NFL Rumors: New England Patriots after Michael Bush?
The New England Patriots lost their power back in the offseason when LeGarrette Blount signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Blount was excellent for the Patriots last season, rushing for 772 yards and seven touchdowns on 153 carries, including an incredible performance in the Patriots’ 43-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs in which he rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries.
Although the Patriots drafted former Wisconsin Badgers’ running back James White, they still have a void with a power runner and many expect that former Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders’ running back Michael Bush could be the player to do that.
Mike Reiss of of ESPN Boston believes the Patriots should pass on Bush.
"Pass on him: RB Michael Bush. After running back LeGarrette Blount signed with the Steelers in free agency, the Patriots lost their biggest player at the position and haven’t tapped a veteran to fill the void while going the smaller-back route in the draft with fourth-round pick James White (5-foot-9, 204 pounds). So while Bush could potentially fill the void, and visited the Patriots before the draft, we’re more intrigued with seeing what undrafted free-agent Stephen Houston (6-0, 230 pounds) might be able to do. Some backs have size but don’t run big, but the initial sense is that Houston, from Indiana, combines his size with a powerful approach."
Bush rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries for the Bears. Bush, who was originally drafted by the Raiders with the 100th-overall pick in the 20o7 NFL Draft and spent the first five years of his career in Oakland, has rushed for 3,250 yards and 29 touchdowns on 809 attempts.