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*

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Seems like you have it all figured out, my opinion is therefore invalid

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Same reason you are believing that Bush wanted to stay a back-up.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

No. Not a back-up. He's likely to play a great deal in the 4-2-5/3-3-5 and stands a far greater chance at getting a ring than he would in Atlanta. Besides, there was no guarantee he would be a starter in Atlanta regardless of what they implied. I believe absolutely he would like to be a starter, but not bad enough to be an issue whatsoever with the Saints.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

No. I'd honestly like your opinion on who you feel was the NFL source. I gave you my opinion and why. I would just like yours.

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

You believe all of that because of something he said..
Or just rationalization of feelings?

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

This has something to do with it.

Saints’ Bush ready to move past Falcons’ offer sheet drama

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Ok Pezo .. lol. For lack of a better phrase, you are going to have to "make up my mind". The article you just quoted as your justification was written by the same (hack/journalist of questionable integrity) Ramon Vargas that you dismissed originally when he said a source said Bush hoped the Saints didnt match...

I said he wanted to go to Atlanta to start, which you proclaimed incorrect and your article clearly states in two places "The Falcons came to Bush with an opportunity to be a starting safety." "The Falcons were searching for someone to replace Thomas DeCoud, their starting safety from 2009 until his release in March."

On the 'Bush hoped the Saints wouldn't match' the reason is above, as I have stated before. And whether Vargas is a hack or not the logic makes sense... I would also say that if Bush truly wanted to remain with the Saints and the Vargas rumor was untrue, Bush or his Agent would have said then that Bush never said that, or would have come out now that he is back with the Saints and said that it wasn't true.

He WANTED to go to Atlanta:

What motivated him as well was the prospect of earning more money to care for an Atlanta-native wife he recently married and his 1-year-old daughter.

“We all want to be able to provide for our families,” said Bush, whose NFL career began as an undrafted free agent and practice-squad member of the Falcons in 2010. “We all want an opportunity to start.”

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

No. What I had issue with is your statement that "Bush was vocal about not wanting the Saints to match the offer." I NEVER stated nor implied that Bush was not open to the idea of going to Atlanta. You were implying that Bush would be somehow upset and a distraction to the Saints. Your justification was the aforementioned declaration that Bush was vocal about not wanting to be re-signed. My whole point was that Bush NEVER stated publicly any desire for the Saints not to match.

The sole reason for the posting of the article was to show that not only is he not angry about the Saints matching the offer, but he is openly excited about the opportunity.

Of course Bush wants to start. Every NFL player wants to start. But, that in no way makes him bitter, in the least and he stated that very fact.

As for Bush or his agent coming out and saying that Bush was not openly opposed to the Saints matching the offer, why would they do that? It was a non-issue to almost everyone. It appeared in one article that clearly stated that it was from a source and not Bush himself. There was nothing for him to deny. The vast majority of B&G members had no issue with it, as well.

As Vegas pointed out, there is no way that Loomis would have forced Bush to remain a Saint. Loomis and Payton are not that stupid. I can not see them matching the offer sheet without Bush's approval. Heck, he got the money he wanted, does not have to relocate and stands an infinitely better chance at getting a ring. What is not to like about that?

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Oh! By the way, fun debate.

:bng:

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

Some enjoy a good tet-a-tet of understandings and view points. I happen to be one of them, not because I enjoy argument or drama but because that is how I learn. We may or may not differ in opinion but that is no way an argument.

Interesting timing.. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday and he was sharing thoughts on curious learning. The majority of people get defensive when asked the simple question, "why"? Ask 30 people sweeping a floor why they are doing it that way and I would almost guarantee you that greater than 75% will initially stop sweeping and think they are doing something wrong.

While you may or may not notice i usually spin a few questions into my retort, I am looking for the logic or at least a better understanding of another persons view point.

You and I went back and forth a few times on a few different threads. There was no denigration what so ever, a little sarcasm here and there but no personal attacks.

:bng:http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/ev...y-emoticon.gifhttp://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/ev...y-emoticon.gif

Re: Rafael Bush Signs Offer Sheet
 

And that is what makes it fun. :D