USC linebackers tested positive for steroids at NFL combine

Can't say I'm shocked, should this prove to be true. It comes from a source that isn't exactly iron-clad, but it's worth watching.

USC LB’s Brian Cushing & Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.

7 months ago burntorangehorn 26 comments 0 recs |

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So did BJ Raji

Who was one of the chief competitors for a top 10 pick. It looks like Brian Orakpo is a lock for the top 10, with most pundits pegging him between 5-7 on the draft board.

by jc25 on Apr 3, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What I’ve seen has said that Raji tested positive for marijuana, not steroids.

But yeah, I think ‘Rak’ is pretty easily going to be a top-seven choice. I just hope he doesn’t go to Chokeland like poor Michael Huff did.

I’m still holding out hope that KC will take Orakpo if they don’t trade down.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 3, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry, you're correct

Should’ve been more specific. I meant Raji also had a positive test. Weed or roids, both drop your stock.

by jc25 on Apr 3, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hrm

Apparently Vontae Davis and Percy Harvin did as well. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

by jc25 on Apr 3, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My theory: Fragile Percy did it for medicinal purposes. You never know when you’re going to get yet another phantom injury.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 3, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ESPN has had Raji up there for days...

But nothing on Cushing, Matthews, and Harvin. I guess if Vontae Davis were a top ten guy he too would have a front page headline since he is from lowly Illinois. USC and Florida guys get a pass by the media.

by Rickyspub on Apr 3, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possible

But Raji was also the first name leaked, and thus the first to be put on ESPN. Raji also had the highest ceiling, as he was being talked about in the top 15. The other 4 are mid-first round at best. Take it if you don’t want to hate on the ESPN machine.

by jc25 on Apr 3, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cushing could’ve been a top-15 pick, although I don’t think he should be. Davis is certainly a top-15 talent, but inconsistency might knock him into the back half of the round.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 3, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harvin has been an ESPN favorite for two years...

He may not go as high as Raji, but he is definitely higher profile. I guarantee you if Stafford had a horrible Wonderlic score, ESPN would have had it front paged the moment it leaked and Sanchez would be given a pass if he flunked a drug test.

by Rickyspub on Apr 3, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In related news

Pete Carroll had no idea any of it ever happened.

by the1austin on Apr 3, 2009 12:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn, he looks like a douchebag in that picture on the right.

Err…a really, really strong douchebag.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 3, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of last night. ESPN austin goes to some LA affiliate during late night

and the host just wouldnt get off Rey Maulugas nuts. When are people going to realize how overrated that dude is, he just screams bust to me. Okay he played at USC, he hits hard…is he fast, No. Is he smart…no…can he play coverage…mediocre. And hes THE BEST linebacker in the draft. Come on…

by owenh on Apr 3, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

aaron curry?..nt

by vy til i die on Apr 3, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think owen’s saying that the radio host was calling Maualuga the best LB in the draft.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 3, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh..nvm then

by vy til i die on Apr 3, 2009 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember the ESPN pundits were projecting Rey as a Top 5 pick

Last year. He seems to have slipped to the mid to late first.

by the1austin on Apr 4, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just curious...

If you are wrong will you retract the post?

This is like saying VY is stupid for a low Wonderlic score without having all the facts.

Just sayin’…

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Apr 4, 2009 7:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s entirely possible that the website had its facts wrong, and that’s why I worded the original post as I did:

Can’t say I’m shocked, should this prove to be true. It comes from a source that isn’t exactly iron-clad, but it’s worth watching

Yes, the source is questionable, and may have been either making something up or using a skewed interpretation of the facts (namely that Matthews and Cushing look like obvious users), which is why I said it’s not iron-clad and used the conditional statement. This isn’t quite on par with the ad nauseam chants of so many who parroted the lines about VY’s supposed Wonderlic score for weeks, months, or even years after the real story was released.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 5, 2009 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cushing has been dodging these rumors for years

yet he has NEVER failed a test!

I live in North Jersey and watched him play most of his Junior and Senior years and he was a stud then. I don’t know what you do for a living but I’ve been in Orthopedics for over 25 years and not everyone who “looks” like they may be on steroids is on steroids. Heck when it was “announced” that Roger Clemons took ‘roids I was stunned…he certainly didn’t look like he was using and I never suspected it.

Just goes to show you that unless you have a positive test in hand its all speculation.

As for VY…I can’t speak for other sites or commenters but I was very careful on my site not use his Wonderlic for numerous reasons mostly because we didn’t have any proof that his score was actually what was reported but more important was because to me it simply didn’t matter. It didn’t change 41-38 and it didn’t change my opinion that it was the greatest game ever played.

This is a bigger deal because to me because patient privacy is sacred and because of the increased negative stigma of PED’s their draft position could negatively affected because of a rumor so why add gas to the fire without hard proof?

I could imagine your reaction if it was a Texas player accused without any evidence…personally, I wouldn’t even touch it until it was confirmed.

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Apr 5, 2009 7:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I do wish the NFL could successfully test for HGH. That is basically untested, and testosterone can be used with regularity as long as the player does not take enough to test above the normal band.

by burntorangehorn on Apr 5, 2009 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry SC fan - but the picture on the left tells me plenty.

As a former athlete I must disagree with your position. While there are exceptions to every rule, if one understands what to look for there is usually physical evidence identifiable by sight with regards to steroid use. Cushing has a serious case of what roid users call “b!tch tits”. Dude is a workout warrior and obviously has very little body fat, and the breast tell me all I need to know with regards to PED’s.

by Jabo on Apr 7, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats cool, you are entitled to your opinion

I’ll take science over speculation. After having the pleasure of working with and speaking to some of the pioneers of sports medicine over the past 10 years like Dr.’s Norm Scott, Russ Warren and Steve Nicholas I will follow their lead, no positive test = speculation…one can never know. When I see a positive test then I will believe it.

I will leave the speculation to the haters and conspiracy theorists.

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Apr 7, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs