Why do they designate QB #'s and running back #'s. It does make sense to have numbers separate for the centers, guards and tackles as their roles are so different. They can not be down field on a pass play and can't touch the ball in most circumstances. After that let the skilled players have any eligible number

Sure, can't think of any reason he shouldn't.

y wouldnt he
thats a dumb question

no..the rules are their for a reason..why should he be the only one to change them?? he wasn't even drafted first..he hasn't played a down yet..yes he should be a great player..but he can't get special treatment..

What is wrong with 5? Or 3, or 27, or 99 3/4?

yes

no.ive watched football all my life and other paul horning who played in the 60's for the green bay packers he dont deserve to.did barry sanders wear #1?did sweetness wear#4?no.bush needs to grow up and be a man.for a man who hasnt played a down in the nfl yet he's making a big fuss about a number.first of all running backs shouldnt wear single digits in the nfl.it's un-nfl and second wrs should stop wearing qb numbers.randy moss,plexico burress and who ever else get in the 80-89 range.moss wore 84 in minny i dont see why he cant buy the number from jerry porter.

no he dosent deserve to wear #5. the nfl rules clearly states that a running back must wear a number between 20 and 49. i understand that he has worn number 5 since before his college days, and it has sentimental value to him (i feel the same about the number nine) i would sympathize with him more if he had asked the rules commitee to change the rules altogether,(such as they did with wide receivers)but instead, he only asked for himself to be the exception, and i think that is kinda selfish, and in a way suggesting that he should get special previledges that others cant get

No, he definitely does not deserve to wear number 5. As a matter of fact, he doesn't deserve anything from the NFL. ALl of his accomplishments in college mean absolutely nothing in the NFL. He has yet to prove that he can compete at the professional level, therefore he deserves no special privelages from anyone. In the eyes of the NFL he is still just a rookie running back that has not proven himself, so changing the rules for him would be absurd.

If you change the rules for one player you have to for the rest. Everyone should realize that the numbers are a great American tradition. I would pick 34 or 5 personally. Trying to change tradition is nothing new. Maurice Clarett tried it a few years ago and I was very happy with the NFL's decision to keep players in college until there senior year. Wanting to change tradition is one of the most selfish things I think a player can do. I am a big Reggie Bush fan and I wish him well but him wanting to wear number 5 is pretty selfish.

Reggie Bush deserves anything he wants.

No. He's a great college player, but he hasn't done anything in the NFL.

As a rookie he should follow the rules. If he sets a rushing record or two, then let him wear whatever he wants (of course, by then he'll probably be equally attached to his new number)

no, he should wear a RB number. he should wear 5 if he wants to be a QB.

Yeah.He wore that number when he was at USC! He wore that number when they became champions. He also wore that # when they beat Norte Dame in a game that people who watched it will never forget.So,yes he deserves to wear number 5.

The NFL has a set of rules that dictates what numbers can be used by what positions. Paul Hornung was able to wear #5 because he was drafted as a QB out of Notre Dame. Basically it creates some symetery. Makes it easier to distinguish between eligible and illeligble receivers.

No. The NFL has a rule against it (I don't know why, but whatever), and everyone has to stick to the rules. Bush is no exception.

No, because he has to abide by the rules. Besides, the NFL couldn't accomodate him or any other back wanting to wear a single digit. Numbers 1-19 and 80-99 are for QB's, K, P, & WR's due to the fact that many teams carry many more receivers than in the past and didn't have enough numbers from 80-89 to go around! By the time you add up 3 qb's, the kicker, the punter, and a slew of receivers, you don't have room for a whiny, untested player to be given a single digit. Yes, players can buy numbers, but they still have to play the position assocoated with that number. One rare exception was in the 80's involving former Raider TE Todd Christensen. He came into the league as a FB wearing number 46. Since the league obviously hadn't made numbering exceptions involving WR's, TE's and such, it was generally acceptable for him to continue wearing 46 after the Raiders moved him to TE.