Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Not quite, nowhere is there any proof that Bush ever stated anything about not wanting the Saints to match the offer. The ONLY reference to that came from an NFL source. That means either someone from the league office or one of the teams themselves. I seriously doubt the league office would say something like that and the Saints surely wouldn't. Now, who else would have a vested interest in the Saints not matching the deal?

Right!

Only the Falcons!

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

I also have not seen the Falcons offer sheet personally so that was probably a farce also. Is there a video of Dimitroff stating he offered Bush a contract? I do not see a tweet from Bush stating that he did.

Some of these "there is no proof" arguments remind me of Seahawks fans demanding a police report.. Before the internet, nothing happened.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

:rofl:

I was always told: "Where there's smoke, there's a fire"

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Of course, an offer sheet has to be filed with the league and it was confirmed by many official outlets. The claim that Bush didn't want the Saints to match was solely from one single writer with the Advocate that credited an NFL source alone. There was no confirmation or any other outlet that credited any source as saying the same thing.

But, I am wondering, why are you wanting to believe so badly that Bush doesn't want to be a Saint?

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Sometimes there is smoke being put out there wanting people to believe there is a fire.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

No way to know unless the "league sources" are known... doesn't matter though we have Bush for 2 years regardless

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

As I pointed out earlier, it is pretty easy to figure out who the NFL source is. NFL source would not refer to the player, his agent or the players union. That leaves either the league office or one of the franchises. This would not be a subject you would ever expect the league to speak on. That leaves the team's front offices. It makes no sense for the Saints, or any other franchise, to put this out there. That leaves one solitary plausible source ... the Falcons. Not only would they have the motive, but they would have the access as the Advocate writer would have undoubtedly contacted them regarding the story.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Guess that makes it a fact then? :rolleyes:

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

No. But highly likely. What NFL source do you believe it was that said this to the writer and what is your basis for your opinion?

Well?

Occam's Razor.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Here's the deal though: It doesn't really matter whether Bush said it or not. It only matters whether he is willing to play for the Saints at this point.

We are talking about Loomis and Payton here. Do we really think they signed the guy up to come back without making sure everything was on the level?

It probably went something like this:

Mickey Loomis: "Hey Rafael this is Mickey"
Rafael Bush: "yeah, what's up"
ML: "Look here's the deal, if you want to go to the Falcons that's great, we won't match. But I want the chance to change your mind"
RB: "Ok go ahead"

Here's where Rob Ryan comes in, telling him he's an important part of the defense and we're on the verge of a championship, that we need 3 good safeties in this defense, that he'll have the chance to play with freaking studs like Lewis, Vaccaro and Byrd and learn everything he can from a HOFer Champ Bailey, that he'll get the same amount of money and not have to relocate his family, etc. etc. etc. And that the Falcons defense is terrible, has been for years, and there's no reason to suspect anything is about to change anytime in the near future. And besides, didn't they cut you a few years ago anyway?

About this time Bush is beginning to see the light

RB: "Hey Mr. Loomis match the offer, I'm really amped about staying with the Saints"
ML: "Right on, we'll fax you the paperwork right now"

*curtains*