Remember a couple of years back, when the media made a big to-do about Bill Parcells referring to Terrell Owens as “the player”?
Well, meet the latest version of “the player” - Reggie Bush.
Not coincidentally, the man who referred to the former USC Heisman Trophy winner that way is a Parcells disciple - New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.
He did it twice while talking about Bush earlier this week at the NFL owners meeting in Dana Point. I don’t think Payton meant anything negative by it, as both references came in a complimentary context.
No. 1: “I’m excited about the player in that the first 4-5 weeks last year, he was outstanding, prior to his injury at Carolina. He’s got a grasp as to what we’re doing. One of his best characteristics is his competitiveness, his will to win. The key will be keeping him healthy, having that proper balance in touches.”
No. 2: “For almost the first six weeks of the season he was leading the league in scoring. I liked this player a lot.”
So it all seems well and good - as long as Kim Kardashian doesn’t hear about her boyfriend’s player status out of context.
Related link:
More from the USC blog:
- USC spring football preview: Specialists
- The maturation of Matt Leinart
- USC spring football preview: Defensive backs
- USC football: Garrett Green isn’t in the spring mix
- USC football: Blake Ayles to miss spring practice
- USC basketball: The Trojans’ uncertain future
- NFL draft: Sanchez vs. Stafford — tall tales
- USC spring football preview: Linebackers
- It’s official: Larry Scott is the new Pac-10 commish
- Report: New Pac-10 commissioner named
- NFL draft: Could Mark Sanchez be a Bronco?
Mr. Lev:
Give it a rest. “A” writer at the OCR that has so much disdain for a team he currently writes about should ask his boss for a change of teams to report on. This would cause “the” writer to get the chip off of his shoulder and actually report on something that is newsworthy. You know, like news that is happening on the 2009 football team.
“A” writer at the OCR may also find it is easier to do his best work assigned to a GREAT team, with GREAT coaches and GREAT players - like UCLA. . “The” OCR reporter could write about how UCLA’s coach is respected in the community and throughout college football. “The” OCR reporter can give the Great accomplishments that the UCLA football team has had, the numbers of players drafted into the NFL and “ALL” of their National Titles in football.. “The” OCR reporter can list the All Americans and Heisman winners that UCLA’s head coach has coached throughout his THREE stints as a college head coach.
Yea, that’s what so many of us want to see. “This” OCR writer - won’t do that, will he? “A” writer at the OCR should at least know one thing. There is no reason - NONE- to believe that UCLA football should be considered on a national scale. Sharing one Championship in the mid-50’s, does not a national powerhouse make. “A” or “the” (whatever) OCR college football reporter should at least know that - before making another rant on another Trojan player.