When most people hear the name Reggie Bush they think of greatness. And, from the common person that might seem as a fair assessment—the publicity would've confused me too if I wasn't an avid follower of the NFL.
I mean the guy is on everything: commercials, TV shows, magazines, and the list goes on and on. As soon as Reggie stepped foot in the NFL, people were sure he would be the next greatest running back and almost a sure lock for rookie of the year.
People thought the Texans were the dumbest team in the NFL for passing on Bush and drafting Mario Williams, but after Williams posted 14 sacks last season people quickly shut their mouths.
The former USC heisman who made players look foolish on the field in college is struggling to fit in and put up impressive numbers. In his rookie season he rushed for a mediocre 565 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per rush, and ranked No. 42 among running backs.
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It still seemed like analysts were blind to these facts, as I never heard these numbers called out, only praises and applauds, which confused me. All I heard was, “What an amazing play by Reggie Bush.” Yet the very next play he would dance around for a loss and still announcers wouldn’t blame Bush.
How do you jump on a players' bandwagon who is not even close to the top?
Last season the hype was there again—people couldn't wait to see an improved more experienced Reggie Bush.
With more endorsements then ever, we watched Reggie rush for 581 yards and break the rankings to end up at No. 36. He did miss the last four games of the season, but with Deuce out he had two more rushing attempts than the previous season.
To add to his mediocrity in the NFL, his longest run in two seasons is 22 yards, and last season he had seven fumbles with only four touchdowns. Bush needs to step up and show that he isn’t just a college great, especially if the Saints want to be where they were at two seasons ago.
It is clear that so far Reggie Bush has been incredibly over-hyped and overrated. I am not a Reggie hater, just stating facts and numbers. I am not in any way saying that he can't still become one of the NFL's elite backs—I'm saying that the publicity is there without the performance and numbers backing it up.
However, I would like to commend Reggie for what he has done for the city of New Orleans off the field. He has been involved in a number of charities and has been a great influence for the younger generations.
I wish Reggie and the Saints good luck in next season—I also wish Reggie’s on-field performance will be up to par with his performances off the field.
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about 1 month ago
I'm not working in firefox today, so here's some editor's feedback.
Great article! I just tweaked your teaser and edited for style. Make sure everything checks out to your liking—keep up the awesome work!
about 1 month ago
He isn't being overrated because everyone is saying he is overrated him and he's not even being rated. I haven't seen anyone that says Bush is an NFL star or that his game has translated, therefore, he cannot be overrated.
from about 1 month ago
Alex have you watched a Saints game?
about 1 month ago
Very true! No argument from me! On the upside he has an elite College career to brag about and I'm sure he has enough to retire on. To the best of my knowledge he has lived his life good even with a pocket full of money.
about 1 month ago
I am a lifelong Saints fan and have seen all of Reggie's games in the NFL. In his first season he had his fair share of highlights including a 4 TD game against the 49ers and an 88-yard TD in the playoffs against the Bears. Last season he was injured much of the season and never showed any of that burst that we are used to seeing from him and he was careless with the ball.
I think that after 2 seasons it is a little too early to label him overrated. This third season is a big one for him, though. I think he's got to reach 1,500 yards from scrimmage, average at least 4 yards per carry, and have several big plays in 2008 in order to have a successful season. If not, then maybe he can start being considered a bust.
He needs to look at players who have the tools and size similar to his own. He should look at Warrick Dunn's career. Dunn is/was willing to run inside consistently and then bounce it outside only as the play developed.
about 1 month ago
Last year he had over 1000 all purpose yards. In 2006 he had over 1500 all purpose yards. Why do all teams game plan for him? He my not be an all world player and he may not have lived up to the hype but i would say that those numbers are productive.
about 1 month ago
I am so tired of hearing people say Reggie is a bust. He's overrated. He doesn't live up to the billing. Seriously people, unless he rips off a 65 yd td up the middle, no one will give him his due. Did Reggie say he was the best running back since Gayle Sayers or Barry Sanders? No. He came into the NFL with a target on his back. He performed admirably without much run support from his line. The beginning of last year (4 game losing streak), no one could run. The Oline simply did not open holes. After Duece went down, Coach Payton called Reggie's number play after play after play (i remember yelling at the tv for them to do something OTHER than run plays to Reggie after 6 runs in a row). No play action to keep lines honest, no swing pass to Stecker to keep them guessing. It's kind of hard to get free and do something when everyone knows you're getting the ball.
When you look at the productive backs in the NFL, you see LT, AP, and any back in Denver all have steller lines to open holes, and they get the ball out to more than one weapon. It wasn't until after the 4 game losing streak that Brees even started spreading things out, and he too had more success because of it. Suddenly teams couldn't load the box. We had abandoned the run, and everyone kind of knew it, then Stecker started having some success.
The moral of this lengthy diatribe is simply this : Before we all start handing out labels we should look at the whole picture in context. Even with all the pressure of living up to some hefty expectations set by the press, he shined in his rookie season. The team as a whole suffered a setback early on, and no one on the Saints roster had very good stats (offensively). Add the injury bug, and any superstar in his second year charged with the resurrection of a franchise, will stumble.
about 1 month ago
it takes most running backs a few years to adjust from college ball to the NFL, especially an unconventional running back like Reggie. Just look at Brian Westbrook's (another unconventional-style back) first couple of seasons. Reggie did struggle last season partially due to injury, but he has also shown signs that he will live up to the hype once he's fully acclimated. Also, his longest run may be 22 yards, but he has taken some screen passes much farther than that, and a hb screen is basically a rushing play. The public's expectations for him out of college were so unfairly high that people dismiss his rookie year as a disappointment when in fact reggie had a fine season and was a huge part of the saints' reaching the nfc championship. this is a very slapdash, cliche article.
from 29 days ago
Sorry Jimmy, I have to disagree. Running backs in the NFL dont get better in the NFL. They usually make the most impact in their first few seasons, with the exception of maybe Tiki. Check out the stats all almost all other great backs. And besides Reggie is not a running back. A flanker or slot receeiver at best.
about 1 month ago
"Had a fine season" hahahaha its ok Saints fans don't be too bitter I didn't call him a bust yet if you all read the article maybe you should re-read it.
about 1 month ago
"It is clear that so far Reggie Bush has been incredibly over-hyped and overrated. I am not a Reggie hater, just stating facts and numbers. "
What does that sound like? Are those "facts" suggesting or inferring he's overrated? Like the words you said? I can see how that is a statement immersed in statistical accuracy, and not opinionated at all.
If he had come out in his rookie year, and gained 500 yards total, and no one had game planned for him, sure, maybe those "facts and numbers" would be a little less deceiving, and more representative of his ability. Teams DID gameplan for him and he still blew up SF, Dallas, and the Gmen in 2006. A players value/impact on a team is not measured by statistics alone, ask any O-linemen.
No, you didn't SAY he was a bust outright, you danced around that word. He did have a fine rookie season. A punt return for a game winning touchdown, 4 touchdowns in one game, an 88 yd screen pass in the championship game. I would call that not bad. Not the greatest ever, but fine. Lets not forget the few runs and passes he broke free on but was called back for penalty's, or because someone touched his shoestring on that return when he went down(can't remember the opponent). While those are the breaks of the game, it could have gone either way making a fine season a great season.
about 1 month ago
Thank you for proving my point
about 1 month ago
and for the record i'm not cheering against Reggie, I hope he has a breakout season and after he has one I will write about how good he was.
about 1 month ago
Reggie Bush was horribly overrated. Not only is Mario a better pick but he's not even the best RB in that draft. Maurice Jones Drew and Joseph Addai have been much better and show a helluva lot more promise then the glorified WR.
about 1 month ago
You mean Maurice Jones Who and Joseph Addai behind the best QB in the land and his 5 technician linemen? What was the star attraction on offense for the Saints? Drew Brees? Sure, throwing to who? Everyone seems to downplay intangibles because you can't count them in your fantasy football circle. Teams didn't gameplan around Mario. I happened to see some of his work last season, and from what i saw, sacks and fumble recovery for touchdowns were a matter of being in the right place at the right time by chance. Maurice has Fred Taylor to take the focus off of him, When Deuce went down, Reggie had the burden alone. Its tough not having a reliever in the modern NFL.
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