Apparently, when folks accuse me of hating Reggie Bush, I'll no longer be alone.
Saints fans will soon be accusing NBC's Tony Dungy of hating him, too.
Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Dungy said that he'd take Chargers running back Darren Sproles over Saints running back Reggie Bush.
It's actually not even close. Sproles has become that which Bush was supposed to have been.
Sproles is a dynamic and dangerous kick returner. Sproles is a shifty and elusive running back, who worked between the tackles and outside. And Sproles is a heart-attack-inducing presence in the passing game, with the ever-present ability to turn a short screen into a long touchdown.
Of course, Dungy is in much better position to compare the two. In Dungy's only exposure to Bush, the 2005 Heisman winner generated 45 yards of total offense in the 2007 regular-season opener. Sproles, on the other hand, helped end Dungy's coaching career with a strong performance in the 2008 AFC playoffs.
So while Saints fans might now accuse Dungy of hating Bush, Dungy has many more reasons to actually hate Sproles.
Tony Dungy would take Darren Sproles over Reggie Bush
Posted by Mike Florio on September 18, 2009 10:38 AM ET
Reggfie Bush=Draft Bust.
The Saints paid an awful lot for a oft injured punt returner & a #3 RB...
Short people got no reason to live
Don't forget, Tony Dungy also hates gays.
Reggie is the highest paid Part time Employee in the Nation......Total JOKE!
Nothing more common than LOSER with Talent...that would be U Reggie...LOL
Sproles is LEGIT could be on my team anytime....
Homeboy can flat out Play!!!
Loss & Ditch overrated LT....& let the Man Play!!
DV has spoken(TGIF!!!)
I'm 75% certain I'd take Correll Buckhalter over Reggie Bush.
Why Can't People just give in and admit that Bush is a Bust?
The only good players out of the first round of the '06 draft are Haloti Ngata, Mario Milliams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everyone else pretty much busted.
Yes bears fans. Jay cutler is a bust. All he has proved is that he is interception throwing-crybaby-loser.
And don't tell it's because it was his first game as a bear that he played poorly. It was Kyle Orton's first game as a bronco and he won. And he's Kyle Orton.
I am so sick of this "hater" crap.
Why is it that whenever a writer (or Hell, a person on the street) has a different opinion, instantly they are written off as having "a bias." WTF?
Ooooh, he's biased - so everything his says is BS. Wrong, twinkletoes. Someone can have a bias AND BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN THEIR OBSERVATIONS.
The concept of bias has been so overblown it's not funny. Yes, you are supposed to account for a bias when evaluating someone's point of view; however, that doesn't mean that a bias completely obscures the entire premise of their argument.
Calling someone a hater is lazy and weak. Constructing an intelligent argument to refute someone else's point of view - that's a little bit harder.
Maybe Mike Florio does have a dislike for Reggie Bush. So what? Does that mean he's wrong for having Sproles ranked ahead of him?
No f'in way he's wrong. The numbers speak for themselves.
@ DV66
LT is a HOFer.
Sproles is nice, but he's not an every down back. I'm a charger fan and I love the guy, but the truth is that he can't carry a full rushing load the way LT or AP has. He's good because he's used properly in certain situations which he thrives under. Make him an every down back and he'll falter.
And BTW, I'm sure Reggie is laughing all the way to the bank.
Anyone ever get more hype and done less than Reggie Bush? That's rhetorical...
Bush should be moved to WR.
ya know, with the exception of last season when he played only 10 games, he still has had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage a season in his first 2 yrs, with being injured in those years as well. Yes, he will probably not live up to being the #2 pick, but he has proved good/a threat when healthy. Lets see how versatile Sproles can be, since it's not like, you know, he's tiny as hell. Yes yes, so is Maurice Drew but Sproles is not close to his level. Have fun taking Sproles, in which he's had 115 carries in his whole career! I'd take a 2yr younger Bush anyday of the week over Sproles
How is this news? Most sane people would feel the same way. You might as well have an article called "Tony Dungy says the sky is blue".
I'm not Reggie Bush hater...but I don't love him either. My opinion on this situation though is that the Saints don't use Reggie in the ways he should be used. Instead of getting him in open space, they run him to the short side of the field. Or they dump off the ball behind the line of scrimage and say "Go get 'em!" They could use him as a decoy sometimes too...throw him out there as a wide out...he's better at catching the ball Colston or Henderson. IMO, those guys are alright but they tend to drop a lot of balls and don't make as many plays as they should be able to in open space.
I'm not saying the guy is great or he's amazing...but I think he could be more productive if they just used him in the right ways.
2 questions I have been dying for you to answer...Is Darren Sproles better than Reggie Bush? and Is Jared Gaither the next Jonathan Ogden??? Thanks!!
KC Joyner
(4:08 PM)
Give Sproles a full-time role like Bush and I'd answer yes on #1. As far as Gaither goes, he's got the physical talent but he needs to be more consistent. A 82.7% POA win rate isn't good enough to claim the mantle as the next Ogden.
The Saints coach is an idiot.
He constantly rotates rb's out even though they are tearing up a defense to a guy that isn't.
As seen last year SITS a guy on a roll PIERRE THOMAS in a critical game!
Benches guys so duece the juicer mccallister can get the TD's or fail at it, so he wouldn't cry.
I am not only pissed off he screwed up my fantasy teams but he also lost critical games at the end of last year by not playing the hot RB aka Pierre Thomas.
When a dude is breaking through the line for 30+ yards U DO NOT BENCH HIM AND PUT IN SOME IDIOT and settle for a field goal. The guy is an idiot.
COVER DEFENSE anyone? we play to lose.
ItalianArmyGuy says:
September 18, 2009 10:45 AM
Short people got no reason to live
----
Signed,
A total buffoon who drafted LT in the first round of my fantasy league.
Florio says "Dungy has many more reasons to actually hate Sproles." Since Dungy is a good guy and has no grudges, and Florio's track record is clearly against him, I think its safe to say who the hater in that post was..
Cheziv says:
September 18, 2009 10:47 AM
Don't forget, Tony Dungy also hates gays.
Like all good Christians, Dungy does not hate gays. Traditionally, the big proof of his hatred is charity donations to an anti-gay group, yep that’s direct proof of true hatred. He is a member of the Christian faith, one of whose basic tenets, despite those that spin certain bible passages, is that being gay is wrong.
Tell us something we dont know Tony.
Pfft. Tony Dunce is more like it. Amirite?
- Matt Millen
if you gathered your information from actually watching games and analyzing stats instead of blindly following idiot journalists, you'd understand bush's value. he has single-handedly won games. he was leading the league in touchdowns last year before his knee injury. he is ranked fourth in the league over his career in YAC. talk to defenders around the league if you want to know bush's value. see what happens when he's garnering so much attention that it makes it easy for brees to find lance moore or billy miller in the end zone. yeah but he's a bust because florio and his ilk said so.
♪ ...They got... little hands... little eyes... They walk around tellin' great big lies... ♪
Sproles has 12 career TDs in 48 games.
Bush has 24 career TDs in 37 games.
Florio, no one calls you a Reggie Bush hater because you are critical of him. You're called a Reggie Bush hater because you always inject insults every time you mention him. You treat him like you treat the assholes of the league (TO, Pacman, multiple Bengals) when all he did was not live up to the hype. He didn't ask to be drafted 2nd overall.
Is he what everyone hyped him to be? No, but who could be? Not even Adrian Peterson, who is the best RB in the game, has lived up to the immense hype thrust upon Bush.
But he's not a bust in any sense of the word since busts are always essentially out of the league after 3 years (Akili Smith and Ryan Leaf are the epitome of "bust").
Don't hate on Reggie Bush. If you're looking to blame someone, blame that Succubus he was banging for the past few years.
Actually.... go ahead and hate on Reggie Bush, I'd take Sproles over him as well.
Who knew 10 carries for 15 yards was a strong performance in the playoffs? huh.
"SC21 says: September 18, 2009 10:55 AM
@ DV66
LT is a HOFer.
Sproles is nice, but he's not an every down back. I'm a charger fan and I love the guy, but the truth is that he can't carry a full rushing load the way LT or AP has. He's good because he's used properly in certain situations which he thrives under. Make him an every down back and he'll falter."
I heard this about Mr Turner. Thanks for letting my boys get him. Don't let Sproles leave or you'll make someone else happy you did.
But - does he like Coke or Pepsi?
Miller or Bud?
Gawd - I wish Dungy would get back into coaching and just shut up. Who the hell cares what he thinks?
It's no shame not to be considered as good as Sproles . . . unless you are LT :)
I find it offensive you take one of the most sincerely nice people we have in football and use terms like hating when he expresses preference over one role player versus another. Why don't you try keeping your hip slang with your views in the future and don't try to drag Tony Dungy down to your level.
DUH!
@florios mom
The only good players out of the first round of the '06 draft are Haloti Ngata, Mario Milliams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everyone else pretty much busted.
__________________________________
Santonio Holmes is definitely not a bust. Neither is Joseph Addai or Nick Mangold.
Excuses are monuments which build bridges to nowhere. Those who use bu*lsh*t are masters of nothing. Therefore there are no excuses, Reggie Bush is a bust, unless he goes out this year plays the entire season, and have eye popping #'s. If you believe that's going to happen, I have some real nice beach front property in Nebraska for you too...
So Dungy 'would've' taken Sproles over Bush? Four years after he was drafted, wow I am impressed. He might just end up being a personel man.
Bush isn't done yet. Has Bush lived up to all the expectations thrust upon him? No. Has he made plays and helped the Saints win? Yes. Reggie ain't done yet! He dumped that big booty Kim, his legs should be stronger now.
I'd take about 15% of running backs in the league over Bush..........he flat out cannot play!!!!!!!!
Whoaaaaaaaa........... there big fella. Just because he'd rather have Sproles does not mean he hates Bush. He chose the more productive player. Now I happen to hate Bush, the one living in Texas, not Reggie.
BSPURLOC
Sean Payton doesn't give a shit about your fantasy football team. He does have the best offense in the league, though. Calling him an idiot shows why your team sucked last year, you don't know shit about football.
And really Florio, is there a lazier post than "Reggie Bush hasn't lived up to ESPN's best running back ever hype"? You've written it like 37 times now. I would expect it in the offseason but there is plenty of news right now.
SaintsBucsPanthersSUKK says: September 18, 2009 11:21 AM
♪ ...They got... little hands... little eyes... They walk around tellin' great big lies... ♪
============
They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
@florios mom
The only good players out of the first round of the '06 draft are Haloti Ngata, Mario Milliams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everyone else pretty much busted.
You're right. Ernie Sims, AJ Hawk, Kamerion Wimbley, Chad Greenway, Antonio Cromartie (pro bowler), Davin Joseph (pro bowler), Santonio Holmes, Deangelo Williams (pro bowler), Nick Mangold (pro bowler), and Joseph Addai (pro bowler and super bowl champ) have all "pretty much busted."
Nice try
Keep an eye out for the Lion's Aaron Brown.
Reminds me a lot of Sproles. Currently the league leader in KR yards, average, and long. He slowed down thinking he had everyone beat (bonehead) and got caught from behind of what would of been the leagues only KR TD last week.
@florios mom
The only good players out of the first round of the '06 draft are Haloti Ngata, Mario Milliams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everyone else pretty much busted.
__________________________________
Santonio Holmes is definitely not a bust. Neither is Joseph Addai or Nick Mangold.
__________________________________
A.J. Hawk? Vernon Davis? DeAngelo Williams? Antonio Cromartie? I wouldn't classify any one of those as "busts".
hey florios mom must suck to be a broncos fan huh?you beat the bungles on a tipped pass not on anything orton did.the only sour grapes are coming from denver fans who realize what they had compared with what they have now.once again where were all the negative stories about cutler while he was in denver?sure he had a lousy game but news flash manning or brady would have lousy numbers in turner's "offense".turner and smith's play calling and not cutler will be the bears undoing.
I dont see a difference in the two. They both can catch and return kicks and there both glorified 3rd down backs. Everyone is hyped for Darren Sproles like they were for Reggie Bush. And he to like Bush hasnt done anything all that great. Sproles had a few good games as the go to running back when LT was injured. Bush has had a few good games too as the go to running back. But both of them havent proved that they can carry the load on an constinent basis. Sproles hasnt got his chance yet and Bush has already blown his.
But you cant say how good Sproles will be until he has the chance to be an every down back. But if Im gonna throw out a guess like all the experts have done I would say I dont think he could handle being the number 1 back in any offense for a full year if even half a year.
I think when he gets his chance people are going to be shocked how much he starts to look like a poor man's Reggie Bush.
"The only good players out of the first round of the '06 draft are Haloti Ngata, Mario Milliams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everyone else pretty much busted."
You couldn't be more wrong!
Donte Whitner, Ernie Sims, Brodrick Bunkley, Chad Greenway, Antonio Cromartie, Tamba Hali, Davin Joseph, Johnathan Joseph, Santonio Holmes, DeAngelo Williams, Nick Mangold, Joseph Addai.
As a Saints fan I would take Sproles over Reggie any day of the week, the one thing he is decent at he finds ways of messing it up as well...
"...But he's not a bust in any sense of the word ..."
Keep living the dream, man!
When you come out of college as "the best college player in the history of the game" with "no chance that this guy will be a bust", you can definitely say the guy is a bust. HE HAS DONE NOTHING.
And to the guy who said move him to WR. Please. How many 5'5'' receivers to you see in the NFL?
Show me a RB who can't run between the tackles and I'll show you a bust in the NFL.
who wouldn't.
Just what did Sproles do the last game anyway? 9 carries, 23 yards? 5 catches for 45 yards and two big returns?
I can't even count how many times Reggie has done that.
This is why Bush'll never satisfy anyone. Unless he has a 300 total yard game with about 4tds he'll always "never live up to the hype". And somehow it's his fault for being drafted so high.
Considering who else came out of that draft...it was a pretty fair choice. I mean after the kinda college season he had...how couldn't you draft him #2 overall? Sure hindsight n all that, but he was legendary in college.
His hype was such that only the 2nd coming of Walter Payton(not Gayle Sayers) would satisfy anyone, and Bush puts that pressure on himself more than anyone.
Bush is a bust? Get outta here with that crap.
Bush was leading the league in TDs last year before he got hurt. Who cares if he's subpar as a pure running back? That's only a 3rd of what he does for this team anyway.
Look man I been a Saints fan my whole life. I wanted Bush to do good but I am tired of hearing the B.S. that he is going to do this and going to do that.
I was so happy to see Mike Bell running wild last week and Reggie getting shut down by the Lions. His people have been blaming the N.O. line for years why can Bell run wild with the same line and Reggie gets shut down?
Answer is simple Reggie is a weak coward with the heart of cockroach. He shys away or tries to hurdle contact. He can't play hurt because if he doesn't have his speed he can't do anything.
Here from a Saints fan Reggie Bush is a bust!
He is a bust because of where he was picked and what the Saints pay him. He is a great 3rd down back and kick returner but nothing we expected him to be. I can't wait until we are rid of him
"When you come out of college as "the best college player in the history of the game" with "no chance that this guy will be a bust", you can definitely say the guy is a bust. HE HAS DONE NOTHING."
24 TDs in 37 games is nothing? Ooookay.
And how is it his fault he was overrated and overhyped coming out? Still not a bust. That word is thrown around far too much. Ryan Leaf is a bust. Akili Smith is a bust. Bush isn't in that arena.
"And to the guy who said move him to WR. Please. How many 5'5'' receivers to you see in the NFL?"
....He's 6'0.
Reggie had 1 less receiving TD in 10 games than Colston had in 11 games. Reggie had 1 more receiving TD last year than Henderson who played all 16 games. Those are the top two receivers on this team...and his stats are almost the same or better. And that is just his receiving stats. Not his rushing stats or return stats.
Look at the facts, haters.
"Answer is simple Reggie is a weak coward with the heart of cockroach. He shys away or tries to hurdle contact. He can't play hurt because if he doesn't have his speed he can't do anything."
No one can play with an MCL injury. Anyone who questions his heart is seriously dumb. But after reading the rest of your post, that much is obvious.
this is what happens when people form an opinion before considering facts. for some reason - jealousy, perhaps, or maybe he torched your college team - you want reggie to be a bust. so you just say he's a bust, evidence be damned. that, or you cherry pick supporting facts, like the games he's missed due to injury or the fact that he has a fairly low YPC number. the problem is it only reveals flaws in your character, not in reggie's game.
Regina Bush. LOL
Go Falcons!!!!!
@ florio's_mom WHO SAID
"The only good players out of the first round of the '06 draft are Haloti Ngata, Mario Milliams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everyone else pretty much busted."
DO YOUR RESEARCH
FIRST ROUND PICKS IN 2006 DRAFT
14. Philadelphia - Broderick Bunkley, DT Florida State
19. San Diego - Antonio Cromartie, CB Florida State
25. Pittsburgh (from N.Y. Giants) - Santonio Holmes, WR Ohio State
27. Carolina - DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
29. NY Jets (from Denver through Atlanta) - Nick Mangold, C Ohio State
30. Indianapolis - Joseph Addai, RB LSU
OTHER NOTABLES
23. Tampa Bay - Davin Joseph, G Oklahoma
24. Cincinnati - Johnathan Joseph, CB South Carolina
32. N.Y. Giants (from Pittsburgh) - Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College
NOT THE BEST DRAFT BUT IT DIID PROVIDE STARTERS AND PRO-BOWLERS AND PREHAPS THE MOST UNDERRATED BACK IN THE LEAGUE AND THE FIRST TO RUN THE WILDCAT UNDER DAN HENNING, DeANGLEO WILLIAMS
YOU MAYBE RIGHT ABOUT CUTLER. BUT HE ONLY PLAYED ONE GAME IN CHICAGO SO WE SHOULD GIVE HIM MORE TIME. (WEEK 8 THEN MAKE AN CALL ON IF HE GOOD OR BAD)
So much hype for a guy who has never ran for more than 330 yards in a season.
And yes, I'm talking about Sproles.
nps6724 : "No one can play with an MCL injury. Anyone who questions his heart is seriously dumb. But after reading the rest of your post, that much is obvious."
Not talking about that injury just injuries in general. Bush is all speed and only speed. When your hurt you loose speed. When you age you loose speed. Reggie Bust is doing each week by week.
He is heartless on the field, I don't care what you say. He is the guy that talks a lot and folds up. He is the guy that makes a mistake and insted of being a man about it throws his helmet at his teammates standing on the sideline.
If we weren't paying this cat so much and he weren't so full of himself I wouldn't mind him, but he is what he is a bust. BUST!
Call me stupid all you want but you the cat that can't see because you blind.
Reggie Bush is an overpriced, overhyped, less productive version of Eric Metcalf.
Reggie Bush sucks.
Note to San Diego: sign him when the Saints don't. Norv will light a fire under his ass in that interesting offense. He'd be a fun player to watch in SD
YEAH, Reggie Bush sucks!
He will do well as a WR, this weekend will tell all..