Oct 8, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing (56) walks off the field after being injured during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLIfe Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE
Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing had his season ended during Monday Night Football last week when New York Jets offensive lineman Matt Slauson hit Cushing directly in the knee with his helmet resulting in a torn ACL that required season-ending surgery. Many fans and NFL players are calling Slauson’s block dirty but Cushing does not have the same outrage as those around the league.
“Whether it was or it wasn’t, I’m not playing for a while,” Cushing said. “That’s not going to change my opinion on anything. I’m not a guy that’s going to look back at the past and see what I could’ve done differently. I’m going to look into the future and see how I can improve. . . . When you sign up for this game, I understand this is part of it.”
While Cushing took the high road and did not attack Slauson for a dirty block, the NFL saw something they didn’t like from the Jets lineman.
Slauson was suspended $10,000 for the “peel back” block that ended Cushing’s year.
The play was not illegal but it is the kind of hit that is frowned upon by players. It is something the NFL needs to look into if they are going to continue trumpeting their player safety agenda. Not protecting defensive players wreaks of a double standard that is becoming more obvious and it is not a good look for Comissioner Roger Goodell.
Topics: Brian Cushing, Houston Texans, Matt Slauson, New York Jets
