Oakland Raiders' Michael Bush May Be Restricted Free Agent

by Rich Langford on Jun 28, 2011 3:45 PM PDT

Raider Nation received possibly tremendous news when reports filtered out the Oakland's Michael Bush might be a restricted free agent instead of an unrestricted free agent. It is important to say that none of this is official, and it can't be since there is no CBA. Adam Caplan of Fox Sports said on Twitter:

Bush spent his rookie season on NFI. I believe that means he doesn't get credit for the 2007 season, thus 3 seasons not 4.

That would mean Bush does not yet qualify for unrestricted status. This is apparently a belief Caplan has maintained for a while. This comes to us via NBC Sports:

Caplan has been saying this since February, pointing to Bush's rookie season, which was spent on the non-football injury list. That season is not expected to count toward Bush's "accrued" years, leaving him with just three. In that case, Bush's first- and third-round restricted tender would stick, and the Raiders would have no trouble retaining his services. Even if Bush is unrestricted, he seems very likely to spend 2011 in Oakland.

Raider Fan15 posted this news in the fanshots earlier and James posted this on SB Bay Area:

Oakland Raiders Might Get Lucky with Michael Bush - SB Nation Bay Area
However, this morning, Adam Caplan theorized that Michael Bush actually might not be an unrestricted free agent after all. Bush spent his rookie season with the Raiders on the non-football injury list (NFI) and as a result did not see the field for the entire year. Caplan believes that because he was put on the NFI, that he may not be able to claim service for that year, meaning he has only three years credit in the league as opposed to four.

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Damn!!!!

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Sex is like math. Add the bed, Subtract the clothes, divide the legs ... And pray to god you don't multiply!!

by Troy O on Jun 28, 2011 4:02 PM PDT reply actions

The plot thickens...

some here have pointed this fact out, a long time ago, and were quickly shot down by others, who said the NFI year unequivocally counted. I believe it doesn’t, and he’s restricted. No matter, he’s staying regardless.

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 28, 2011 4:51 PM PDT reply actions

I apologize to all I may have shot down, and I know it is some

I will be ecstatic to be wrong

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 28, 2011 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions

This will be very interesting to see

lots of uncertainty, but another opportunity for Al to shock us all and the world by somehow doing something everyone says is impossible.

The list of who goes may shock us equally, and also how they go. Interestingly enough, I have a really solid feeling about us coming out ready to go this year.

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 28, 2011 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I am really counting on the dead money not counting

It seems reasonable to expect given that I think the majority of it is just carrying over from the lockout uncapped year.

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 28, 2011 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions

and

Its accepted :)

by RAIDER_FAN15 on Jun 28, 2011 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions

doesnt this mean

that there is still a year left on his rookie contract? because the first year doesnt count???

Blah

by B.A.Armstrong on Jun 28, 2011 7:15 PM PDT reply actions

Depends on the Language of the Contract, Doesn't it ?????

When signed, they knew he wasn’t playing that first year !!!! He got paid, but probably not what he would make playing !!! Does it count for a year of service ??? I doubt it, but again, I would think the contract would state, Yea, or nea to the question. I’m sure Al & Co. knew exactly what it was, when they tendered him, no matter what the CBA language is going to be, their covered !!!

by papabegood on Jun 28, 2011 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Ha wouldn't that be something if they determined he had a year left.

You sure wouldn’t think so but none of this makes sense. How could he be on the non-football related injury list? Anyone who watches college football knows that it was very much a football related injury.

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 28, 2011 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

non professional football injury list, as far as that particluar list pertains

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 28, 2011 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I will be very happy if this is the case

I know absolutely nothing about this guy but if he is fast I say sign him up.
Long live Al

I think it's about time we all just agreed that NaS is the greatest of all-time.

by Ozraider on Jun 28, 2011 7:19 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

I'm Quite Sure Mr Davis Understood Many Things When He Started Signing His Players...

There was something said about teams not worrying about $$$ issues this season because concessions would be made but I have no idea where I saw that…

by PantyRaider on Jun 29, 2011 12:06 AM PDT reply actions

Off Thie Subject But Of Interest: Goodell, Smith fly to Florida to talk with rookies

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nfllabor

This post speculates on this question:

A signal that an end to the labor strife was in sight, perhaps even before the Fourth of July?

by PantyRaider on Jun 29, 2011 12:26 AM PDT reply actions

OK Nation

Starting to like what I am hearing. This is a positive, though not set n stone. Yet.!!! We know Miller n now a great possibility that the Bush Whacker will be back. C’mon Commander n Chief. Show the NFL world, u still have your marbles. N pull another rabbit out their butts, by finding a way to keep #21 n Huff. Boy i/c the league starting to tremble. If we can b blessed with the dead money issue, n some how stay under the supposed cap. this would make things even better, along with all else that’s going on. Yall AL might b a footballl genius.

by Big Daddy Papa Smurf on Jun 29, 2011 1:04 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs