The Subtle Ways Teams Pursuing Reggie Bush Might Lose

BY CHARLES BRICKER
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tank it to draft Reggie Bush? A fine of $1 million or more, plus the loss of at least one high draft pick, is awaiting any big loser who conspires to be the biggest loser of the season and earn the No. 1 pick in the draft.

But if you're in control of the exchequer of the Houston Texans, a team so besotted with failure that it has won only two games this year, wouldn't you at least consider throwing Sunday's contest with the San Francisco 49ers and earn the right to select USC Football running back Reggie Bush in April?

I suppose I ought to make it clear straight off that I'm not advocating a fix here. I'm just, you know, thinking out loud.

Teams have been in this position before, going into the final week of the season knowing a loss would clinch the first draft pick, but coaches and players are quick to point out that pride trumps draft advantage.

And besides, what's wrong with having the No. 2 pick?

Those explanations, however, don't seem to apply this year because (a) how much pride is there in beating the 3-12 49ers? And (b) because there is a Grand Canyon between Reggie Bush and whoever is the No. 2 pick.

The secret, if there is one, to deliberately losing a football game is to not let the players in on it. Too many wagging tongues. The coach has to construct a conservative game plan, but he also has to tread a fine line in its execution.

It's fine if Monday morning critics want to speculate that you deliberately lost, but you don't want to make it so obvious that the commissioner sends in a 20-man investigative team.

Show some subtlety. Don't, for example, run a tailback plunge on third-and-20 when trailing by seven with 1:33 left.

But do encourage your team to play with an unusually edgy temperament. The more personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties you accrue, the better your chance of losing.

Feign cussing out your players on the sideline. Make it appear as though a trip to the Super Bowl were on the line.

If you have a 5-foot-11 receiver, run him on a fade route from the 3-yard line on fourth down against a 6-foot-2 cornerback.

If your running back develops a hamstring injury, tell him to suck it up and get back in there.

If you're sending in a play by the headset, move your lips but say nothing, leaving your quarterback wondering why he's not picking up anything.

Waste timeouts on absurd challenges. Mike Martz, the Rams coach, gets away with it without a call from the commissioner's office. Why can't you?

Above all, as they say in sports jargon, keep your eye on the prize, which is, in this case, a 2-14 record and the chance to draft Reggie Bush.

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