Texans owner still high on Brian Cushing

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair remains extremely high on Brian Cushing even after the linebacker's embarrassing suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

He loves Cushing's work ethic.

Cushing is susoended for the first four games of the regular season.

"I'd say I had a belief all along that you have to build through the draft," McNair told the Houston Chronicle. "But one of the things I have learned is that what you have to determine with the players is, beyond their athletic ability, beyond whether they're of good character or not, what's their level of passion? In this game, everybody is so good that just going out and doing what's required isn't enough. You have to do more than what's required.

"Everybody I've talked to — strength coaches, assistant coaches, what have you — say Brian Cushing is the hardest-working athlete they've ever worked with, that his workouts are so strenuous that no one could compare."

Of course, McNair doesn't say that Cushing is widely suspected of taking shortcuts to get to where he is today.

In contrast to Cushing's intensity, McNair is convinced that former quarterback David Carr wasn't willing to pay the price to succeed.

"Maybe in the case of David Carr, that was probably the one thing we overlooked," he said. "I think David enjoyed the game, but I don't think he has that real burning desire, that passion, that not only do I want to play, but I want to be the very best at this position. And I'll do whatever it takes to do it."

McNair didn't disagree when told it sounds like Cushing is his favorite player.

"There's not anybody on that field more intense than Brian, and the players know that," McNair said. "When he's off the field, he's sort of mild-mannered and very nice. He steps on that field, and he's a different person. He's a tiger. Even when he comes off the field sometimes, other players will try to joke with him, and he's about to ready to attack them. He cares that much about it.

"He pays the price. He works hard. That's the kind of intensity I think is good. Pollard brings that kind of intensity, too. You have to have it on defense. Defense is emotional. I'm hoping it'll rub off on Mario (Williams). If Mario could develop that kind of intensity with his athletic ability, oh my goodness."

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