Bush finds he doesn?t have NFL?s number
Well, of course Reggie Bush won?t be able to wear his old number ?5? when he plays running back for the Saints this year.
Why there was ever a question is beyond me, given the league?s solid numbering policy enacted back in 1973. Sure, Reggie Bush may be a prodigy, if he lives up to his expectations, but he can?t just come into the league making demands.
In case you missed it, Bush, who wore the No. 5 back at USC, wanted to continue wearing the number in the pros. He has donned the jersey number at Saints camp and it is one of the highest selling jerseys on the market. He has pledged to donate a good portion of jersey sales to the Katrina recovery effort.
However, standing in his way is the 33-year-old NFL rule setting number parameters for players. For instance, quarterbacks are to be numbered 1-19 and running backs 20-49. There are also parameters for linemen, receivers and so on. The reason for the numbering system is to make things easier on officials, so they can, at a glance, know what position the player is playing.
While some criticize this as being too old school, there are a lot of calls, such as illegal man downfield, which require a split-second identification by officials. We are always criticizing officials for bad calls, so it kind of astounds me why some folks wanted to give Bush his way and do away with the numbering system. Of course, this would make things harder on officials, thereby lending itself to more bad and missed calls.
Come on Reggie, you?ve got the numbers 20 through 49 to make famous, pick one. I severely doubt losing the number 5 will render Bush helpless in the backfield.
Actually, the ruling could mean even more money in jersey sales. Remember back when Michael Jordan came back from his stint in the minors with the Birmingham Barons? He re-entered the league wearing his old minor league No. 45, meaning his old fans ? already owning No. 23 ? had to go out and buy his new jersey. This was marketing genius since it got Jordan another bite of the apple. Of course, he changed back to No. 23 later in season, despite threats by the league to dock his pay for changing his number in the middle of the season without expressed league permission.
While I may be old school for supporting a league rule, I think one of my main hang-ups with the Bush situation is I?m uncomfortable with unproven people coming into the league with demands. Sure, Bush is supposed to be a great back, but then so was a prodigy like Ohio State?s Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman winner. I can?t even recall which pro teams he played for now.
Just because a player did well in college doesn?t mean they will be a great pro player. It?s a different game played at an elevated level. And running backs are a dime a dozen lately as teams around the league are refusing to pony up to big contracts, instead opting to test the free-agent market and use the plug-and-play system when it comes to running backs.
With that said, maybe Bush should get his first NFL carry out of the way before trying to change the league?s rules. Maybe if he gets the stroke Jordan did in the NBA, maybe then he can impact league policy. However, at present, both me and Bush have the same career NFL yards per carry.