Reggie Bush Continues To Prove Doubters Wrong

Andrew Weber-USA Sports Today

Leaving New Orleans was a big mistake on Bush’s part they said. Without Sean Payton, Bush will be exposed for what he really is; an over-hyped  over-priced, under-performing bust... Oh really?

Reggie Bush had dreams of being a Hall of Fame player coming out of USC in 2006. He had visions of making the Pro Bowl every year and gaining numerous accolades. He thought he'd lead the league in rushing at least once in his career. After spending his first 5 years in New Orleans, that Hall of Fame seems highly unlikely. Making the Pro Bowl doesn't seem so far fetched now that he's out of New Orleans, but leading the league in rushing doesn't sound very realistic. His reputation as injury prone will most likely keep him from getting enough carries per year to compete for that title.

Since joining the NFL, Reggie Bush has never been considered an every down back. While playing with the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton’s system, Bush has always been used as a utility player or situational back. In his first year, he averaged 10 rushes per game. In his second year he averaged 13 rushes per game. Only twice in his time with New Orleans did he rush the ball 20 times or more. In one of those two games did he enjoy his only 100 yard rushing performance with the Saints.


Since leaving New Orleans, Bush has attempted 20 or more rushes 6 times and has gone over 100 yards 7 times. Including his time with New Orleans, Bush has attempted 20 or more rushes in a game 8 times and has eclipsed the century mark 8 times. In his career, when rushing 20 or more times in a game, he has not made 100 yards only twice. So when given the heavy workload, he has been very productive.

The problem for Bush in New Orleans is that he wasn't a great rusher in between the tackles. He wanted to bounce everything to the outside and use his speed. He soon found out that doesn't work in the NFL. In his early years, he needed space to operate, but instead of Sean Payton implementing plays to utilize his skill set, he decided to take the running back by committee approach. Slowly but surely, Bush's reps were given to someone else. While this worked out great for the Saints, it wasn't good for Bush. Sure he got a Super Bowl out of the deal, but his value as a player was in a free fall. Coming into the league, he was viewed as possibly one of the best backs in the league. Now, he’s not even considered in the top half of running backs in the league.

When he left the Saints, he said that the Miami Dolphins were the only team out there that would give him a chance as their featured back. Every other team had a running back that they valued over Bush. The Dolphins had just drafted a running back out of Kansas State (Daniel Thomas) and weren't loaded with great veterans at the position. So they were at a point where they could give Bush a chance to be their guy. He’d have to earn it over the rookie though.

Not even Reggie Bush can make plays from the sideline

That’s not even considering his financial value. As a rookie, he signed a 60 million dollar contract with the Saints for six years. That’s 10 million a year. When he went to the Dolphins, they didn't want to pay him the final 10 million for one year, so they split it up over two years. That makes his contract with the Dolphins worth only 5 million a year. When he signed with the Detroit Lions, he was set to make 16 million dollars over 4 years. That’s 4 million a year. As you can see, he’s losing money.

So his decision to leave New Orleans was not a bad one. Had he stayed in New Orleans, his workload would not have increased. In fact, he decreased every year after his second. He went from averaging 10 rushes per game in his rookie season, to 13 in his second year, to 10, to 5, to 4.5 in his final year with the Saints. The Saints then drafted Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram in 2011 in the first round. That doesn't look like the recipe for success for Bush which in turn does nothing to help his bank account.

While his decision to leave was met with skepticism by most people around the NFL, it ultimately was the best decision. In his first year as a Miami Dolphin, Bush recorded his first 1,000 yard season and rushed for 100 yards or more in a game 5 times including his only 200 yard rushing game. He averaged 5 yards per rush that year and proved that not only could he be an every down back, but that he could also run between the tackles efficiently and effectively. Bush averaged 14 carries per game in that year and had numerous big plays. There wasn't a shortage of highlight plays either. While his follow up campaign wasn't as successful, he still managed to play every game that season and averaged 15 carries per game, 4.3 yards per carry. He came up 14 yards shy of 1,000 that year but given the fact that he had no play makers on that offense to speak of, a rookie QB that wasn't highly regarded, a rookie head coach and new offensive coordinator with very predictable play calling, that’s not so bad considering defenses keyed in on him and him alone. To average 4.3 yards per carry isn't bad in the NFL especially under those conditions.

Reggie Bush runs 65 yards for a TD against the Raiders

When Bush decided not to take a pay cut from the Dolphins, he hit the Free Agent market for the first time in his career and was pursued by multiple teams. Proof that leaving New Orleans was the right move considering nobody other than the Dolphins really wanted him when he left New Orleans. His first stop to Detroit ended up being his only stop as he saw Detroit as the perfect fit for him.

With the Lions, he will be paired with a big-time play maker in Calvin Johnson and an above average QB in Matt Stafford. This will keep defenses from being able to key in on him. Add in some creative play calling and we should see Bush excel in this system. After his first game with the Lions, he’s already the talk of the town after putting up 191 total yards from scrimmage (101 receiving, 90 rushing, 1 TD reception). His presence alone has defenses scrambling as he has opened up the field for the receivers to operate. He’s shown his big play making ability by taking a screen play 77 yards for a TD showing off his speed in the process. The 77 yard TD was his longest play from scrimmage of his career. That’s 1 yard longer than his 76 yard TD run with the Miami Dolphins in 2011.

If Bush can keep up this type of play and manage to stay healthy for the remainder of the season, he will no doubt be viewed as a top 12 running back in the NFL. A feat he would have never accomplished as a New Orleans Saint.