Peter King thinks Bush should get #5
 

Also, anyone know how I can crop this pic he has on his article down to fit as an avy? It was WAY to big when I just copied it. Anywho, here's his thoughts and the link:

Keep five alive
NFL should allow Bush to wear his favorite number
Posted: Monday May 8, 2006 10:35AM; Updated: Monday May 8, 2006 10:57AM



I know this isn't a typical lead for Monday Morning Quarterback, but I find it absurd that the NFL Competition Committee, which will debate the issue this week, might not allow Reggie Bush to wear number 5 for the Saints. Here are five reasons why I think they should let him.

1. It would not be the end of Western Civilization. Running backs, according to the league, are not allowed to wear single-digit numbers, and I'm sure the NFL's concern about Bush's request has something to do with setting a bad precedent for other players to change to non-traditional numbers. (Oh, you mean like Keyshawn Johnson, a wide receiver, wearing the decidedly non-wide-receiver number 19?) The Saints currently don't have a number in the 20s or 30s available for Bush; they'd have to get a current player to switch jersey numbers. I hear it will likely be Fred McAfee, the 15-year veteran back who now wears No. 25. Number changes happen all the time, but in this case, why force it? And this would not be precedent-setting. The NFL saw to that when it gave Johnson, the top pick in 1996, permission to wear 19.

2. Everyone knows Bush as No. 5. After leaving New Orleans following the draft two weekends ago, I heard that the league's Competition Committee would listen to an appeal from Bush and the Saints and then make its decision some time this week. What the committee was told by Mike Ornstein, Bush's marketing maven, is that all of Southern California knows Bush as No. 5, which he has worn since he was a high school star, and that California is a lucrative merchandising market for the NFL. More people in that area will buy a Saints jerseys with the No. 5 on it than would buy a Saints jerseys with a 25.

"He's synonymous with 5,'' said Ornstein, who sent this week's SI, which features Bush in a computer-generated Saints No. 5 uniform, to each member of the Competition Committee and to several league officials, urging them to allow Bush to wear 5. And he told them how wild New Orleans was over Bush during draft weekend. I can attest to that. Now, Saints fans will be just as wild about him if he wears another number. That's for sure. But is there any good reason to make him do so? That Saints want him to wear 5, too. They helped with his appeal to the league.

3. Paul Hornung wore 5. You might remember him. Played at Notre Dame. Played for Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers. Was elected to the Hall of Fame. When he took the field wearing No. 5, the earth did not spin off its axis.

4. Merchandising, people. Last year, the sales of Randy Moss and Terrell Owens jerseys earned those players more than $1 million each. Here's how the merchandising works. Say a Reebok replica jersey is sold in the store or online for $150. The NFLPA gets 7.5 percent of the proceeds of the jersey. That's $11.25. Of that $11.25, $9 is turned over to the player. There is no doubt in my mind that the hottest jersey in the league in the preseason would be Bush's No. 5 Saints jersey ... much hotter than if Bush were given, say, 25. That leads us to something the NFL will definitely understand ...

5. Helping Katrina victims. Bush is smart. Ornstein is shrewd. How about if Ornstein calls a member or two of the Competition Committee and says, "Look, Reggie will take half of his proceeds from jersey sales this year and give them to Katrina relief. Think about it. That's maybe $750,000. It might be a million. You know how far 750K goes on the Gulf Coast? It'll rebuild seven houses in the Lower Ninth Ward -- if they ever get around to having a plan for the reconstruction there.''

The NFL has taken major strides toward helping New Orleans and the Gulf Coast recover from Katrina. What better way to take further steps than to have Louisiana's new hero stand in front of a news conference this weekend at the Saints' mini-camp and say, "I truly appreciate that the NFL did for me what it did for another USC player, Keyshawn Johnson, by allowing me to wear a non-traditional number for a running back. To show my appreciation, I'm here today to announce that I'm donating half of the proceeds of all my jersey sales to help Katrina relief.

"The hurricane and flooding happened more than eight months ago, but we've got to focus on doing more for the people of this area, in both Louisiana and Mississippi. I hope that I'm able to give more than $1 million to help rebuild the shattered lives of people in places like the Lower Ninth Ward here in New Orleans and in places like Pass Christian and Biloxi, Miss. So for every one of you who buys my jersey, you'll be donating money to the people who still desperately need it.''

Let's say people get fired up about this jersey, and buy it in record numbers. Imagine the power of Reggie Bush handing the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Mississippi twin checks in October. That, ladies and gentlemen, is power. The power of 5.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ber/index.html

small enough?

Still looks pretty big. Can you make a small one and upload it into the avy section?

Good article by King again. I think the Times-Pic should offer this guy a job...

King even made my Hornung argument. lol But I like the fact that he made the point that Bush is tied to #5 beyond just our community. Can you imagine the number of black Saints jerseys that will be going around Southern Cal if he gets to keep 5?

i asked BnB about it.. he said he didnt know how and i dont think i can do it... i sent a message to halo and am waiting for his reponse....

Cool beans.

Great article Whodi. Thanks for posting it. I'm for letting the guy keep the number, as were nearly 70% of ESPN.com polled last week. It's indicative of the fact that fans don't worry about the number rule. Let a high profile player keep his college number if he's picked in the top 10 and the "owner" of the number lets him.

Oh, and when I get home I can get the picture down to site specs. I'll post it by 8pm EST. It's an easy fix with Photoshop. If it's already taken care of before then it's cool.

Thanks Sim. Preciate it.

I like Reggie Bush and I do believe that he should get to wear #5, however, Peter King is still an idoit. Remember, he is the same guy that everyone was bashing last week in the post: Analyst doubts Saints will stay in N.O.

By the way, here is you picture:

Thanks mjf.

He may be idoit but if you read the follow up thread you realize he hopes they do not and doesn't think the Saints should leave. Thinking they will, might, or could is different than wanting them to or believing it is a better option.

I was honestly gonna suggest # 25, because he will be "5 times better"... Than I realized how lame that was and also realized he wouldn't be human than. During schol today I watched his heisman video, on why he shuold win it. He averaged 10 yards per touch! Thats an amazing number, considering 8.3 YPC and About 35 yards for every TD. I will buy a Bush jersey no matter what, but I would like it to be #5

..on the other hand, I would prefer Southern Californians forget about Reggie. I don't think it'd be good for New Orleans if the Saints all of the sudden acquire a fans base in SoCal, if you know what I mean.

Here's your #40, Reggie...

Good point, give him #10 maybe they will think of Vince Young.

Leinart's wearing 7 now, I don't think they've forgotten who he is cause of it. I also doubt they will be forgetting Reggie anytime soon, especially not with all the problems USC is having this offseason. Whether Reggie wears 5 or 27, they'll be remembering their boy. But having him wear 5 puts more Saints jerseys out there, which gets us more national exposure, which means more $$$ in Uncle Tom's coiffures crippling him from being able to cry broke and move, especially if he doesn't use the outs he has for the end of this season. Give my man his 5, the more jerseys people buy, the more they are paying for the team to stay. IMO. I can understand the reverse sentiment though.

thats b/c larry fitzgerald is wearing #11

They'd probably still remember their boy, but I think that a Bush #5 Saints jersey will sell in SoCal, while a, say, #27 Bush jersey will not sell as much. Given the current situation, I'd prefer the NFL not see much interest or support for the Saints in SoCal, being that support the buying of #5 Saints jerseys, or watching on TV.

"The Saints currently don't have a number in the 20s or 30s available for Bush" - Peter King...

This is their best arguement to land Reggie with #5. I think we may have one more # left in that range but I'm sure we'll bring in another safety in the next couple days who'll snatch that # right away. Anyways, this is how Key got #19, the Jets had no numbers in the 80's left. The marketing angle is good but this gives them a previous case where the No Fun League did go away from their current established number system. I hope he gets #5 though, when you think Reggie Bush you think of him as #5. And, I like single digit numbered jerseys more, but I'm going to buy one regardless of his number.

In the words of Arnold, "Thanx for da tip." :wink:

You didn't think I was unaware of that did ya? He's wearing 7, the point stands SoCal people will not forget Leinart cause he is wearing 7 and not 11.

I think since we drafted Reggie Bush, there is absolutely no way around that, 5 or 27.

Did anybody stop to think about how poor old AMC feel about all this, I mean it is his number, and he's not gambling anymore so he's not hard up for the extra cash.