Devin Bush sounds like a defeated man. Maybe he is and maybe he isn’t. Whichever it is, it isn’t good. Bush is a former first round pick who played like a first round pick. His second season started the same way until he tore his ACL. Since that moment, he hasn’t been the same. Now, his comments paint a picture that could be seen as bleak as his play.
Devin Bush was just asked if he feels like this is his last chance to hang around with the #Steelers beyond this year.
“I mean, I’m still going to be in the NFL. So we’ll see.” @937theFan pic.twitter.com/CFtCo3l5vv
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) August 16, 2022
I don’t know about you but I didn’t get the feeling that Bush was being sarcastic or flippant. If he was, then kudos to him for his portrayal. While his comments are one thing, there’s no denying that his play since he returned from the injury in 2021 has been below average. Any hope that he would suddenly revert back to his “pre-injury form” last Saturday was squashed literally within the first few plays.
It’s not just that he isn’t “making plays.” He looks disinterested. He sees things happening in front of him but just isn’t reacting until it’s too late. He reminds me of that player in high school who loves the game but really isn’t crazy about the contact. In Bush’s defense, he’s not the first player and won’t be the last to suddenly decide that his health is more important. It’s what is commonly referred to as “making a business decision.” That’s exactly what it looks like to me. He appears to be saying, “No, I’ve been through a year-long rehab and I’m not doing it again.”
If we as fans see this then what must Mike Tomlin or Teryl Austin or Brian Flores be thinking? They are already facing quality depth issues at the position and the guy they need to step up most next to Myles Jack is not even close to doing that. Bush’s comment about “I’ll be in the NFL somewhere” is misguided in my opinion. If he really thinks any other team is going to give up anything to get him right now he’s nuttier than a fruitcake. We are not just witnessing a guy who is struggling and should bounce back after a bad game. Bush has looked this way for over a season now.
Some of you may have heard of the “yips.” It’s a bad word for any golfer. The yips are what you get when you suddenly can’t make a short putt. In baseball, it’s referred to as “Steve Sax Syndrome.” He was an all-star second baseman who suddenly couldn’t throw it to first base. I bring these up because that’s what I feel like when I watch Bush. He knows what to do and he knows how to do it but he just isn’t doing it.
Like many of you, I hope that there is a breakthrough coming. An epiphany of sorts, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s in the cards. If the fans are at the end of their collective ropes, then the Steelers must be out of patience too. It’s nothing personal because we want Bush to be himself but this is also a business and there’s only so much patience that can be had.
