ESPN is reporting that the Texans and Mario Williams' agent are in "substantive" negotiations today and the Texans have not spoken with Bush's representatives in 24 hours. If this holds the course, Reggie Bush might not be a Texans come tomorrow.

Fact or Fiction: The Texans not selecting Reggie Bush would be a mistake.

Fiction. The Texans not trading the pick would be a mistake.

The Texans should try to get a 2nd or 3rd out of the Saints for passing on Bush.

Fiction. The Texans not trading the pick would be a mistake.

I agree. They could trade down one or two spots and still get Williams while picking up one or two extra draft picks.

Fact: A good running game is the best way to take pressure off of a quarterback. The Texans may have an adequate back now, but it's simply not enough. They need a clear threat out of the backfield to keep defenses off of Carr to allow him to be a better passer. Mario Williams may improve the team's pass rushing on the defensive side, but Reggie Bush opens up the entire offense for the Texans.

I don't see how Houston can trade the pick. The Saints are looking at a couple of people and don't need a QB. The Titans will take a QB, no question. The only trade I really see there is the Jets, if they want Leinart bad enough. In that case, they'd make a trade with the Saints to leap in front of the Titans to take him, and not the Texans, which would cost them more. And going passed the 4th pick, a trade all the way to 1st would cost too much.

Fiction. Running backs taken early don't always pan out as promised. Bush isn't a guaranteed anything. Plenty of great backs have come much later in the draft. If Houston can trade down, they should. If they can negotiate better terms with another player with as much upside, they should.

If you look back, a lot of his "signature" plays were on kick returns. Sure he had some impressive runs from scrimmage, but he was not an every down back. If anything, LenDale White was a more complete running back than Reggie Bush was in college.

Outside of Deion, I can't remember a special teams return standout equating their college success in the pros.

I don't think the Lions ever let Barry Sanders return kicks, but man, I was watching some clips of him the other day. He was amazing.

If you look back, a lot of his "signature" plays were on kick returns. Sure he had some impressive runs from scrimmage, but he was not an every down back. If anything, LenDale White was a more complete running back than Reggie Bush was in college.

Outside of Deion, I can't remember a special teams return standout equating their college success in the pros.

Desmond Howard was a Super Bowl MVP...

Desmond Howard was a Super Bowl MVP...

As was Larry Brown.

I didn't mean they weren't good pros, I meant to say that they usually didn't have the same success returning kicks in the pros that they did in college.

Fact: A good running game is the best way to take pressure off of a quarterback. The Texans may have an adequate back now, but it's simply not enough. They need a clear threat out of the backfield to keep defenses off of Carr to allow him to be a better passer. Mario Williams may improve the team's pass rushing on the defensive side, but Reggie Bush opens up the entire offense for the Texans.

The problem with your theory is that a good OL is what makes a good running game.

Fiction. Texans have way more pressing needs than RB.

Desmond Howard was a Super Bowl MVP...


That was one game. BFD.

Its not like the Texans don't have a good RB. Dom. Davis has averaged 100+ yards a game his first 3 years in the league. He is a tough runner who also works hard to block and catches the ball well.

I think either the Saints or Texans could use Bush as a multi purpose offensive weapon even though they both already have RBs that can run well between the tackles. But both also have other needs, and there are a few top prospects at the top of the board.

That was one game. BFD.

If Howard doesn't play superman, Favre is like Dan Marino....no gold.

If Howard doesn't play superman, Favre is like Dan Marino....no gold.

True.

Fiction: No one really knows how good any of these guys are, even if Williams turns out to be a bust and Bush is a HOF player it's still not a mistake, more like bad luck. Ok, really bad luck, but bad luck none the less.

If Howard doesn't play superman, Favre is like Dan Marino....no gold.

Not true. I do not believe that the Patriots were outplaying the Packers that day, though possibly my mammaries err memories have grown foggy with age... I do however remember screaming, along with my friends, "why the hell are they kicking it to Howard again? He just -- he umm -- he might -- holy shit he scored on em again?!?"

Bush is overrated.