Should the NFL Strip Brian Cushing of His NFL Defensive Rookie Award?

News broke today that the NFL has rejected an appeal by Brian Cushing, and the league has suspended Cushing for the first four games of the 2010 season, due to violating the league's steroids policy.

Cushing won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in a landslide vote. What is not yet known is when the initial steroids test was taken and when the NFL actually knew he had violated the drug policy. If Cushing appealed the decision as far back as February at the NFL Combine, then how long was he aware that he was in violation of the policy?

Just like Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire before him, what now happens to Cushing and his award? Do we need to place an *** by his name to show that it is a tainted trophy?

Or would it be better to strip him of the award, and give it to the player that finished next in line in the voting. If that was the case, it would go to Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd, was tied Darren Sharper for the most interceptions in the NFL at nine, and would be a deserving winner.

The Texans were looking forward to the upcoming season as many are expecting this year to be a playoff season for the Texans. Since Cushing will now have to sit out the first four games, it means someone else will have to step up and take his place. He may have dug a hole that the team will have trouble getting out of however.

As much controversy as MLB took for all of its power hitters being guilty of taking steroids, you would have thought Cushing would have known better. Looking at the picture we selected, and the size of his arms, looks like he is the poster boy for a chemically enhanced body. Way to put yourself first Brian, and the team second.

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Monday, May 10th, it was revealed that Brian Cushing's failed drug test occured in September, the first month of the season. He played out the rest of the year knowing that he had flunked the test. The NFL kept the results quiet, which is why he was able to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

It also makes me wonder why the NFL did not suspend Cushing during the 2009 season, since they already had discovered a positive test result for an illegal substance all the way back in September. Yet, the NFL allowed him to play the entire season with a chemically enhanced body. Something is very wrong with that.

The story was posted here: http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter/status/13727847809

Continuing with the updates on this story, the AP actually decided to hold a re-vote, in which Cushing retained his award. This time Cushing gained only 18 votes, Jairus Byrd got 13 and Clay Matthews got 10. Some AP writers appeared miffed that they were required to re-vote. They had a chance to send a message here but failed to see the big picture, saying that it is okay and accepted to cheat. Amazing.