Overrated-underrated: Sayers, you say? Bush just overblown
Is two years in the NFL enough to earn somebody overrated honors?
It is for Reggie Bush.
Bush came into the league as a player many expected to be a Marshall Faulk-type of runner, a home-run threat every time he touched the ball, a star in the passing game. Two seasons into his career with the New Orleans Saints, Bush is a runner who tiptoes into the hole, a player who is far more hype than production.
When the Saints used the second pick in the 2006 NFL Draft to take Bush, some speculated he could be a 2,000-yard rusher. They meant in a season. He’s just over halfway to that number in two.
Bush, who has 1,146 rushing yards in two seasons, gets the nod this year as my most overrated NFL player. In 28 NFL games, Bush has one 100-yard rushing effort. His 3.7 career average per rush is not impressive at all. He does have 161 catches in two seasons, but the Saints expected a lot more with him running with the football when they selected him.
What’s bigger: Bush as a disappointment or his girlfriend’s (Kim Kardashian) ample behind?
We expected to see those electrifying, make-the-defensive-coordinators-sweat runs that he put on display at Southern California. Instead we have had a tentative, between-the-tackles runner who sure doesn’t make us think of Gale Sayers, which the experts said he would.
While Bush is this year’s most overrated player — Vince Young should thank him — St. Louis Rams safety O.J. Atogwe is the league’s most underrated player.
sportsline.com
5/27/08
