NFL: Texans apparently dismisses Brian Cushing

For years, Brian Cushing was one of the undisputed leaders in the Houston Texans’ defense. This seems to be over now: According to consistent reports, the Texans are releasing the linebacker.

As both NFL network insider Ian Rapoport and John McClain of the Houston Chronicle report, Team Cushing has informed Cushing that he is no longer involved in the team’s 2018 plans.

The 31-year-old would have entered the penultimate year of his contract and would have burdened the cap with $8.8 million, and Houston can leave the former first-round pick with a dead cap of only $1.2 million early. Cushing has been a fixture in the Texans’ defence since 2009 and collected a total of 664 tackles, 13.5 sacks and eight interceptions in the regular season. In his first NFL season, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He is also the all-time leading tackler in the comparatively young franchise history, but also struggled with some problems off the pitch: Cushing was banned from ten games in the pre-season due to repeated use of banned substances, and at the same time he had recently also lost some of his athletics.

Cushing was even prepared to make a statement to McClain:”It’s all right. That’s part of the business.”