Thomas E. Witte / Getty Images file

Reggie Bush of USC is a back who can win games all by himself, a back who can run inside and outside, who can jump over defenders, break tackles, change directions at full speed, create plays were none exist. He can catch the ball, too, and even throw it, writes NBCSports.com columnist Mike Celizic.

Mike Celizic

I’ve always believed that NFL teams should never, under any circumstances, no way, no how, ever, ever, ever take a running back with the overall No. 1 pick in the draft.

But I’d make an exception for Reggie Bush.

The reason I don’t like running backs at the top of the draft is that they are a fragile lot, few of whom ever do for their pro teams what they did in college. Even the best — O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Walter Payton and Jim Brown — never won a championship when they were the complete focus of their team’s offense. Payton won at the tail end of his career when the Bears won their big silver football on defense. Brown won his only when the Browns got a very good quarterback, Frank Ryan, and a superior wide receiver, Gary Collins. Simpson and Dickerson never made the title game.

Compare that with backs who have been taken lower in the draft. Emmitt Smith was not in the top of the first round. Neither was Curtis Martin. You can get a very good back if you’re willing to wait a bit.

You take quarterbacks with the first pick. You should take great defensive ends or corners or linebackers. You might take a wideout. But you don’t need a running back up there, because running backs by themselves don’t win championships. Quarterbacks win championships.

But Bush is that rare back who could take you a long way toward a title if you know how to build around him. He is a back who can win games all by himself, a back who can run inside and outside, who can jump over defenders, break tackles, change directions at full speed, create plays were none exist. He can catch the ball, too, and even throw it.

And he’s no Ron Dayne who’s going to bring a Heisman Trophy to the pros and nothing else. Bush is the best I’ve seen since Gale Sayers, and if you have a chance to get someone that good, you take him. With the first pick.

And since you can’t get higher than the first pick, Bush is right to forego his senior year and come out next spring.

He’s a running back, and as such risks a career-threatening injury every time he touches the ball. It’s not a question of if he’ll get injured, but when; the shelf life of running backs is appallingly short. So if you’re a back and can either run for the glory of dear old alma mater or for a regular pay check, you’re cheating yourself and your talent not to take the check.

Slide show   Mr. President Images of Heisman winner Reggie Bush's stellar season for USC

Also, as the Heisman Trophy winner, his value will never be higher, not if he plays one more year for Troy or four more years. So if it is about money, this is the time to go for the bucks.

He also had to consider that he won two straight AP national championships and came up just short of a third.

It would have been inspiring for him to say he wants to come back, but next year there will be no Matt Leinart slinging the ball for USC. Next year, the Trojans’ well of miracles will almost certainly run dry.

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