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports Southern California LB Brian Cushing and LB Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

Well that's not a shocker frankly.

Wonder how far they fall (probably not a whole lot).

I wonder when the media will get on the NFL about steroids. It's obviously commonplace, but no one really wants to hear it I think (from the owners, players, or the fans).

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

The only place I could find this news was from the site you mentioned which in all fairness is not very reliable imo. I haven't seen it on NFL or Espn yet. I'll wait and reserve my thoughts until it is official.

NFL DRAFT BIBLE - Breaking News: USC Linebackers Test Positive

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

WOW... I mean I think everyone expected steroids to be an issue, but I thought for certain that they would be smart enough to stop taking it that close to the Combine (Though I'm no expert and have no idea how long the tests can go back, venturing a guess of a month or two). They must have known that they were gonna be tested...

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

If true this doesn't bode well for Barwin fans who want him to last until 23.

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

On top of this Bj Raji, Vontae Davis and Percy Harvin test positive for marijuana. Allegedly.
NBD.

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

It's interesting that Cushing tested positive. I remember linking a story to this site that stated teams were concerned about his thousands of dollars a month spent on supplements. The thinking was that he was maxed out physicallly if he was already going to those links to improve his body. The article made it clear they were not talking about steroids, but legal supplements.

I would think that Cushing had to have been aware of the whispers of illegal supplements, so I would think he would have made sure to be off the roids in time for the combine test. The fact that he wasn't may suggest some sort of addiction.

The same type of thing could be said for Raji who had to know his past marijuana positive test was a red flag for scouts, yet he showed up at the combined and failed a 2nd time.

I wouldn't be shocked that a high percentage of NFL players use illegal supplements and we know there have a been excellent players with marijuana issues (didn't Calvin Johnson admit to use?). So the tests may be more bad PR than anything else unless the players can't A. Stop or B. Find a way to beat the tests.

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

Marijuana issues? WTF is that? Connecting a failed test for marijuana or admission of marijuana use, to steroids use is very ridiculous. Marijuana use isn't a problem. Steroid use is problem when players who don't use it fall in the draft in favor of players who do and get away with it.

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

In addition to the reports on Raji, Cushing, and Matthews, add Percy Harbin and Vontae Davis to the positive test results at the Combine (Marijuana) per NFL Draft Bible's sources. There's also a Place Kicker from Texas-El Paso with a positive mj test, confirmed by his school.

re: Report: two USC LB test positive for Steroids (unconfirmed)
 

Gotta love those unnamed sources.