RB Bush up and running just in time
for NFL draft
(AP) - Michael Bush is up and running,
his broken right leg nearly fully healed just in time for the NFL draft.
The former Louisville running back this week took part in his first full
workout since he was hurt in September, and also received a thumbs-up
prognosis from James Andrews, an Alabama-based orthopedic surgeon who
specializes in sports injuries.
"I reviewed an X-ray today and it looks like it is 99 percent healed,"
Andrews wrote in a letter dated Wednesday and obtained by The Associated
Press. "I would estimate that Michael Bush will pick up in the NFL where
he left off in college, and should be a top-ranked running back taken in
the 2007 NFL Draft."
The letter was released by Bush's agent, Todd France, who said he is
forwarding Andrews' letter, Bush's most recent X-rays and a DVD from his
client's workout to all 32 NFL teams. The workout was held at Louisville
on Monday and filmed by school officials, France said.
The agent hopes the updated information will clear up any doubts about
Bush's status going into the draft on April 28-29.
"It's great news," said France. "It's huge. My thing was I wanted to
take away any negative perceptions in people's minds where his health
status is because he couldn't work out at the combine. Well, guess what,
look at him now."
The highly regarded Bush broke his leg in Louisville's season-opener
against Kentucky in September. He was coming off a junior season in
which he ran for 1,143 yards and an NCAA-leading 23 touchdowns.
Bush applied for a medical redshirt in case he decided to come back to
school, but instead opted to enter the draft.
The injury has led Bush's stock to fall in numerous draft projections,
which peg him as a second- or third-round pick at best -- and well
behind Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and California's Marshawn Lynch.
Before being hurt, the 6-foot-1, 251-pound Bush was noted for running
with both power and speed, while also being a capable receiver. He
actually came to Louisville as a quarterback.
His recovery comes about a month after Bush had a second operation
during which a new rod was inserted into his leg after the bone didn't
heal quickly enough from the initial surgery.
"It is remarkable how quickly this has improved," Andrews wrote. "It
certainly looks much better than it did some weeks ago."
Andrews said he also was impressed after viewing the workout, noting
Bush took part in 100-yard runs, multiple ladder drills, jumped rope and
did 225-pound squats.
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