Surgery a bad sign for Reggie
The Saints want to call Reggie Bush's microfracture surgery "minor," but it's a serious concern. It wasn't long ago that similar procedures altered careers. The procedure is easier to recover from now, but this has become a chronic problem for Bush. Surgery begets more surgery, and this is one more reason to believe Pierre Thomas will lead the Saints in rushes next season.
A lot of readers think I'm a Bush hater, which isn't true. I'm a hater of the word hater. Bush is a highly useful NFL player, and there have been far worse top-five picks over the last few years, including at running back. Through the first seven weeks of last season, we saw Bush's potential. He was a top-ten fantasy back in any format, and was a PPR stud, as usual. He's always going to be a top-15 overall PPR pick.
Bush's problem is that he doesn't hold up well to a heavy workload. He couldn't finish the 2007 season after Deuce McAllister was hurt because the worload was too great. Bush was not the same after a Week 7 knee injury in 2008. The only time Bush stayed healthy was his rookie season, the only one of his career he topped 1,000 yards-from-scrimmage. Not coincidentally, that was the year he saw the fewest touches-per-game (15) of his career.
Following this surgery, I expect the Saints to be more judicious with Bush's workload next season in an effort to keep him healthy. Bush can do a lot with 15 touches-per-game, but he won't rival similar players like Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Matt Forte.
Comments
wow that was fast.
i have to agree with you here gregg. i think he just cant hold up. maybe he needs to work on a better conditioning routine in the offseason or maybe his knees just cant hold up to the torque he puts on them.. he is the opposite of a straight ahead runner. not many players have played like that over the years - of note anyway - to compare against. maybe we should appreciate barry sanders (while head and shoulders above bush of course) stop on a dime ability more for his durably over the years. bush is a major playmaker, but will only be used sparingly. does that mean he will only get 3-7 catches a game, 2-5 rushes, and a few punt returns? who knows. will he even be the same after another surgery? very likely. although his dynasty league value takes a major hit imo.
this running back position on NO will be a major topic of discussion over the next offseason leading up to the draft im sure. doubting they'll bring in another major acquisition or retain deuce, i think him and pierre will have almost equal value (in PPR). thomas will undoubtedly rule out in standard formats, although his durability in missing the last game this season is a concern as well.
but let the debate begin...
Posted by: scott c | January 7, 2009 12:39 PM
i guess i can move my comment from the other post here....
gregg,
whats your take on the latest reggie-knee-saga? do you think he initially needed micro fracture surgury when he got hurt mid way through the year, and do you think bush was playing on the very bum knee for a few games towards the end last season and came back too soon (possibly trying to prove something)? was that the reason for his drop-off or "benching" in week 14?
Posted by: scott c | January 7, 2009 12:42 PM
btw...
gregg,
are you going to be doing any Fantasy Fix's over the offseason
Posted by: scott c | January 7, 2009 12:55 PM
My understanding is that they only do microfracture for bone on bone conditions, which are chronic. They force the formation of scar tissue in place of cartilage in the knee (poor substitute), which doesn't grow back... ever. Dom Davis had similar issues a few years back, I think, and washed out as a result. The only recent examples I can come up with of players who have had any sort of success at the RB position post-mfs are Deuce and Stephen Davis but Davis ended up not being able to be more than a goal-line guy and Deuce is only one season removed, so who knows, though he doesn't look like a full-time player to me anymore, either. Both of them were obviously straight-ahead types, so no telling what the long-term effects could be on Bush, but I'm leaning towards the Dominick Davis outcome right now. My guess is he fights through it for 2-3 more years, missing games here and there due to swelling/pain, and then just vanishes some off-season.
Posted by: Chad F. | January 7, 2009 02:51 PM
Wow! what an idea ! What a concept ! Gorgeous .. Wonderful …
Posted by: sweaty armpits | February 9, 2010 06:05 AM