Reggie Bush wants to wear #5

[Mudcat]

. . . which would mean the NFL would have to change their rules for a guy who hasn't yet played a game.

Bush wants to wear his #5 from USC but the rules stipulate that running backs wear numbers in the range of 20-49.

Should the NFL loosen up or should Bush actually play a game before he starts looking for special treatment?



My bias is probably showing in my choice of words. No special treatment for rookies.

[Razz]

I'm not a fan of the receivers wearing #s in the teens (Roy Williams was the first one that came to mind, there are others though). I don't think this is a great idea either, but since he is a versatile player, and will be returning kicks, I'm not 100% against it.

[freebie]

Reggie wants everything. 100 million dollars contract and any number on the jersey he wants. Whatever!!

[bigboydan]

Team rules are team rules. If Bush don't like those rules thats just too bad.

Hell, Randy Johnson, and Johnny Damon had to shave there faces when they signed with the yankees. So what makes this rookie better than these two guys.

[Winston Smith]

I recall somebody else (Edgerrin James, maybe?) asking a few years ago and he was denied. I can't see the NFL making an exception now. And I don't think they should.

[onlooker]

I'm not a fan of the receivers wearing #s in the teens (Roy Williams was the first one that came to mind, there are others though).

I think Keyshawn Johnson was the one that got the NFL to let up on the teen numbers for WR. When he went to the Jets. Then the rookie WRs of 2 or 3 years ago came in with teen numbers, Roy Williams and Larry Fitzgarld.

As far as the over rated Reggie Bush.....**** him. Wear what is stated in the rules. Wear 23, it adds up to 5. Be creative or something.

[pags11]

I'm not sure he'll get his request honored as they are pretty strict about this stuff...

[BuddyBear]

yeah....just like Pag said...very doubtful

[slacker00]

I think Keyshawn Johnson was the one that got the NFL to let up on the teen numbers for WR. When he went to the Jets. Then the rookie WRs of 2 or 3 years ago came in with teen numbers, Roy Williams and Larry Fitzgarld.

As far as the over rated Reggie Bush.....**** him. Wear what is stated in the rules. Wear 23, it adds up to 5. Be creative or something.

I remember WR Charlie Joiner wearing #18 for the San Diego Chargers until he retired in 1986. I'm sure he wasn't even the first in the modern era. I just figured it was a fad that died and then reawoke with Keyshawn.

As for Bush wearing #5, I don't see why not, but I realize the NFL heads are pretty stodgy about this stuff. Expect Bush to be wearing #25.

[onlooker]

I remember WR Charlie Joiner wearing #18 for the San Diego Chargers until he retired in 1986. I'm sure he wasn't even the first in the modern era. I just figured it was a fad that died and then reawoke with Keyshawn.

Yes it was, but I was basically talking about recently. I also think there was a reason he needed to use a teen number for the Jets. No really sure. Kinda foggy.

[slacker00]

I was trying to find more info about why more WRs weren't wearing numbers in the teens back in the 80's and 90's, or more specifically why Charlie Joiner & Keyshawn wore #18 & #19 respectively but nobody else. Wikipedia to the rescue.

NFL Number System
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The Number System is a system by which players in the NFL wear uniform numbers based on the position they play. It was instituted into the league on April 5, 1973, as a means for officials (referees, linesmen) to more easily identify players on the field by their position.

Number allocations
Quarterbacks: 1-19
Running backs: 20-49
Wide receivers: 10-19 and 80-89
Tight ends: 80-89
Centers: 50-59
Offensive linemen: 60-79
Defensive linemen: 60-79 and 90-99
Linebackers: 50-59 and 90-99
Defensive backs: 20-49
Placekickers and punters: 1-19
Until 2004, wide receivers were allowed to only wear numbers in the 80s. The NFL changed the rule that year to allow wide receivers to wear numbers 10-19 to allow for the increased amount of retired numbers, as well as more players at wide receiver and tight end (who also wear numbers in the 80s) coming into the league.

Keyshawn Johnson started the trend when he wore number 19 in 1996 because the New York Jets had ran out of numbers in the 80s. In addition, the first three wide receivers taken in the 2004 NFL Draft - Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, and Reggie Williams - all wear number 11. At the beginning of the 2005 season, 30 wide receivers had numbers in the teens, including prominent players Plaxico Burress (17, New York Giants), Braylon Edwards (17, Cleveland Browns) and Randy Moss (18, Oakland Raiders).

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Number_System"
Category: National Football League

So, it looks like Keyshawn lucked out at the time because all of the other numbers eligible for his position were taken. Maybe the Saints can convince their existing roster to take up all the numbers between 20 and 49, so Reggie can have #5.

One thing I noticed is that TE's are technically supposed to wear numbers in the 80's according to this article, but I've seen a lot of tight ends wearing numbers in the 40's. So, the rules can be bent here and there it seems like. Or maybe it's getting back to the Keyshawn rule, maybe these particlar players are on rosters with no numbers in the 80's available.

[onlooker]

Keyshawn Johnson started the trend when he wore number 19 in 1996 because the New York Jets had ran out of numbers in the 80s. In addition, the first three wide receivers taken in the 2004 NFL Draft - Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, and Reggie Williams - all wear number 11.

Thats pretty much was I said.

Thanks for Wikipeda info slacker?