Reggie Bush benched after costly fumble
Reggie Bush had 534 yards on 122 carries (4.4 yards per carry) entering Week 10. (John Bazemore/AP)
Reggie Bush has played a huge role in the Dolphins' surprising start to the season. But even he, it appears, has to face the wrath of rookie head coach Joe Philbin when he makes a mistake.
On Miami's second possession Sunday against Tennessee, Bush broke loose on a 3rd-and-12 draw play and appeared to have a first down. As he reached the marker, though, Bush was hit from behind by Jason McCourty and put the ball on the ground. Tennessee recovered, scored a touchdown four plays later ... and Bush did not see the field again for the rest of the game.
With Bush out, Miami turned its run game over to Daniel Thomas and rookie Lamar Miller. The two combined for 33 yards on 8 carries (4.1 ypc).
No injury was reported for Bush, who finished with 21 yards on 4 carries, so it seems pretty apparent that Philbin simply benched his starting RB following that fumble.
It's an interesting time for Philbin to put his foot down -- the Dolphins entered Sunday in the thick of the AFC playoff race at 4-4, and their matchup with the Titans looked like one they had to have if they were going to keep hunting for a postseason spot. Instead, they fell, 37-3.
Thanks in part to Bush's costly fumble, Tennessee instead took a 24-3 lead into halftime. Along the way Philbin also briefly pulled Richie Incognito from the game after the Dolphins' offensive lineman was flagged for a 15-yard penalty, helping to stall out a promising Miami drive.
Colin McCarthy
