Reggie Bush Can't Wear 5
by Chris Pokorny
May 24, 2006

Although it was for a good cause, the NFL has declined Reggis Bush's request to wear number five next season for the New Orleans Saints. He was No. 5 in college at USC, but Atlanta general manager Rich McKay recommended against his request.

"Nobody is comfortable that an exception be made to the policy and no one is confident that there will ever be a change," McKay said at the NFL owners meetings.

NFL regulations state that running backs must wear numbers between 20 and 49. If Bush was allowed to wear No. 5, he stated that he would donate 25 percent of his earnings to the Hurricane Katrina fund. Despite the NFL denying his request, Bush will still stick to the pledge of whichever jersey he wears.

"Obviously, I am disappointed by today's decision but I respect the NFL Competition Committee's judgment," Bush said. "The No. 5 is special to me, but with the proceeds from the jersey sales I was also trying to do something special for the city of New Orleans and the entire region. We have not decided which number I will wear for this coming season, but that decision will come soon."

Bush may try to wear No. 25, which currently belongs to veteran Fred McAfee. McAfee has already stated that he'd be willing to change his number under certain circumstances.

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