Reggie Bush vs. Matt Leinart: Who Has a Better Shot at Redemption?

The sands of time continue to fall for Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. The vitality of NFL athletes gets shorter with each day. Only one of these athletes has a chance at one last push in the NFL.

The NFL lockout lifted earlier this week, allowing a flurry of activity to take place around the league. It is the Wild West. General managers are shooting from the hip and players are leaving town under mysterious circumstances. 

There are two intriguing athletes that find themselves at a crossroads in 2011. Both players left USC for the NFL amidst great fan fare. 

Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush were supposed to rule the league with the same amazing feats of athleticism that they did in college. As we now know, nothing is assured at this level. A hero one day can be fodder for the masses the next. 

It is very easy to assess who has had a better go of it so far. Leinart is more renowned for his inability to get a starting job than anything he has actually done on the field. Reggie Bush, for his part, has a Super Bowl ring, and was an All-Pro selection in 2008. 

Knee issues have derailed a promising career from Bush. In 2011, he will get a fresh start. Both players have clear cut directions for the future. 

Leinart spurned the chance to team up with former USC head coach, Pete Carroll. He instead chose to remain with the Houston Texans, as a backup to Matt Schaub. 

Bush has been traded to the Miami Dolphins. That gives the Dolphins a premier back as Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown leave to free agency. 

Two men enter the second half of their careers, and only one will get out with a positive sentiment tied to their careers. 

Leinart was reportedly bothered with the Seahawks signing Tarvaris Jackson in Seattle. The man that has proved nothing in his career wanted a starting job handed to him, again.

Second chances are one thing, but Leinart needs to recognize that you work for one of the 32 positions available at this level.

Leinart took the ease and comfort of $5 million over two years in Houston, as a backup. I am not sure what he was thinking though. Matt Schaub is a much more reliable starter than Tarvaris Jackson. The race for the No. 1 in Seattle is much tighter than with the Texans.

I wish I could say that Leinart had it in him to win the job and reform his image. After the disaster that was the Cardinals stay, I am not sure he has the talent to be an NFL quarterback.

Reggie Bush's nemesis will be injury, and only injury. He will receive the bulk of the touches in a run-heavy offense. The Dolphins feed on big play running backs.

They are hoping Bush can be that for them. I have no idea if Leinart will ever get an opportunity to show his mettle. Bush will get a bevy of chances to show that he can be an elite back with breakaway talent.

Five years after they left USC, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush are nowhere near what we thought they would be. The tide is turning in favor of one of them though.

Reggie Bush will still have his name in lights. Matt Leinart, meanwhile, will still be waiting to just have his name called.