Bush will appeal to wear No. 5 in NFL

ESPN ^ | 4-11-06 | Stacey Pressman

[1L]

Unlike the NCAA, the NFL has rules on who has to line up where, as far as the 7 man line. There has to be an eligible receiver on the end of the line, and it makes it easier to note who is potentially eligible. An out of sequence number can be eligible if he "reports" to the Referee prior to the play, but the league's thinking is the number scheme helps.

In the NCAA, there just has to be 5 players numbered 50-79 on the line, and while they are never eligible receivers (there's no "reporting" and these guys by rule can't catch a legal forward pass), they can be on the end of the line.

Remember, however, that the guy the widest out may appear to be on the line, but he isn't. He's a step or two off the line, or was and shifts to a position on the line. Also, this doesn't answer all of your numbering quirks, but its just the way they think. The NFL also has numbering schemes for the defense which aren't explained by what I wrote here.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

The price of growing old. We gain wisdom and lose memory... ;^)

[CSM]

If a RB lines up on the line, is he considered one of the eligible receiver? How about a punter/kicker? How did they handle Randle El? Did he wear a QB number?

Thanks for the information, it just seems that there isn't a lot of differentiation between the skills player's....

[E Rocc]

Well he would have done just as good a job of catching Braylon as the actual Packers did on that play. >:)

-Eric

[kevkrom]

Simple solution -- list him as a QB, and then play him as a RB. There's no "eligible" difference between the positions, just nomenclature.

[discostu]

Anybody that lines up behind the line is automatically an eligible receiver unless they threw the pass (thus why some trick plays involve somebody else throwing to the QB). Those who "seal" the line (generally on the strong side the tight end, on the weak side the receiver, unless you go for a two TE package, and a large number of other variations) are also automatically eligible. The fuzz zone is the outside tackles (basically the guy next to the guy that seals the line), they can be eligible if they declare, proper NFL training says to ALWAYs delcare no matter what the play call is just in case the play breaks down.

[Allegra]

If allowed to choose any number, I would wear #8. It's my favorite number, not sure why. I'm curious as to what #s other FReepers would choose.

Well, #8 is David Carr's number, so Reggie won't conflict with his #5.

Ooops...was I making assumptions about what team Reggie's going to play for next year?

;-)

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I used to have T-shirts made up with an 8 put on the side, so I could wear # Infinity. I still have a few of them around.

[shield]

8=NEW BEGINNINGS

888=NUMBER FOR JESUS

[Diplomat]

Mike Williams was drafted last season by and plays for the Detroit Lions.

[Cyclopean Squid]

I think that's a safe bet. Bush seems like a class act and I hope his presence can help out the Texans. No one wants their franchise highlight to be beating Dallas with the first game (although that was nice).

[Cyclopean Squid]

I played on an intramural basketball team called "We're Gonna Lose," which was comprised of the worst B-ball players ever. My signature move was the Skyhook, which I never made. We had jerseys made up, and I wore the imaginary number i, the square root of -1.

[Allegra]

I always wanted #44.

John Riggins's number!

I had such a crush on him in my youth...

[Allegra]

Maybe he can be number 5 in Arena Football.

Or maybe he can be #5 on the Houston Texans.

We'll take all the help we can get.

And an offensive line, please.

[dfwgator]

You can have Bush or an offensive line, you can't have both.

The Texans would be better off trading the pick and sticking with Dominick Davis.

[Cyclopean Squid]

The Texans would be better off trading the pick and sticking with Dominick Davis.

Maybe in the short-term, but they're thinking for the future. They hope Reggie will be a force in the NFL for years to come, and they figure they can always get a line later. Not sure if that's sound, or if the hopes will pan out, but that's the way the Texans seem to be thinking.

[Allegra]

You can have Bush or an offensive line, you can't have both.

We get more than one pick.

[dfwgator]

I think running backs are a dime a dozen, look at the Broncos, they plug anybody back there and they get beaucoup yards, it's because of the offensive line.

Reggie Bush may be a great running back, but also consider the longevity of NFL running backs is considerably less than at other positions.

[admiralsn]

I agree- I think these are old rules for a "new" style of play in the NFL. I think ALL WRs, RBs, QBs, and TEs should be allowed #00, and 2-49, and also 80-89. Offensive linemen should have #50-79. Defense can be anything. I do not believe ANY player should be #1, just for the connotations of the number. If I were a coach, I'd ban the number from being worn by my players.

[Cyclopean Squid]

There's no denying that the key to a successful offense is a solid offensive line. The least hyped and yet most important element of any team. A good line can make an okay QB look terrific and a RB look like a hero. You are probably right that they should trade the pick, but they won't. Bush will be a fun player to watch, but it remains to be seen if he can be a revolutionary.