In Case You Have Completely Forgotten...

About Reggie Bush, he was recently quoted in the New Orleans Times-Picayune saying, "I've got to come out and have an equal or better year. I've got to get the crowd chanting M-V-P. I've had plenty of time to reflect. I missed the last four games. That really hurt me because I never really had to miss any games before. I had a lot of time to think and just go through what approach I want to take this year and how I want to go about this year and getting to that elite level of athletes."

Reggie Bush for MVP. That is laughable.

Let's break down his rushing stats:

Reggie was ranked 143rd in the league in yards per carry in 2007. This was an improvement from his 2006 numbers, where he was ranked 168th. His rookie season he had 0 runs over 20+ yards. So much for the most exciting player to ever step on a football field. Gale Sayers? I think not. Bush also fumbled twice in 2006.

In 2007 though, Bush had 3 runs of over 20 yards. However his season long was 22 yards. So it's not that impressive. He also fumbled 7 times last year. He only averaged 48.4 yards per game.

But isn't Reggie a great receiver?

His receiving stats:

Although Bush was near the top of the league in receptions, he was ranked 371st in yards per reception. He only had one catch that went for over 20 yards (25 yard gain). To make matters worse, he ranked among the lead leaders with 10 dropped passes. These also aren't bombs down field or in routes across the middle. These are mostly screen passes where the is no excuse for drops.

To compare, let's take a look at Adrian Peterson's rookie season:

Every time Purple Jesus runs the ball, he gets 2 more yards than Bush does. In one year, AD has more rushing touchdowns that Bush has totaled in 2 seasons - with the Saints doing their best to boost Reggie stats by giving him the ball on 1 yard line, only to see him take 3 tries to get put 6 points on the board.

Peterson had 11 runs of over 20 yards and 5 of over 40 yards in his rookie season. He also averaged 95.8 rushing yards per game, only getting 17 touches. He also has converted more first downs in one season than Bush has in 2. Adrian Peterson's reception average blows Bush's out of the water. He had 3 receptions that went for over 20 yards and 1 that went over 40 yards. If he would have caught 11 more passes (30 receptions), he would have recorded more receiving yards than Bush did in 73 receptions.

Reggie Bush, like Steve Slaton, is scared of contact. I can't even count the number of times Bush has had 1 player to beat and either steps out of bounds or gets tackled. I have never seen him lower his shoulder or even stiff arm anyone. Maybe Sheldon Brown's hit really did something to his psyche...

But it is more than that. He was fast enough to be productive against slow teams at USC. LenDale White did the dirty work. He would get the tough yards. He would grind and pick up yards up the middle. Reggie would come in and score easy touchdowns against a tired defense. When USC played a fast defense, Pete Carroll would put in LenDale. When they played a slow one, he would put in Bush. In the NFL defenses come at two different speeds - fast and faster. Bush tries to do too much. He takes 1 step upfield and takes 2 steps backwards. I've seen him get past the first down marker, only to run backwards and end up losing yards, forcing the Saints to punt.

A list of NFL MVPs since 1995 (from various organizations):

1. Brett Favre
2. Brett Favre
3. Brett Favre/Barry Sanders
4. Terrell Davis/Randall Cunningham
5. Kurt Warner
6. Marshall Faulk/Rich Gannon
7. Kurt Warner/Marshall Faulk
8. Rich Gannon
9. Peyton Manning/Steve McNair
10. Peyton Manning
11. Shaun Alexander
12. LaDainian Tomlinson
13. Tom Brady

Reggie Bush doesn't even belong in the same sentence as any of those players, with the exception of Shaun Alexander. But at least Shaun was once productive AND a franchise back. You can't be the NFL MVP splitting carries. You can't be the MVP averaging 3.7 ypc. You can't be the MVP if you can't break tackles. You can't be the MVP if you can't pick up yards after contact. You can't be the MVP if you have only had one 100 yard game in 28 appearances.

Reggie Bush, you can't be the MVP. You won't be the MVP. You don't even know how to be the MVP.

Switch to WR and shut up or stick to Hollywood and stop wasting our time.