Reggie Bush wants to stay with Miami Dolphins

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The more articles I read about the Miami Dolphins, Reggie Bush, and their other running backs, I get a stronger feeling that the Dolphins are willing to let Bush go and don’t want to risk overpaying for him. Jeff Ireland and the organization seem, rightfully, high on rookie Lamar Miller, who was solid in limited carries and has a boatload of potential. Beat writers like Armando Salguerro of the Miami Herald are increasingly bearish on the prospects of Bush staying in Miami, so it’s interesting to read this piece from the Palm Beach Post about Bush’s preference.

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According to a source close to one of the Dolphins top beat writers, Ben Volin, Reggie Bush “badly” wants to stay in Miami. Volin provided an example of a tweet from a fan to Bush saying that the Dolphins need Bush, and this tweet was retweeted by Bush. He writes that Bush, “has been essentially campaigning to return on his Twitter feed.”

CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora said that it is “highly unlikely” that Bush stays in Miami, and it sounds like it is the Dolphins reasoning. They don’t want to pay up for the 27-year-old running back, even if he has been the team’s best offensive weapon over the past two years. That’s more of a product of how poor their offense is, because Bush digressed last year and Miller is younger, cheaper, and has more upside. From some of the quotes I’ve read from GM Jeff Ireland, it sounds like the Dolphins think Miller is better overall.

Bush could get offered a team-friendly deal by the team, but they have other free agents to take care of like No. 1 wide receiver Brian Hartline (who really isn’t a No. 1 receiver). Speaking of which, the rumors of the Dolphins going after Greg Jennings and the mutual interest there is also a factor, because the Dolphins desperately need a true No. 1 wideout to help future second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill out. The Dolphins need playmakers in the passing game even more so in the running game, and Bush might not even be a playmaker anyway. If he is, it sounds like he isn’t better than Miller either. That money that would have gone to Bush will most likely help pay for Jennings’s salary.

We’ll see if the Miami Dolphins offer Reggie Bush something, because they haven’t yet and Bush and his representatives are surprised at that. They really want to stay, but it sounds like Bush will be hitting the open market in March and looking for a new place to play.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.