Former NFL G.M. Bill Polian believes there won’t be much of a market for running back Reggie Bush.
(On a possibly related note, Polian also wanted to trade Peyton Manning in 2004.)
As NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith likes to say, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. When it comes to Bush, the facts are that there is a market.
We’ve been saying for a week that Arizona and Detroit are the two teams to watch. Bush’s versatility coupled with team need could push his number higher than Polian would believe.
Of course, big numbers for a veteran running back aren’t the same as big numbers for players at other positions. Last year, veteran running backs were getting paid like veteran kickers, at $3 million per year, or thereabouts.
Bush, who earned a base salary of $4.5 million in 2012, could still be in that ballpark, once the dust settles.
Apart from his skill set, Bush brings a name that will help sell tickets and jerseys. He also had a better-than-expected reputation in Miami. Teammates braced for a diva after he was traded by the Saints; they got a guy who became an unexpected leader and a hard worker.
We’ve rarely been confused for the presidents of the Reggie Bush Fan Club. But at a time where teams need reliable tailbacks who preferably can wear multiple hats, Bush won’t be one of the many recognizable names who will be scrounging for scraps once the folks at the big-boy table get their free-agency fun meals.