Reggie Bush - Pro Football Rumors

Bills Rumors: Taylor, Gilmore, Bush

July 27th, 2016 at 8:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bills and quarterback Tyrod Taylor‘s agent, Adisa Bakari, are talking “relatively frequently” about a long-term contract and could reach an agreement before the season, perhaps within the next month, reports Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. It’s a “unique negotiation,” a source told Carucci, because Taylor doesn’t have a long track record of success.

Previously a backup with the Ravens, who chose him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft, Taylor joined the Bills last offseason on a cheap contract. He then proceeded to beat out EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel for the No. 1 job over the summer and post strong numbers as a passer and rusher in 14 regular-season games. Taylor (27 next week) ended up top seven among NFL QBs in yards per attempt (7.99) and passer rating (99.4) in 2015. He also completed 63.7 of his throws and accounted for 24 touchdowns (20 passing, four rushing) against a meager six interceptions. Further, Taylor paced all signal-callers in yards per carry (5.5) and trailed only MVP Cam Newton in rushing yards (568). Taylor could now be seeking Brock Osweiler-type money ($18MM per year), writes Carucci, which would be an enormous raise over the $3.1MM he’s scheduled to collect this season.

Elsewhere on the roster, Buffalo and contract-year cornerback Stephon Gilmore continue to make no progress toward an extension, according to Carucci. Gilmore, who’s due $11.082MM in his fifth-year option season, reportedly wanted a deal in the neighborhood of the Redskins’ Josh Norman (five years, $75MM) as of earlier this month. Norman is currently among the league’s top two corners in average annual value ($15MM, first), total guarantees ($50MM, first) and guaranteed money at signing ($36.5MM, second).

With the salary cap consistently on the rise, Gilmore has a case to approach Norman’s deal – especially given that he’s three years younger. And while the ex-South Carolina standout has missed 11 games since 2013, he has nonetheless been a stalwart for Buffalo. The 10th overall selection in his draft class, Gilmore has logged 53 appearances, 51 starts and nine interceptions since entering the NFL. Three of those INTs came last season in 12 games for Gilmore, whom Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked a tremendous ninth among 111 qualifying corners (Norman finished 11th).

If the Bills and Gilmore aren’t able to reach an agreement between now and next March, the franchise tag could be in play, notes Carucci, who doesn’t rule out an in-season extension. The tag would likely cost the Bills upward of $14MM to apply.

Taylor, Gilmore and the rest of the Bills could soon have a new teammate in running back Reggie Bush, whom the club has been in talks with as it seeks a replacement for suspended reserve Karlos Williams. While that dialogue has continued, Bush is mulling whether to jump on Buffalo’s offer or wait for another team’s backfield depth to take a hit this summer, per Carucci. Thanks to Williams’ four-game absence, not securing Bush would leave the Bills with 2015 success story Mike Gillislee and Dan Herron as their primary options behind star LeSean McCoy.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills, Reggie Bush Nearing Deal?

July 26th, 2016 at 5:32pm CST by Zachary Links

5:32pm: No deal is imminent between Bush and the Bills, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who adds that the two sides still have several “obstacles” blocking an agreement.

1:41pm: The Bills and Reggie Bush are “working out the deal points” of a contract, according to an NFL source who spoke with Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter).

As it stands, the Bills still have starter LeSean McCoy, 2015 breakout Mike Gillislee, and Dan Herron in the fold for the first month of the season. They may be without the services of rookie running back Jonathan Williams, however, after he was arrested for DUI earlier this month. McCoy appeared to be facing a suspension of his own, but last week the NFL decided against punishing Shady for his role in a February nightclub brawl.

Bush announced in February that he was intent on playing in 2016, though it was unclear at the time whether that feeling was being reciprocated back from any of the league’s 32 teams. Recently, the veteran indicated that there was at least a pair of clubs that would be interested in having him aboard. Thanks to the Bills’ unfortunate series of events in recent weeks, it seems that Buffalo is his most fervent suitor.

The Lions cut Bush prior to the 2015 season to save money after he missed much of the previous campaign with ankle injuries. Bush went on to sign with the 49ers, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. Bush later sued the St. Louis Regional Convention and Stadium Authority over his injury, which capped his season’s statline at a grand total of 28 yards. Now, Bush says he has recovered from his ACL tear and is ready for action.

Earlier today, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) reported that Bush was still actively engaged in talks with Buffalo, though one other team was also said to be interested in him.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Bills, Bush, Foster, Dolphins

July 26th, 2016 at 11:06am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC East:

The Bills and Reggie Bush are still talking, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. A little over a week ago, it was reported that Buffalo made an offer to the former No. 2 overall pick. Florio hears that the Bills view Bush as a running back with a similar style to starter LeSean McCoy and they also believe that he can help the team as a punt returner.
Several Bills veterans find themselves on the roster bubble, including fullback Jerome Felton, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News writes. The Bills would save only $350K by cutting Felton, but they would also get him off the books for 2017 if they release him. Felton’s first year in Buffalo was a bust and the team could instead turn to UDFA Glenn Gronkowski at the fullback position, as shown on Roster Resource.
James Walker of ESPN.com wonders if durability is a concern for Dolphins running backs, including new addition Arian Foster. Foster, 29, has missed 23 games in the past three seasons due to multiple injuries. Miami is hoping that the seven-year veteran will add some leadership to a group that includes youngsters Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake, but he won’t bring much to the table if his past ailments return.

Bills Make Offer To Reggie Bush

July 18th, 2016 at 6:39pm CST by Zachary Links

6:39pm: Buffalo has indeed made an offer to Bush, per Rapoport (link via Kevin Patra of NFL.com).

9:38am: The Bills are targeting free agent running back Reggie Bush, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Bills are interested in signing Bush for depth at running back following the four-game suspension of Karlos Williams.

While Bush has been eagerly awaiting his next NFL opportunity, Rapoport hears that he is weighing his options and is in no rush to sign.

As it stands, the Bills still have starter LeSean McCoy, 2015 breakout Mike Gillislee, and Dan Herron in the fold for the first month of the season. They may be without the services of rookie running back Jonathan Williams, however, after he was arrested for DUI on Thursday morning. McCoy appeared to be facing a suspension of his own, but last week the NFL decided against punishing Shady for his role in a February nightclub brawl.

Bush announced in February that he was intent on playing in 2016, though it was unclear at the time whether that feeling was being reciprocated back from any of the league’s 32 teams. Recently, the veteran indicated that there was at least a pair of clubs that would be interested in having him aboard. Thanks to the Bills’ unfortunate series of events in recent weeks, it seems that Buffalo is his most fervent suitor.

The Lions cut Bush prior to the 2015 season to save money after he missed much of the previous campaign with ankle injuries. Bush went on to sign with the 49ers, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. Bush later sued the St. Louis Regional Convention and Stadium Authority over his injury, which capped his season’s statline at a grand total of 28 yards. Now, Bush says he has recovered from his ACL tear and is ready for action.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Brady, Jets, Bills, Bush

July 15th, 2016 at 5:32pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In response to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady abandoning his Deflategate fight on Friday and accepting his four-game suspension to begin the season, owner Robert Kraft issued a statement blasting the NFL for its handling of the matter. Kraft expressed frustration with the notion that Brady “was denied his right to a fair and impartial process. The League’s investigation into a football pressure matter was flawed and biased from the start, and has been discredited nearly unanimously by accredited academics and scientists.”

Kraft continued: “The penalty imposed by the NFL was unprecedented, unjust and unreasonable, especially given that no empirical or direct evidence of any kind showed Tom did anything to violate League rules prior to, during or after the 2015 AFC Championship Game. What Tom has had to endure throughout this 18-month ordeal has been, in my opinion, as far removed from due process as you could ever expect in this country.”

Unsurprisingly, Kraft went on to pledge both his and the franchise’s full support to Brady, saying, “This entire process has indelibly taken a toll on our organization, our fans and most importantly, Tom Brady. His reluctant decision to stop pursuing further action and to put this situation behind him is what he feels is best for the team in preparation for this season and is fully supported by me and our entire organization.”

Here’s more from around the AFC East, whose three other teams are likely feeling a little better about their chances in light of the Brady news:

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson‘s stunning Friday extension with the Jets could spell trouble for Sheldon Richardson‘s long-term prospects with the club, opines CBS Sports’ Joel Corry, who wonders if the latter will end up on the trading block next year (Twitter link). Richardson, 25, is signed through the 2017 campaign at less than $10MM in combined salary, and he has palatable cap hits of $3.115MM and $8.069MM, respectively.
On the other hand, Albert Breer of TheMMQB (on Twitter) expects Richardson to stay with the Jets through at least his current contract. The Jets would then have an opportunity to decide whether to go forth with Richardson or Wilkerson, who has $37MM in guarantees coming his way through 2017, or even both. Gang Green will also have further time to develop fellow lineman Leonard Williams – its first-rounder last year – during that period, Breer points out.
Thanks to Karlos Williams‘ four-game suspension, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter) looks for the Bills to pursue free agent running back Reggie Bush. With Williams set to miss a quarter of the season and fellow backup Jonathan Williams dealing with his own off-field issues, the Bills suddenly don’t look nearly as deep in the backfield, though they’re still positioned well with LeSean McCoy, 2015 breakout Mike Gillislee and Dan Herron in the fold. Bush, meanwhile, hasn’t yet found work since tearing his ACL as a member of the 49ers last November.

Saints Rule Out Reggie Bush Signing

July 11th, 2016 at 6:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Reggie Bush is hoping to play in the NFL this season, but his opportunity will not come with the team that drafted him. In an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show today, Saints coach Sean Payton said that New Orleans is an unlikely landing spot for the veteran.

“I don’t know if our roster is going to allow for that right now,” Payton said (via Christopher Dabe of NOLA.com), citing the team’s present depth at the position.

As shown on the Saints’ Roster Resource page, the team already has Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller, Tim Hightower, and Travaris Cadet at running back along with rookie Daniel Lasco and 2015 seventh-rounder Marcus Murphy. Recently, Bush said that he received interest from two teams this offseason, but we now know that the Saints were not among those teams to reach out. However, Payton did confirm that the Saints had interest in Bush prior to the 2015 season.

Bush, 31, spent the first five seasons of his 10-year career with the Saints. The former No. 2 overall pick in the draft went on to also play two seasons for the Dolphins, two with the Lions, and one with the 49ers. Of course, that 49ers season ended early when Bush tore his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. Now, Bush finds himself seeking employment after an unremarkable five-game showing and at an advanced age for a running back.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Reggie Bush Says Two Teams Have Interest

June 23rd, 2016 at 2:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Reggie Bush says that he has received calls from two interested NFL teams this offseason (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio), though he did not specify which teams have inquired on him. Bush added that he is taking his time in the process and wants to do things “the right way,” which likely means that no deal is imminent for the 31-year-old.

Bush announced in February that he is intent on playing in 2016, though it was unclear at the time whether that feeling was being reciprocated back from any of the league’s 32 teams. Now, if Bush is to be believed, there are at least a pair of clubs that would be interested in having him aboard.

The Lions cut Bush prior to the 2015 season to save money after he missed much of the previous campaign with ankle injuries. Bush went on to sign the 49ers, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. Bush later sued the St. Louis Regional Convention and Stadium Authority over his injury, which capped his season’s statline at a grand total of 28 yards. Now, Bush says he has recovered from his ACL tear.

“I feel healthy and can make an impact on the field,” Bush told SiriusXM (Twitter link). “I think I’ve benefited from playing in different offenses.”

Despite getting heavy run as the lead back in Miami and Detroit between 2011 and 2013, he probably would only carry value as a third-down specialty back if he returns for the 2016 season. Any deal he signs will likely be light on guarantees.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

49ers Haven’t Asked Bush, Boldin To Return

May 11th, 2016 at 6:10pm CST by Zachary Links

No huge surprise here, but the 49ers have not asked running back Reggie Bush or wide receiver Anquan Boldin to re-sign, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets.

Bush, 31, announced in February that he is intent on playing in 2016. What isn’t clear, however, is whether there is strong interest from NFL teams in making that a reality. Bush later signed with the 49ers last season, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. It was a terrible ending to a year that never really got started – Bush ran for just 28 yards before his unfortunate spill.

As for Boldin, today’s news means that things have not changed since about three weeks ago when things were said to be quiet between SF and the veteran. Boldin’s visited Washington in late March (his only free agent visit to date), but he says that he will not rush to put pen to paper. In other words, if Washington made an offer to the 35-year-old, then it was for less money than Boldin feels he is worth.

Boldin had a down year in 2015, missing a couple games due to injury and finishing with 69 receptions for 789 yards and four touchdowns. However, someone taking an optimistic view on Boldin might argue that the Niners’ quarterback situation hurt his performance. Prior to the start of free agency, Pro Football Rumors rated Boldin as the fifth-best free agent wide receiver available.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Reggie Bush To Continue Playing

February 9th, 2016 at 7:44pm CST by Zachary Links

It was not a banner year for Reggie Bush in 2015, but the veteran tailback isn’t about to call it quits. The free agent says that he hopes to continue playing in 2016.

“I’m not retiring,” Bush told reporters Sunday, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I’m still playing. No, I’m not done. And I would never — knock on wood — I never want to end my career like that, going out with that.”

The Lions cut Bush in February 2015 to save money after he missed much of the 2014 season with ankle injuries. Bush later signed with the 49ers this season, but he played just five games before tearing his left ACL on the concrete at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis. The 31-year-old sued the St. Louis Regional Convention and Stadium Authority over his injury in January. Bush rushed for just 28 yards before his season was brought to a premature end.

Despite getting heavy run as the lead back in Miami and Detroit between 2011 and 2013, he more likely would only carry value as a third-down specialty back if he returns for the 2016 season. Bush had one of his best seasons as a runner in 2013, surpassing 1,000 yards for the second time in his career. However, injuries caught up to him in 2014 as he was only able to play in 11 games and failed to reach even 300 yards on the ground.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: 49ers, Bush, Edelman

November 18th, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman had surgery on Monday to repair a broken bone in his foot. He’ll projected to be out for 6-8 weeks, which would have him back roughly in time for the start of the playoffs. Teammate Danny Amendola is confident that we’ll see Edelman back on the field this season, as Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com writes.

“Dealing with adversity is huge, not only during the season, but during a game, during a drive, everything,” Amendola said. “It’s no different. It’s no question that Julian was a great football player. He’ll be back and he’s going to work his tail off, just like he always does, to get back and play.”

Here’s more from around the NFL:

49ers running back Reggie Bush told reporters, including Joe Fann of 49ers.com (on Twitter), that he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus and not his ACL or MCL as previously believed by some. That’s good news for the veteran’s rehab timeline. Bush had only eight carries for 28 yards this season but prior to his injury he was in line for a bigger role with starter Carlos Hyde dealing with his own injury issues.
With Andrew Luck on the sidelines, Colts coach Chuck Pagano says that he’s very happy to have battle-tested veteran Matt Hasselbeck on the roster. “It’s very comforting to know that you’ve got a guy in your building who’s won ball games for you, can operate at a high, high level,” Pagano said per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s been great for Andrew and for everybody else on the offensive side. He just brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom to our football team and to that position. It’s great having him. I feel awesome that we have Matt.” The veteran said that he wasn’t thinking about retirement prior to the 2015 season, but his plans for 2016 are not yet clear.
Robert Klemko of The MMQB (on Twitter) is surprised as to why Brandon Weeden continues to get work despite his lack of achievement at the NFL level. He opines that those in the league that are complaining about an NCAA quarterback drought are the same folks refusing to give young QBs an opportunity to succeed in the league. On Wednesday, the Texans claimed Weeden off waivers from the Cowboys.