It’s ironic, to say the least, that a team desperate for sizzle will not be keeping one of the few running backs in the NFL who carries that quality with him wherever he goes.
But Reggie Bush hasn’t done much to help fill the stands in South Florida over the last two seasons, even though he has proven that he’s much more than a specialty player at the professional level. Complicating matters is that the Dolphins now seem to be more interested in specialty players at the running back position.
So just as it was no surprise that, as of a couple of weeks ago, Bush hadn’t received an offer from the Dolphins, it’s no surprise that reports are piling up of his impending departure. With tampering season in full swing in Indianapolis, Bush and his agent, Joel Segal, surely know that some other team is willing to offer Bush more money and/or a bigger role than the Dolphins — now that the Dolphins and Bush have finally talked turkey on a new contract.
His destination at this point isn’t clear. The possibilities will include teams with plenty of cap room or plans to use Bush as something more than a revolving-door option.
Bush has made enough money to not have his take-home pay at the top of the wish list. The real question is whether there’s a team that will make him the top dog on the depth chart, or that perhaps offers other intangible benefits.
Maybe the right team is the one that plays in his hometown of San Diego. With Ryan Mathews more fragile than a major award and with the Chargers unable to fill up their home stadium on a consistent basis, bringing Reggie home could help from both a football and a business standpoint.