NFL teams
Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Michael Bush gets 'fresh' start

NFL, Arizona Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. -- In the record book, recently signed Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Bush spent two years with the Chicago Bears.

It didn't feel that long, according to him.

"When people ask me how long I was in Chicago, I say one season because last year, where was I?" Bush said Wednesday. "It has nothing to do with [Bears running back Matt] Forte because he played great. He's a hell of a running back.

"I just think that I didn't get a fair shake. And I'm not trying to complain or anything, but if you look at it, maybe two games I didn't touch the field."

His numbers dropped significantly last season under then first-year Bears coach Marc Trestman. Bush had career lows in carries (63) and yards (197), two years after running for a career-high 977 yards and seven touchdowns on 256 carries.

Bush played in 15 of 16 games for the Bears last season but didn't have a carry in Week 4 against Detroit. He played fewer than seven snaps in eight games in his second season in Chicago. Bush was released on March 10 and said he didn't get a chance to talk with Trestman or running backs coach Skip Peete.

"Just think when new coaches come in, they got a different opinion and different guys who they want in there," Bush said. Anticipating his release, Bush began working out in February and moved to Arizona last spring to continue training. But for the past 12 weeks, he's waited for a call despite meetings or workouts with Washington, Tennessee and New England.

Bush blamed the lack of interest on his declined usage last season.

"I believe so, I believe so," Bush said. "I didn't get to show them enough. That's the way it is.

"I think that hurt me in the long run as far as getting film out there as well. It was tough, man. But I moved on."

The Cardinals are getting a running back who doesn't feel like he's been beat up for the last season and a half.

"I'm fresh," Bush said. "I've been fresh for two seasons. I ain't been on the field so, yeah, I'm good."

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