Jeremy Shockey believes in Reggie Bush

When times were toughest for Reggie Bush this offseason, when it appeared his playing future was at its cloudiest, he talked things over with a former Saints teammate who knew the feeling: Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey and Bush referred to that talk during a pregame chat on Friday night, shortly before Bush’s new team, the Miami Dolphins, handed Shockey’s new team, the Panthers, a 20-10 beatdown.

“He’s excited to be here,” Shockey said afterward when I asked him about Bush. “He just thanked me for the advice I gave him early in the offseason. Told him to keep his head up, things would work out and it’s good to see things are.”

Bush received 10 touches in his Dolphins debut, shaking free for 81 yards on eight carries and a couple of receptions. His longest gain was 17 yards, but even then there was enough shimmy and shake in his gait to fill onlookers’ heads with the possibilities.

“He’s got the talent,” Shockey said. “Sure looks like they know how to use him. He’s a good friend, and I wish him the best as well. I hope all of  Miami cherishes him and respects him as the running back he is.”

Shockey and Bush have fond memories of Sun Life Stadium. It’s where they won a Super Bowl with the Saints a little over a year and a half ago.
Shockey spent the past three seasons as Bush’s teammate, so he knows better than most what the all-purpose threat is capable of doing.

“He’s a very special person running the football,” Shockey said. “No one wants it as much in the league as he does. You know he’s going to work and get it and achieve the things he wants to do in this league. It’s good to start over sometimes. I have no doubt he’ll do well this year.”

Shockey and Bush didn’t get a chance to talk after Friday’s game — “He blew me off again,” Shockey joked — but his old friend will be watching from afar to see what Bush can do in his first season in the AFC.

What should people know about Bush’s ability to take over a game?

“There’s not a guy in the NFL that could do it as good as him,” Shockey said. “It’s a health issue, like you said. It always is in this league. It’s very hard to find people that are 100 percent healthy year-round. He can control a game at the drop of a dime, man. I’ve seen him do that so many times. I’m just excited for him.”



(sun-sentinel.com)