Packers Right To Move On From Jarrett Bush

The 30 year old cornerback remains one of the hardest-working players in the league. 

Excellent story on Jarrett Bush from Ty Dunne today. Much has been made of the fact that the Packers have given Bush's old number away already. Coupled with a draft class that seems to suggest a renewed focus on special teams, Bush's bailiwick, and it would appear the ten year veteran has played his last snaps in Green Bay. 

From Dunne:

So Bush continues to train in Arizona, mentioning Tampa Bay, Detroit and the New York Giants as three teams that have expressed some interest. There's been nothing concrete yet for the veteran who operates at one manic, 100 mph speed.

This is the veteran that Packers coach Mike McCarthy constantly uses as the blueprint.

On Day 1 of the Packers' off-season training program — in a repeat of Day 1 of training camp last year — McCarthy put up a picture of No. 24 and said that he is the pro players should emulate. And yet, Bush turns 31 on May 21. The Packers drafted Arizona State's Damarious Randall in the first round, Miami (Ohio)'s Quinten Rollins in the second round and then gave Rollins jersey No. 24, a move McCarthy called "premature."

I have little doubt that McCarthy is simply being magnanimous here. He knows as well as anyone that Father Time is undefeated. Not that Bush can't still help a team. Far from it. Bush is still an asset on kick and punt coverage. But the old saying in the NFL is "Better to move on from a player a year too early than a year too late." 

Ted Thompson figured out that the National Football League is a young man's league before many of his peers. He's brought in a youth movement in the secondary this offseason which makes Bush expendable. 

That doesn't diminish what Bush has done for this team. Long the fans' whipping boy, he was never as bad from scrimmage as most wanted to make him out to be. He was an absolute demon on special teams. And, as anyone who covers the team will tell you, he was by far and away the hardest working professional football player you will ever meet. 

 

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Comments (17)

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HankScorpio's picture

May 14, 2015 at 08:13 am

That Bush hung around in GB as long as he did is a credit to his work ethic. He was far from the most talented player around but effort was never a question. I hope he can find a landing spot somewhere for as long as he wants to continue playing.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

May 14, 2015 at 08:37 am

He was great on special teams, a real Packer for years. I have seen some great play from a few on the team that will fill in nicely.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 14, 2015 at 09:27 am

I like Bush and his work on STs. It is way too early to think about roster spots, bubble, etc., but I think this team is going to have some good talent extending to the PS squad, and it is hard to envision how one might fit Bush on the 53 man roster. Thanks, Mr. Bush, and I wish you well.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 14, 2015 at 12:32 pm

After all the hate he got from some fans, it was great seeing him get that pick. That's how I will choose to remember him.

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RCPackerFan's picture

May 18, 2015 at 07:15 am

I always thought Bush could have been a pretty decent Safety. He wasn't nearly good enough at CB, but in a Safety position i think he could have been pretty good. He was serviceable at CB, just not good enough.
On that pick he came down like a safety to make that play. I still would have liked to have seen him get an opportunity to play there.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

May 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm

I give the guy a ton of credit. For years he was everybody's favorite whipping boy, but he didn't let that get to him. Now i think most people see him for what he is, a good guy with a great attitude who just wants to do whatever he can to help the team. I wish him well.

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KenEllis's picture

May 14, 2015 at 03:21 pm

Bush is to STs what AJ Hawk was to the D. Lots and lots of praise for mediocre, at best, production.

While AJ was the captain of a 2014 D that ranked last in the NFL against the run, Jarrett was leading STs to another last place finish.

Nothing personal, but Bush needed to go just like Hawk.

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Clay Zombo's picture

May 14, 2015 at 08:29 pm

Bush is best used in zone coverage where he can keep his eyes on the QB and keep things in front of him. When they played him in man coverage he was lost most of the time and pretty much always failed to find the football.

He was a darn good gunner though, almost always the first guy down the field on punts and kickoffs but again didnt always find the football.

Its probably time to move on but I wouldnt be against them bringing him back if they decide to.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

May 15, 2015 at 07:51 am

One of the (very) few "tough" and daring tacklers we had on the defensive side. I liked the player Bush was -- just not at CB. I never had a problem with him on ST or playing Safety.

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Evan's picture

May 15, 2015 at 05:12 pm

I always thought Bush could have made a half-way decent safety.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

May 15, 2015 at 06:48 pm

I'm thinking above average. Hell - we started MD Jennings for AN ENTIRE SEASON! Ha!

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RCPackerFan's picture

May 18, 2015 at 07:15 am

I just posted above the same thing. I thought the exact same thing.

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TKWorldWide's picture

May 15, 2015 at 07:33 pm

Hung around with him at the Cruise for Cancer in GB a couple years ago. Totally cool, down to earth, friendly guy. The TKstinator wishes him well.

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rlnedrelo's picture

May 15, 2015 at 11:29 pm

I remember his interception in SB 45. That was a key play in that game. GB needed the score that resulted. Huge play for someone that was not apreciated in his career.

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mrtundra's picture

May 16, 2015 at 03:44 pm

While I liked Bush's play on ST, I was decidedly less enthusiastic when he'd play in the secondary on defense. It was time for him to go.

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DraftHobbyist's picture

May 18, 2015 at 05:17 am

I couldn't agree more that it was time to move on from Bush.

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