Calvin Pace on Reggie Bush: 'We had to put him on out'

Following the New York Jets dramatic 23-20 overtime victory over the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Jets' linebacker Calvin Pace had this to say about Reggie Bush after the running back injured his knee right before the second half: "I guess he was doing his thing for a quarter or two.  We had to put him on out.  We didn't see him again."

On Monday, Pace's quote now asks the question of whether the Jets sought to injure the Dolphins' rusher — especially after Rex Ryan joked that the Jets might have to "put some hot sauce" on Bush, in the days leading up to the Week 3 Game.

"Obviously, we have to do a great job of getting a lot of guys to him and getting him on the ground," Ryan joked last Wednesday.  "Put some hot sauce on him, if you will."

The implication of Pace's quote, some may feel, is that the Jets defense intentionally sought to injure Bush.

Bush suffered the left knee injury trying to run out the clock before the half.  He did come out of the locker room in full uniform, ready to play in the third quarter.  He had already gained 61 yards on 10 carries but did not take the field in the second half.

The Dolphins running back was coming off a 172-yard performance in Week 2 but did not handle the ball in the second half or overtime.

Replays of the play that knocked Bush out of the game didn't reveal any cheap shots or illegal plays by the Jets.  He could play again by Sunday against Arizona, according to ESPN, and the injury is not considered season-ending.

Still, in Roger Goodell's NFL, players have to watch what they say.