Reggie Bush has basically been a non-factor with the Buffalo Bills this season, and he will turn 32 in March. It’s fair to wonder if the veteran running back should be thinking about retirement, but he insists he is going to play in 2017.
Bush, who has rushed for just five yards on 11 attempts this season, told reporters on Thursday he is just as explosive as he has ever been.
“I think the guys who have seen me on the practice field know that I haven’t lost a step,” Bush said, per Nick Veronica of The Buffalo News. “I’m still fast, I’m still explosive. It didn’t work out (in Buffalo) as much here as I would’ve liked but I got another year of experience under my belt. I don’t think any stop is just a lost cause. I feel like everything’s part of your destiny and you are where you are for a reason.”
Bush is now with his fifth team in 11 years, and turning 30 is oftentimes a death sentence for NFL running backs. In his last two seasons with the Bills and San Francisco 49ers, he has touched the ball just 30 times. It hasn’t helped that he suffered a freak injury when he slipped on the sideline during a game last season. You can see a video of that incident here.
Despite his age and injury history, Bush insists he has plenty left in the tank.
“We’ll see what happens next year. Obviously I still want to play,” he said. “But we’ll see what teams are talking about. It’s got to be the right situation, the right fit for me and I’ll just take it from there.
“I don’t really feel old. I still feel like I can play. I have a lot left to give this game. So we’ll see where I end up next year.”
The chances of Bush finding a new home next year are probably slim, but you never know. Even if a team does sign him, it would likely be just a tryout in training camp. Father Time catches up with every athlete eventually.
