Houston Owner Goes To Bat For LB Brian Cushing

Aug 08, 2010

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair is meeting with Roger Goodell on Monday to try to persuade the NFL commissioner to reduce or overturn linebacker Brian Cushing’s four-game suspension.

Cushing was suspended for the first four games this season because he violated the league’s policy against performance enhancing drugs by testing positive for HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a banned substance that can be used to mask steroids.

A person with knowledge of Cushing’s situation said McNair will present new evidence to Goodell the owner hopes will shorten or eliminate the suspension that is costing the linebacker games against Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas and the New York Giants.

Goodell suspended Cushing. Goodell also rejected Cushing’s appeal in February.

Cushing, who is able to practice during training camp and play in preseason games, denied using hCG when the suspension was announced. He said he didn’t know how the substance got into his body.

Cushing has convinced his owner. McNair said recently that he backs Cushing and believes he’s innocent. McNair has paid for some of Cushing’s recent tests.

Neither McNair or Cushing could be reached Sunday.

Fantasy Impact:

If McNair can succeed, Houston's defense will be a lot stronger early in the season.

yesterday

Lions WR Jameson Williams faces concealed weapon charge

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 8:39 PM EDT

Embattled Lions receiver Jameson Williams has another issue to deal with.

Currently serving a two-game PED suspension, Williams faces a charge for carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle.

Via WXYZ.com, the Detroit Police Department is looking into why Williams wasn’t formally arrested at the time of the incident.

Fantasy Impact:

On October 8, Williams was a passenger in a car his brother was driving. The vehicle was pulled over, for speeding. Two guns were in the car; one was registered to Williams’s brother, and one was registered to Williams, the story said. The story added, Williams will be facing both prosecution by authorities and a potential suspension by the league.

Texans Beat: Expectation is WR Nico Collins (hamstring) good to go for Week 10

USA Today

yesterday · 4:48 PM EDT

According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Nico Collins is trending upward entering Week 9’s matchup against the New York Jets. While he can’t be cleared off the injured reserve until Nov. 4, the expectation is he’ll be good to go when the Detroit Lions arrive in Week 10.

Fantasy Impact:

Collins was placed on the injured reserve following Week 5’s win over the Buffalo Bills after tweaking his hamstring in the first quarter. Week 9 will be his fourth game missed. The timing couldn't be better for the Texans, who have now lost Stefon Diggs for the season with a torn ACL.

Panthers have no plans to trade RB Chuba Hubbard

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:44 PM EDT

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, though, reports the Panthers have no plans to trade cornerback Jaycee Horn or running back Chuba Hubbard.

Fantasy Impact:

Hubbard has played very well at RB and has been a pretty consistent player for his fantasy owners this season. He's averaged over 17 touches per game. However, owners need to remember that Jonathon Brooks is lurking on the IR and should be back sooner than later. It only makes sense for the Panthers to give Brooks work as the season goes on. He'll likely be eased into thing at first, but it seems like it's always been expected Brooks would at the very least split work, if not take on the lead back role for the Panthers.