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@craigballard77
The Miami Dolphins are about to see their 2012 season come to an end. There are several big decisions for Jeff Ireland and the organization this off-season. One of the biggest decisions will be do they attempt to re-sign Reggie Bush? If yes, then what neighborhood are they comfortable with salary-wise?
Bush was acquired from the New Orleans Saints in 2011. The Saints backfield was getting crowded and Bush was their odd man out. When he became a Dolphin he recognized quickly what an opportunity he had in Miami to prove what he had become obsessed with proving – that he is an every-down running back in the NFL.
On Christmas Eve in 2006 Bush rushed for 126 yards vs the New York Giants. He would play for the Saints for five seasons, but that was the only time he had ever gone north of 100 rushing yards. He started very slowly in his Dolphins career. In his first six games as a ‘Phin, Bush averaged just 39 rushing yards per game. In week 7 he earned 103 yards, again the Giants were his victim. That started what has been a career-turning run for the former USC product.
Bush had played 66 games and had but one 100+ yard rushing game. In the 24 weeks since, he has eclipsed 100+ rushing yards seven times, and he needs just 40 yards this week to reach 1,000 for the second straight season. He came to Miami having gained 2,090 yards in his five seasons as a Saint. If he can get 44 yards this weekend vs the New England Patriots then he will have 2,090 in just two years as a Dolphin.
Bush’s contract with Miami was two years, $10 million total. A top-20 running back currently makes in the $6 million neighborhood, so the organization will have to figure out how much they want Bush as he will be looking for a raise.
My way of thinking would be that I do not think that Daniel Thomas has been good, and we simply have not seen enough of Lamar Miller to know if he can be a legit option to be trusted with a lot of carries.
Even if you like Miller (and I personally do) I would think Miami would still need to spend money in the free-agent market to acquire a better “thunder” running back to go with Miller’s “lightning”.
Miami has money to spend this off-season so I would feel good with going to $6 mill for Bush, but if it is going to be north of that then I would think that the Dolphins would look elsewhere. In that scenario we would likely see Miami expand their search to perhaps even drafting a running back(s).
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