Guest Author - Judith Hodges

In 1973 the NFL organized the numbers for players in different positions to make it easier on referees to determine who was where on the field. There has been one change in that wide receivers are now allowed to wear numbers in the 10's, such as Keyshawn Johnson wearing #19, because teams were running out of numbers in the 80's. So Reggie Bush, who wore #5 in college, and others petitioned the NFL to have the number system changed. It was denied and he is now considering buying the number of another player. My family is arguing about whether they should change the system or if he should be given the number without paying for it. Here is my opinion.

Reggie, the world doesn't revolve around you. This is the NFL, not USC. You are no longer the big fish in a little pond. There are people here who are your equals, if not better. Why should the whole system change so you can have your number? You should pay for Fred McAfee's number if you want it. Bush says that 25% of his jersey sales will go to a Katrina charity regardless of the number. What better way to use your money than helping Katrina victims in your new hometown?

Part of the argument made to me was that Reggie Bush is now the team face of the New Orleans Saints. But my argument is that Bush is a part of the team now and he should not come into a job making demands. The best way to divide a team and lose games is to choose one player over another. He may be the face of NO for the moment, but what happens if he gets hurt or decides to leave? His number was 5, not 25. Unless he changes positions or the NFL changes their minds, it will never be 5. So what does it matter if he gets any number 20-40? He does not have to have #25, so he should not buy it if he does not want to. But it should not be given to him just because he is the new hot player on the Saints' team.

The thing is that the media often makes more of these things than the players do. It could be that Reggie is just being pulled along in the media hype which he has no control over. It will be interesting to see how it affects the team when games begin.