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So this is kind of interesting. NFLDraftBible.com is reporting that Cush and Clay have both tested positive for steroids but don't really name a specific source. Clay's agent has refuted the report as well as Cushing, as neither player has been informed that they have failed any type of drug test.
Response from Clay's agent:
Response from Cushing & Pete Carroll:
Breaking News: USC Linebackers Test Positive
Written by NFL Draft Bible
Thursday, 02 April 2009 22:38
USC LB’s Brian Cushing & Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.
Written by NFL Draft Bible
Thursday, 02 April 2009 22:38
USC LB’s Brian Cushing & Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to various sources, including one NFL team.
Report of Matthews Drug Test Refuted
Posted by Aaron Wilson on April 3, 2009, 2:19 p.m. EDT
In response to NFLDraftBible.com’s report that USC linebacker Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, the agent that represents Matthews has issued an e-mail addressing the situation.
In an e-mail sent to Rick Serritella at NFLDraftBible.com, Athletes First vice president and general counsel Mark Humenik stated that neither Matthews nor his agents have been informed of any failed drug test. Plus, he added that a lawyer for the league office told him that the NFL hasn’t received notification that any players have tested positive for steroids at the combine.
NFLDraftBible.com also reported that USC linebacker Brian Cushing has tested positive for steroids.
Here’s an unabridged copy of the note addressed to NFLDraftBible.com, which is the web site that reported on Matthews and several other players’ allegedly positive tests:
“Our office represents Clay Matthews. Your website is reporting, via unnamed sources including one NFL team, that Clay tested positive for steroids at the NFL Combine. As I’m sure you know, the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances clearly states that ‘any Club or Club employee that publicly divulges, directly or indirectly, information concerning positive tests or other violations of this Policy (including numerical summaries or specific names of persons) or otherwise breaches the confidentiality provisions of this Policy is subject to a fine of up to $500,000 by the Commissioner.’
“Further, neither Clay nor our office has received notification of any positive test, whether for steroids or any banned substance. I also have been informed by an attorney at the NFL League Office that they have not received notification from the Independent Administrator of any Draft-eligible players testing positive for steroids during the pre-employment drug testing conducted at this year’s Combine, and likewise, that they have not informed the member NFL clubs of any drug testing results. Govern yourself accordingly.
Sincerely, Mark Humenik Vice President & General Counsel Athletes Firstâ€
Posted by Aaron Wilson on April 3, 2009, 2:19 p.m. EDT
In response to NFLDraftBible.com’s report that USC linebacker Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine, the agent that represents Matthews has issued an e-mail addressing the situation.
In an e-mail sent to Rick Serritella at NFLDraftBible.com, Athletes First vice president and general counsel Mark Humenik stated that neither Matthews nor his agents have been informed of any failed drug test. Plus, he added that a lawyer for the league office told him that the NFL hasn’t received notification that any players have tested positive for steroids at the combine.
NFLDraftBible.com also reported that USC linebacker Brian Cushing has tested positive for steroids.
Here’s an unabridged copy of the note addressed to NFLDraftBible.com, which is the web site that reported on Matthews and several other players’ allegedly positive tests:
“Our office represents Clay Matthews. Your website is reporting, via unnamed sources including one NFL team, that Clay tested positive for steroids at the NFL Combine. As I’m sure you know, the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances clearly states that ‘any Club or Club employee that publicly divulges, directly or indirectly, information concerning positive tests or other violations of this Policy (including numerical summaries or specific names of persons) or otherwise breaches the confidentiality provisions of this Policy is subject to a fine of up to $500,000 by the Commissioner.’
“Further, neither Clay nor our office has received notification of any positive test, whether for steroids or any banned substance. I also have been informed by an attorney at the NFL League Office that they have not received notification from the Independent Administrator of any Draft-eligible players testing positive for steroids during the pre-employment drug testing conducted at this year’s Combine, and likewise, that they have not informed the member NFL clubs of any drug testing results. Govern yourself accordingly.
Sincerely, Mark Humenik Vice President & General Counsel Athletes Firstâ€
New Brian Cushing steroid controversy: Site claim positive test at NFL combine
Brian, Cushing the USC monster linebacker who will be eligible in the upcoming NFL draft, needed Pete Carroll, his USC college coach to defend him this weekend. Carroll -- who has a reputation for closely monitoring things like Reggie Bush's cool house -- defended Cushing and his other monster linebacker Clay Matthews after a report of positive tests were reported on one unverified web site.
The NFL rumor mill is at full tilt this time of year.
So much so that USC Coach Pete Carroll apparently thought it necessary to quell the attention sparked by a blurb that linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL scouting combine in February.
A one-sentence report from NFLDraftBible.com, which is not affiliated with the league, started the buzz. The agency representing Matthews apparently responded to the report.
Here's what Carroll had to say in a statement released on USC's website.
"These rumors are absolutely false," Carroll said. "If they were found positive, Clay and Cush would have been notified three weeks ago, which they weren't and all of the NFL teams would have been notified too, which they weren't."
Carroll said he spoke with the NFL testing service and verified that both players tested clean.
"They're both men of outstanding character and they never tested positive for anything here," Carroll said. "This is an [sic] major example of irresponsible reporting, and the site that published this report should be ashamed of themselves."
A (sic) interesting comment from an (sic) Carroll. Who knows how often athletes are dope tested in the NCAA? It could be another Tony Mandarich case where steroid use is denied until the player needs a book deal.
Cushing addressed this issue:
"I don’t understand where it is coming from," Cushing told me. "I was tested last December at USC and passed, one of several tests I have passed. I was tested this morning here at the combine and those results should be out in a couple of weeks to a month, I believe. I think people are trying to find something, anything, that would detract from what I have done on the field. You learn in life if it’s not one thing, it’s the other. I hope once I pass the test here that this will be put behind me. I’m really hoping for that."
Brian, Cushing the USC monster linebacker who will be eligible in the upcoming NFL draft, needed Pete Carroll, his USC college coach to defend him this weekend. Carroll -- who has a reputation for closely monitoring things like Reggie Bush's cool house -- defended Cushing and his other monster linebacker Clay Matthews after a report of positive tests were reported on one unverified web site.
The NFL rumor mill is at full tilt this time of year.
So much so that USC Coach Pete Carroll apparently thought it necessary to quell the attention sparked by a blurb that linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews tested positive for steroids at the NFL scouting combine in February.
A one-sentence report from NFLDraftBible.com, which is not affiliated with the league, started the buzz. The agency representing Matthews apparently responded to the report.
Here's what Carroll had to say in a statement released on USC's website.
"These rumors are absolutely false," Carroll said. "If they were found positive, Clay and Cush would have been notified three weeks ago, which they weren't and all of the NFL teams would have been notified too, which they weren't."
Carroll said he spoke with the NFL testing service and verified that both players tested clean.
"They're both men of outstanding character and they never tested positive for anything here," Carroll said. "This is an [sic] major example of irresponsible reporting, and the site that published this report should be ashamed of themselves."
A (sic) interesting comment from an (sic) Carroll. Who knows how often athletes are dope tested in the NCAA? It could be another Tony Mandarich case where steroid use is denied until the player needs a book deal.
Cushing addressed this issue:
"I don’t understand where it is coming from," Cushing told me. "I was tested last December at USC and passed, one of several tests I have passed. I was tested this morning here at the combine and those results should be out in a couple of weeks to a month, I believe. I think people are trying to find something, anything, that would detract from what I have done on the field. You learn in life if it’s not one thing, it’s the other. I hope once I pass the test here that this will be put behind me. I’m really hoping for that."
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