Posted on 04/12/2006 7:38:22 AM PDT by Cyclopean Squid
How much trouble is a number worth?
Reggie Bush, projected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, thinks it's at least worth petitioning the league.
"I want to see if I can keep No. 5," Bush told ESPN The Magazine on the set of a Subway commercial he was shooting in Los Angeles.
The former USC running back and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner has been wearing that jersey number since high school. NFL rules, however, don't allow for running backs to take that number -- 33 years ago the league adopted a numbering system to make it easier for officials to differentiate players by position.
Under the rule, quarterbacks, punters and placekickers wear numbers 1 through 19. Running backs and defensive backs are assigned 20 through 49, while wide receivers and tight ends are given numbers 80 through 89.
Two years ago, due to the increasing amount of retired numbers and more wide receivers and tight ends coming into the league, the NFL allowed those position players to wear either 10-19 or 80-89. A number of wide receivers have been wearing lower-numbered jerseys since, among them Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona (11), Plaxico Burress of New York and Braylon Edwards of Cleveland (17), Randy Moss of Oakland (18) and Troy Williamson of Minnesota (19).
Bush wants to push it one step further to stick with No. 5.
"I think someone else was able to get their number changed, but even if they turn me down I think it's worth a try," Bush said.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment on Bush's plan to petition the league, though history is working against him. In 2004, running back Edgerrin James talked to the NFL about letting him wearing No. 5, which he had worn in Pop Warner, high school and at the University of Miami, but he was reportedly rebuffed.
Jersey numbers have turned into a big business. Players routinely have paid thousands of dollars for a jersey of their liking.
There has even been a lawsuit -- two years ago, Ifeanyi Ohalete agreed to sell No. 26 to his new Washington Redskins teammate Clinton Portis for $40,000. But Ohalete, who was released from the team before the season, sued after Portis didn't pay him half of the fee. The two eventually reached a settlement worth $18,000.
Bush has extra incentive to try to land No. 5. His Subway commercial, which debuted on Monday, encourages fans to "get inside No. 5" and features that number throughout the spot.
If Bush could somehow convince the league to allow him to wear No. 5, he's in luck if he gets drafted by the Houston Texans. No player on the team currently wears that number.
Said Bush: "If I have to pick a new number, I have no idea what it would be."
ESPN.com senior writer Darren Rovell contributed to this story
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.
The price of growing old. We gain wisdom and lose memory... ;^)
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....
-Eric
Simple solution -- list him as a QB, and then play him as a RB. There's no "eligible" difference between the positions, just nomenclature.
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.
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?
;-)
888=NUMBER FOR JESUS
Mike Williams was drafted last season by and plays for the Detroit Lions.
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).
John Riggins's number!
I had such a crush on him in my youth...
Or maybe he can be #5 on the Houston Texans.
We'll take all the help we can get.
And an offensive line, please.
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.
We get more than one pick.
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.
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.
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.