Bush’s Revenge: The War of Words Takes to the Gridiron

Added by Justin O'Connell on October 25, 2012.

Reggie Bush (#22) and the New York Jets have been in a war of words. (Bill Ingram/Palm Beach Post)

Last time the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins played, Reggie Bush left the game with a knee injury caused by LaRon Landry. Bush believed it was a dirty hit and did not take kindly to the words of the Jets players and coach. Rex Ryan apologized for his “Hot Sauce” comments and said they were misinterpreted. Ryan said, previous to the game, “We need to pour hot sauce on him”.

“I never said we were trying to injure Reggie Bush, that’s not even close. He’s going to get our attention, I’m sorry, but he’s a player that’s going to warrant a lot of attention and that’s what I meant by my comments. If it was taken differently, I apologized for that. But trust me we know when he’s in the game,” said Ryan.

 Calvin Pace did not make the situation any better when he said the Jets had to “take him out of the game”. Pace quickly apologized and said that there was no bounty on Bush, he made sure to make it that very clear.

Pace explained his comments after their last meeting, “Before I answer any question about any game stuff, apparently, I said something about Reggie Bush trying to get him out of the game.  I wasn’t trying to say it as if we were trying to hurt him.  I’m sad to see him get hurt.  We aren’t running any kind of bounty system or anything like that, and actually, looking at the play, somebody just fell on his knee. That’s all I have to say.  I guess I need to say things in a different manner, and I’ll do a better job of it next time.”

Bush came out later and said “What goes around, comes around” suggesting that the Jets deserve Darrelle Revis’s season ending injury. This was unnecessary, but it is clear that Bush has a grudge against the Jets and Landry.

Landry has not apologized for the hit on Bush and has made some provocative statements, “I’m grateful for another opportunity to play this guy. And he will remember that hit. Every time he sees me he will remember that hit. If I’m in the box or I’m coming downhill, whatever, he will remember that hit. I don’t worry about what those guys say.”

This war of words will move to gridiron on Sunday as Bush will be looking to have a big game. The Jets have had an inferior run defense all season and in Bush’s last game against the Jets, he ran for 61 yards on 10 carries. The Dolphins, as a team, ran for 185 yards, so the Jets will have to make some adjustments, with a banged up defensive line. The Jets have never swept the Dolphins during Ryan’s tenor and Bush will be doing everything in his power to make sure that streak continues.

Watch for the battle between Landry and Bush, as Landry believes this is a must win game and refuses to lose. “This game is a must-win, “Landry said. “We can sweep these guys and also get to the bye at 4-4. That’s what we’re striving to do and that’s what we will do.”