Why did Bush go #2?

[FavreChild]

Reggie is a "me first" player because he literally said "ME - FIRST."

In interviews, he repeatedly asserted that he should go #1 in the draft and that he was the best player in football. Would not even entertain the notion that his teammate Matt Leinart could be the number-one pick, or a defensive player like Mario. He said, "The number-one pick - that's ME." And he wanted to be paid the highest amount of money ever for a number-one overall pick.

And although he split carries, he sure didn't split the glory.

Is he as good as his ego thinks he is? Maybe. Is Houston's O-line good enough to allow Bush the kind of production he's accustomed to? Maybe not.

I guess Houston opted to skip the headaches it would take to find out.

[GrnBay007]

I agree FC. And while there is a big difference in breaking NCAA rules and breaking the law, there is still that question of character in doing either. Usually where there's smoke, there's fire and why fork out an insane amount of money when there are questions arising.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Reggie is a "me first" player because he literally said "ME - FIRST."

In interviews, he repeatedly asserted that he should go #1 in the draft and that he was the best player in football. Would not even entertain the notion that his teammate Matt Leinart could be the number-one pick, or a defensive player like Mario. He said, "The number-one pick - that's ME." And he wanted to be paid the highest amount of money ever for a number-one overall pick.

And although he split carries, he sure didn't split the glory.

Is he as good as his ego thinks he is? Maybe. Is Houston's O-line good enough to allow Bush the kind of production he's accustomed to? Maybe not.

I guess Houston opted to skip the headaches it would take to find out.

So what? I didn't see the interview, but it doesn't sound like much to rip him on. I've seen other interviews and he seems like a good, personable kid.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Talking about Reggie Bush reminded me of something. Bush had 47 carries combined in the two games before the title game, and produced 554 rushing yards. Then, the Trojans only gave it to him 13 times in the title game. Poor coaching decision.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Does anybody know what he's done or known? Do you believe boosters aren't doing similar things all across the country? I think bigger penalties need to be laid on the boosters before it can be fixed.

Bush's image was Windex-clean with the Trojans. Articulate, bright and immensely talented, he was perceived as a national marketing campaign waiting to happen. Just yesterday, adidas announced a multiyear partnership with Bush.

In the coming weeks and months, Bush will sign a multiyear deal with the team that selects him. Most people around the league expect that to be the Texans, despite the recent controversy.

“Guys are going to go by the football and the character of the kid,” one prominent coach said. “The kid's got good character; now he may have made a bad decision on this deal, but it might be everyone involved with him, too.

“I'm sure if you're the owner this could affect you because you're talking about giving a kid $25 million (guaranteed). But from a football standpoint, I don't think it'll affect the guy. He loves practice, he loves to play, and he's almost too good to be true on the field. He apparently just made some bad choices.”

Bush draft status likely unaffected by situation
By Jim Trotter
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said yesterday he has no reservations about selecting Heisman winner Reggie Bush with the first pick Saturday in the NFL draft.

“At this point in time, based upon what we know about Reggie, we're not aware of anything that would prevent us from picking him if we decide that's what we want to do,” McNair said by phone after arriving in New York for predraft functions.

It was thought for some time that Bush was a lock to go to the Texans, but a ray of doubt was cast on the situation after it was learned his family may have received improper benefits while he was still a member of the USC football team.

Further clouding the picture were court transcripts in which a local attorney stated that Bush had made an unspecified agreement with a fledgling sports marketing agency, the founders of which have long criminal backgrounds.

“Charley Casserly (Houston's general manager) spoke to Reggie today and Reggie said he did not enter into any type of agreement with an agent prior to the time that his season was over, so we accept what he tells us,” McNair said.

“He says he did not enter into an agreement with those people and that there will be more information coming out of it. I think you've got some disgruntled agents and marketing people that are stirring the pot.”

Asked if he is completely comfortable with Bush, McNair said: “Based on what we know. We'll wait and see after all the information comes in. At this point in time we have not seen anything that would prevent us from taking him if that's our decision.”

McNair said the Texans are conducting simultaneous negotiations with the agents for Bush and North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams. He said the team had yet to decide whom it will select. Casserly said yesterday the Texans will take Bush or Williams with the first pick.

Based on comments from other owners and decision-makers around the league, the controversy surrounding Bush doesn't figure to hurt his status as long as he's not connected to any criminal activity. At the same time, they said the recent allegations raise questions about his judgment and might give pause to a club that has an image-conscious owner, the fear being that more serious allegations could arise in the future.

“If the house is all there is, there's no problem,” the owner of one club said, speaking on the condition his name not be used. “The other stuff shows – that shows bad judgment, if it's true. But as long as you can see that he's not running with those people or involved with something illegal, then I think he'd be OK.”

Said a front-office executive: “I think if you are the team in question, you really do have to do as much investigating as possible to find out if this is a guy who does have a questionable background, or if this is a guy who was just immature and making some pretty poor choices right now – personally, socially, certainly economically.

“Not that you could do much to help him with that at this point, but this is a guy who would make you step back and think, 'What exactly am I getting into?' I think you do that with everybody and anybody who flashes those types of situations.”

Bush's image was Windex-clean with the Trojans. Articulate, bright and immensely talented, he was perceived as a national marketing campaign waiting to happen. Just yesterday, adidas announced a multiyear partnership with Bush.

In the coming weeks and months, Bush will sign a multiyear deal with the team that selects him. Most people around the league expect that to be the Texans, despite the recent controversy.

“Guys are going to go by the football and the character of the kid,” one prominent coach said. “The kid's got good character; now he may have made a bad decision on this deal, but it might be everyone involved with him, too.

“I'm sure if you're the owner this could affect you because you're talking about giving a kid $25 million (guaranteed). But from a football standpoint, I don't think it'll affect the guy. He loves practice, he loves to play, and he's almost too good to be true on the field. He apparently just made some bad choices.”

[MJZiggy]

His situation reminds me of Walker. He may be fine, but he has stupid people all around him telling him what to do.

[FavreChild]

I couldn't care less that Reggie & Co. got booster money or whatever other perks. USC made miliions off this kid (their student).

All I'm saying is that the Texans obviously got a vibe (for lack of a better term) that Bush wasn't worth the hassle - monetary-wise, attitude-wise, the pressure to get him to perform immediately...whatever the case may be.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I'm glad we don't have to deal with any of that stuff. I did not want Reggie.

[MJZiggy]

I'm still figuring he gets injured by game 3.

[swede]

Talking about Reggie Bush reminded me of something. Bush had 47 carries combined in the two games before the title game, and produced 554 rushing yards. Then, the Trojans only gave it to him 13 times in the title game. Poor coaching decision.

Lateraling back only to fumble. There's another poor decision.



The Texans had been negotiating with this guy for some time. I think they got tired of lookig at a holdout unless they coughed up 30 mil in signing bonus. They opened up a dialogue with Mario and found out who they liked better at #1.

I cheered the deal out of simple meanness on my part. I hate the whole entourage thing among some athletes. And the Texan's decision may--or may have not--started a chain of events that gave us AJ.

[FavreChild]

I think my main problem with Bush is that I'm already sick of being force-fed his ESPN-manufactured superstar status. The hype machine is such a turn-off. And I'll admit, that isn't really his fault.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think all of this is conjecture. I don't think there's anything to say this kid has less character than, say, Daryn Colledge. I heard some teams were put off by Colledge in interviews. To me, that's just conjecture. I haven't seen anything in Bush to vilify him.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Believe the hype. This kid is DAMN good. I haven't felt this good about a RB prospect since I watched Barry Sanders run for Oklahoma State back in the late 80s.

Check out the video:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nor

It's the best highlight package you'll ever see. He catches as well as a wideout. He shows the toughness to run inside. In the open field, only Barry Sanders has been better. My wife knows nothing about football. I told her Bush has the "wow" factor. I made her watch his highlights, and she was literally like "wow, he's good." Watch it. This kid in unbelievable. Could he get injured? Sure. He's a little small, but he's worth the gamble.

[Merlin]

What I had heard, and it's been awhile, is that the Texans couldn't negotiate a contract with Bush and his agent. I don't remember seeing what the proposal was but some sources have said that he wanted some clauses in his contract regarding payment upon injury etc. that are not typical in an NFL contract. That's why players are urged to by injury insurance. How true that is, who knows.

I do believe that the Texan's took Williams because their defense stinks. Dominck Davis is a very good running back and even behind a horrible offensive line he still gets his yards. You do have to wonder if the scandal surrounding Bush had something to do with it though. There are other allegations around the USC football team to so maybe the Texan's wanted to avoid a media fest surrounding that which could ultimately take the teams focus away during camp.

I thought Williams contract was for 20 Million in guaranteed money. One wonders how that will affect Bush's contract. Who would pay the #2 pick more than the #1? How will that affect our negotiations with Hawk? I don't think Hawk will be a hold out, I think he will sign a good contract worth about 15-18 Million with only anout half guaranteed. He seems like a respectable guy who plays because he loves the game. On second thought, he better hold out because with that face, the only commercial endorsements he will get are for Preparation H!

[HarveyWallbangers]

The contract issue is another thing that is conjecture. I have doubts that the Texans passed on Bush because of a contract. I think they felt, for some odd reason, that Mario Williams was the best pick for them. If you listen to Charlie Casserly, he states that a contract had nothing to do with it. There have been rumors that the Texans didn't even offer Bush the contract they gave Williams. They determined about a week ago that Williams was the guy they seriously wanted. Would it really have taken much more than 6y/$54M with $26.5M guaranteed to get Bush?

On a side note: how do you not get anything for passing on Bush if you are the Texans? That was the worse move. Hey, if you felt Williams was better for your team, no problem? But they had a serious commodity, and didn't fully utilize it. At the very least, get something from New Orleans and still get Williams. It sounds like the Saints actually liked Hawk more than Williams, so they weren't going to trade up to grab Mario.

[Merlin]

I agree, the Texans could have negotiated that a lot better.