Written by The Associated Press at Los Angeles Times.com
Running back Reggie Bush wasn’t going to let a freak accident on the concrete surface ringing the Edward Jones Dome field in St. Louis end his career.
Declaring his surgically repaired left knee 100 percent, Bush eagerly looked forward to the opportunity of playing an 11th NFL season — and on his fifth team — after signing a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
“I’m in shape. I’m full strength. I’m ready to go,” Bush said during a news conference at the Bills training camp facility in suburban Rochester. “It feels good to be back on a team and back to playing football.”
The 31-year-old Bush has reason to be upbeat some nine months since tearing his meniscus ligament in St. Louis. It happened while he was pushed out of bounds while returning a punt and lost his footing on the concrete before sliding into the padded wall of the stands.
“I thought my career could be over. Those were my initial thoughts,” he said.
Instead, Bush joins a Rex Ryan-coached, run-first-oriented offense that led the league in rushing last season, and a team with a hole to fill in its return game.
Bush expects to take part in practice Tuesday, and estimates it’ll take him no more than a week to become accustomed to his new surroundings, teammates, coaches and playbook.
“I guess the good thing is I’ve been around long enough where I’ve pretty much been through every offensive system possible,” he said.
Bush traveled to Buffalo to take a physical in the morning and then met with Bills officials at training camp before signing his contract.
“We are always looking to improve our roster,” general manager Doug Whaley said. “We had targeted Reggie because we feel a player of his caliber can help us in a variety of areas.”
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