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DeFranco's Gym's stance on Brian Cushing's NFL suspension

Since Friday night, I've kept my mouth shut for one reason and one reason only - because Brian Cushing asked me to...and whenever family asks me to do something, I do it! And yes, I consider Cush my "little" brother from another mother...

Here's the deal:

Friday night I was eating dinner with my girlfriend and 2-year-old niece at a Jersey Diner when I see Brian Cushing's name appear on ESPN's ticker for violating the NFL's steroid policy. I was shocked! But, my first reaction was NOT, "Damn Cush, what the hell were you thinking?!" I immediately looked at my girlfriend and said, "There is NO FU#KING WAY Cush failed a steroid test! This is DEFINITELY a mistake...I gotta call him ASAP!" The reason I KNEW Cush didn't fail a steroid test is because I know Brian Cushing, the person. And I know FOR A FACT that he does NOT take anabolic steroids (even though I just saw it on ESPN). In fact, in all my years of training Cush, we've never even talked about steroids! So, unlike many of Cush's "friends" and "fans" who immediately threw him under the bus (I'm talking to you, Jay Glazer); I called Cush to get HIS story and show my support!

Once I got Cush on the phone, he tells me he's shocked at what's happening, but assures me he didn't fail for steroids. I believe him. Sure enough, the next day the term "steroids" has been replaced with "PED"...BIG DIFFERENCE. Yet, ESPN never issued any official retraction statement. Apparently, they don't think there's any difference between anabolic steroids and a category that's so big (and vague), it includes friggin' cough medicine!?!?

There is a LOT I want to say regarding the specifics of this story, but I'm not at liberty to speak about it because it's being handled by Cush's agent and attorney. So for now, I'm just going to address the topics that have been directed specifically towards me and my gym...

To all the people who said I "turned my back" on Cush when he's down...

Now you know that I called him the second I got the news...and I never doubted him. I called him to support him and get his side of the story.

The only reason I haven't said anything before this was because Cush asked me to "keep quiet" because his agent and attorney are handling the situation and he's very confident the facts will be revealed soon!

Here's a link to an article that appeared in New Jersey's most popular newspaper yesterday. Notice the title of the article, "Brian Cushing's Trainer Stands Behind Him". You may be interested in checking out the 12th paragraph where I say, "I'll goto my death and say Brian Cushing doesn't take steroids." Doesn't really sound like I "turned my back" on him, does it??

And finally, guess where Cush was this morning?? At my gym for two hours. We talked for an hour and he trained his ass off for an hour (as usual). And when my 12:00 crew rolled in guess what happened?? They were all pumped to see him and welcomed him back with open arms. No talk of this "situation"...wanna know why? Because no words need to be spoken when you're family. The guys at the gym know Brian Cushing, the person. They know he doesn't take steroids. They know his work ethic, insane disciple and his obsession with living a healthy lifestyle. No explanations needed...business as usual.

Oh, by the way, notice all the pictures of Cush are still on this website...nope, never took 'em down...never even crossed my mind!

To the "haters" who are telling local parents and kids that I "take" and "deal" steroids...

This is something I feel VERY STRONGLY about and it's why I'm seriously considering taking legal action. (And you guys know who you are. If not, I'll give you a hint...you BEGGED Cush to train with you, but he knew better...and you thought opening a gym 'just like mine' would be easy, but now you know better...ooops, did I give away too much??)

Every single person who knows me, knows my stance on anabolic steroids and drugs. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN, RECOMMENDED, SOLD, OR EVEN HELD IN MY HAND AN ANABOLIC STEROID OR ILLEGAL DRUG...EVER! This stance on steroids and drugs was instilled in me at a very young age by my father and it will stay with me until the day I die. This is the exact reason I opened up the type of gym I have - a "hardcore", "no frills" facility where we pride ourselves on out-working the competition! Saying that I "take" and "recommend" steroids at my gym is a completely slanderous statement that WILL get you in big legal trouble. Test me.

To the "outsiders" that have said, "The DeFranco Brand" is ruined...

This one actually made me laugh, but I'll address it anyway. I use the word "outsiders" because the only type of people that would make this statement are people that have NO CLUE what goes on inside the four walls of my gym! My gym is a family. And our family knows Brian Cushing, the person. Instead of my "brand" being ruined, it's actually quite the contrary. Today, while all of our haters were on the computer talking shit about us, we were having the busiest day of 2010 in the gym. (That's why I'm writing this at 1:00am, as opposed to a 'normal' hour.) Fifty-eight athletes walked through the doors of DeFranco's Gym today. Athletes ranged from 6th graders to NFL All-Pro's. And guess what...ALL 58 athletes AND parents support Brian Cushing 100%...because they know Brian Cushing, the person. They also know the type of person I am, as well as every other staff member at my gym. THOSE are the people we care about (the "insiders")...not the internet trolls, not the people who hate Brian Cushing because he's a better football player than they ever were; and we sure as hell don't care about any other "outsiders" who spend their days trying to knock other people down because they aren't happy with their own lives!

 

To conclude, I look forward to when Cush can speak out about this situation because it's being blown way out of proportion by the media. And I sure as hell hope the NFL doesn't strip him of his DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR & ALL-PRO Awards. Cush's "suspicious" test was in September...then he was re-tested numerous times throughout the entire season without ever failing. He EARNED those awards and DESERVES to keep them!

For now, I guess I can take comfort in knowing that he's learned early in his career who his true friends and fans are...and what true LOYALTY is all about.

Cush_sprinting_texans_red

We got your back, Cush!

-Joe D.

 

148 Comments

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  1. Denial makes this comment

    Tuesday, 10 August 2010

    Overtraining syndrome. wow! how much money did he pay for that so call research by all these doctors. dude quit while you have a chance. I can see cushing is not very bright. the owners of the texans must really want him to play badly. that's the dumbest excuse i've ever heard in my life. so i guess people can just make up shit now. lol to all his supporters you're just as dumb to believe overtraining syndrome if not dumber.

  2. Dann makes this comment

    Sunday, 13 June 2010

    I really admire the way Joe handled this. Very professional indeed. He kept his cool and retaliated with FACTS. I believe him because he didn't react with anger and threats.

  3. You Are Frauds makes this comment

    Thursday, 03 June 2010

    I used to be a fan of this site, and the training methods are great, but give it a rest - Cushing is a Roid Freak.

  4. jon makes this comment

    Tuesday, 01 June 2010

    Getting hit for a cough medicine sucks...it does, but as a professional athlete we should be aware of what goes into our bodies. In my sport of track and field the doping lists change... daily! Yes, we are required to keep track of what we can and cant have within our body. If we get busted, we get a year suspension from competition. If we get busted a second time, we are banned for LIFE! It's the responsibility of the athlete to know what he or she is taking and if you get busted deal with the consequences. It's only a slap on the wrist anyway considering you still will eventually play and make your paycheck. Lesson learned... move on from this and knock some heads off on the field. Jon

  5. Caestus makes this comment

    Monday, 31 May 2010

    ""Strength doesnt come from physical capacity it comes from indomimal spirit and pills"" - brian cushin Fixed.

  6. LOL makes this comment

    Sunday, 30 May 2010

    Joe, Thanks for the pure entertainment of your defense of Cushing - I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. I didn't realize that if you bolded and capitalized words that it made him innocent! You claim to only care about your gym family, and insiders. Well... you sure went through a hell of a lot of work to publish a defense to the outsiders! Clearly, you are very sensitive to outside criticism. This was a joke, so thanks for giving us a good laugh!

  7. George A makes this comment

    Thursday, 27 May 2010

    I dont care if he took steroids! Even if somebody take Steroids nobody can be like Brian Cushing no matter what he takes! Its his Hard Work and Dedication what makes Brian Cushing Brian Cushing! and Joe Defranco haha YOU ARE THE MAN CUSHING FUCK ALL HATERS! and Coach Defranco your WS4SB and your "Built Like a Badass" changed my life! This is NO BULLSHIT Defranco is the real DEAL!! thx George A.

  8. BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT makes this comment

    Thursday, 27 May 2010

    If you dont want to read the comments dont read the comments....truth is Cushing did steroids. Truth is if his trainer didn't know it, thats not a very good trainer. A trainer should know all aspects of a clients program including, what supplements and steroids their client is on! Truth is Joe isnt a bad trainer, he's a brilliant trainer, thats why he knew! Everyone cut the bullshit, thats not the big deal here, the big deal here is pretending that he didnt do them and takin this no steroids stance for years, when everyone knows it to be the opposite! Cush took them so did your pops!

  9. Watching_from_Wales makes this comment

    Thursday, 27 May 2010

    Enough guys! I don't buy deFranco goods or subscribe to this site to read rumours, and opinions about NFL players, I come to here to learn how to get fitter and stronger. I admire that deFranco management allows anyone to post comments on this site whatever the content, but I can't be the only regular visitor who feels this policy undermines all the good stuff that gets posted here? Can we please move on and get back to the good stuff that the deFranco brand is known for? There are plenty of football forums this shit can be posted on! Looking forward to the next post Jo, I just hope it's training-related.

  10. THE WOLF makes this comment

    Wednesday, 26 May 2010

    A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

  11. Dan O. makes this comment

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010

    Thank you Joe for being a leader in true workout regiments. When I saw the news break on Cush I knew it could not be true because I have seen the articles and video clips of how your father brought you up. I know from my upbringing that how your parents raise you it sticks with you for life. I also knew that you would have kicked him out of the gym and immediately condemned him if it was true. Once again thank you Joe for showing people everywhere how to get big and strong without being morons and pumping roids.

  12. Rodster makes this comment

    Tuesday, 25 May 2010

    Joe, Very self-serving stance - well done. Very naive too. If all the insiders know the truth, then why go through the very public defense?? Somewhat contradictory. By the way - nobody else cares.

  13. Patrick Lee makes this comment

    Monday, 24 May 2010

    Cushing has too much muscle for a needle to get through, come on fellas.

  14. Dave makes this comment

    Sunday, 23 May 2010

    Romo is a toolbag. He spent an entire career as a classless, roided douchbag who made, who made a name for himself not as a great talent but as a dirty player and a psyco teammate. Anything he says I totally dismiss and the fact that he has anything to say about this is laughable. He lied for his entire career about taking steroids and now that he is done he is spitefully taking potshots at a rising star that is already a better player than he ever was. Using him as a resource is like using sammy sosa on steroid use in baseball.

  15. BC Grad makes this comment

    Friday, 21 May 2010

    "Do you think when he was getting injected in his ass that he didn't know what was going on? Well, bullcrap. Let's get real. Be honest about it, Brian. I'm sorry you got caught but be honest about it. What that substance is is a substance from pregnant women's urine and what it does is when you have taken a cycle of steroids it turns your system back on from being shut down. It is very, very common in bodybuilding. That is a bodybuilding supplement, or a bodybuilding drug, where when these bodybuilders go on massive doses of steroids for months at a time, they will take that drug to turn their normal system back on and get it working again."

  16. BC Grad makes this comment

    Friday, 21 May 2010

    In an appearance earlier today on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Radio, Romanowski discussed the recent four-game suspension imposed on Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, who tested positive for hCG last September. "[H]ere's the deal," Romanowski said, "The only way you can get that substance that he took, hCG, in your body is to inject it, okay? So let's get that clear. So his sob story on TV was, I'm just going to say, was a total lie, okay?

  17. Jake makes this comment

    Thursday, 20 May 2010

    Hey The Truth-- Please give me your name so i can come up from Texas and kick your ass if you are talking about Billy. You dont know shit!! How dare disrespect him like that.... You fuckin pussy!! You are a jealous hater...

  18. The Truth makes this comment

    Wednesday, 19 May 2010

    Dave...you seem to be one of the only intelligent people on here and your being polite about it..fuck the bullshit. Cushing did steroids, I train others on his team who did them along side him at Bergen Catholic. Its a fact, thats how I know this. There were also others you trained from BC who did them too, one of which died....we know who. Is Defranco a great trainer, YES! Absolutely. Is he full of shit here. YES! Absolutely

  19. Jon L makes this comment

    Wednesday, 19 May 2010

    Though I am not sure how this particular test could have revealed a false positive, nor how on earth it would be in the NFL's best interest to undermine the accomplishments of its Defensive Rookie of the Year, I am not sure how DeFranco gets dragged into this as some kind of conspirator, as seems to be insinuated. At a considerable expense of time, and often at no gain financially (I mean, look how much FREE information is on this site), DeFranco actually "coaches" even when you don't set foot in his gym - the YouTube videos, the articles all provide a lot of valuable, stand alone information. Yes, I am having a hard time buying the concept that the NFL somehow has it out for Brian Cushing, and that the high presence of HCG was just some kind of testing anomaly. The PR protocol is all too familiar and really doesn't vary that much from other athletes in the same position. But I am also not buying that somehow DeFranco's reputation is ruined.

  20. osma bin laden makes this comment

    Wednesday, 19 May 2010

    joe defranco has trained me to fight the US army!

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