During an extensive Friday press conference that touched on a broad range of issues, Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis was asked whether tailback Reggie Bush will be back in 2010.
“Yes,” Loomis said of Bush in a transcript distributed by the team. “He’ll be back and he’ll be back at his current salary.”
In 2010, Bush’s salary shoots from $2.585 million to $8 million.
It is, in our view, a move that has more to do with business and less to do with football. It can’t be about football, because Bush doesn’t bring $8 million worth of football value to the table. Indeed, if Bush is worth $8 million as a matter of football value, then Darren Sharper should get $14 million in 2010. Drew Brees? $25 million.
No, this is about maintaining the Bayou post-Super Bowl buzz, about selling jerseys, about keeping the fans from engaging in an all-out revolt.
Four years ago, the selection of Bush with the second overall pick in the draft brought hope to all of New Orleans, hope that culminated last month in a Super Bowl win. Though the Saints likely would have won the Super Bowl without Bush, he is tied to the team and the team cannot dump him.
The situation will get even more interesting in 2011, when his salary jumps to $11.8 million, and when a salary cap quite possibly will return. And when the Saints may not be riding the waves of an NFL title.
GM’s and Owner’s should not make personnel decision’s based on sentimental things… This is unprofessional and could bite them if they were to make a habit out of this..
I’d rather have Reggie at last years $2.5 and the $8 this year vs. Darren Spoles at the $7M he made last year and $8M he’ll make this year.
If the Saints cut Bush today, he would make more than 8 million before midnight.
How is it sentimental if they let Fujita walk and Sharper still isn’t re-signed??
This decision will be quite different next year if a new contract is worked out. With a cap they would have released him or tried to redo the deal.
His performance and his role in the offense is much different than being drafted #2 in the draft as a running back and being guaranteed the huge contract.
They have to put in a rookie scale because it’s nuts that he makes more than most if not all top flight running backs in ’10 with his salary.
He is by no means a flop, bust, or however you choose to hate but a team player and understanding his role and running with it.
As for Sharper…..for someone who just had surgery and can’t pass a physical…I would STFU and wait to talk until you can do something. He has no leverage at all right now but his mouth is running all over the place. The Saints know what they’ll pay him and if he gets more elsewhere….we plug someone else in. He whiffed on tackles and got smoked on alot of plays trying to make plays….he was only outstanding when Greer and Porter were starting at corner…..it would be a loss but it would be felt the same as losing Fujita…oh well!!
Who Dat!!
Are you sure he didn’t mean that he will be back at his current salary… meaning that he’ll be back at the same salary that he’s been at?
ha, Reggie may not be worth $8 million a year, and in hind-sight, may not have been worth the 2nd overall pick in the draft (although, with the recent rash of busts lately, I’d hardly say he’s that). However, he is a strong returner (and look what Hester and my Browns Cribbs get), as well as an interesting threat in both the backfield and receiver. Is he what everyone thought he was going to be after that remarkable career at USC? no. Those were almost ridiculous expectations to live up to. But to say the Saints would have “likely” won the Super Bowl without him is a bit presumptuous. Also, sentimentality only goes so far. The day came for my Browns to part with our beloved Bernie. The Charger just bid LT goodbye. You, Florio, should know this is about business. And if you think the Saints, regardless of salary-cap implications, would keep Bush for anything other than business reasons, you’re crazy.
If they hadn’t paid, he’d get a big FA deal.
they should dump him
florio, i know you arent a bush fan, but it is quite obvious to me that you truly dont know the game. Reggie was basically shut down last year so he could be ready for the playoffs. Remember, microfracture surgery? He was awesome in the playoffs. You look at him as a pure running back. Guess what? Your the only one who looks at him like that. He is a rb/wr/pr. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS- TEAMS GAMEPLAN FOR HIM. HE IS A GAME CHANGER. IF YOU DONT SEE THIS, WELL, YOUR CLUELESS. if he wasnt worth the money, he would be gone. Learn the game- the modern version of it.
Why do people try to create controversy where there is none?
I understand that the Saints have 1 player who is a lightning rod for a bunch of meaningless hullabaloo. This unwarranted pessimistic attitude toward Reggie is only fueled from the outside; football fans (strictly opinion tunnel vision) and the media (trying to sell papers or drive traffic to a website), Reggie has never done anything (other than getting drafted # 2) to self aggrandize himself.
Florio……you are exactly 100% right about the reasons they are hanging on to Bush. He is not worth a fraction of what they seem to be stuck with paying him. Pierre Thomas, Colston, etc. etc. deserve a lot more than him. As far Sharper, you are 100% right about him, too. His contributions to the team overall, & to defense specifically were amazing.
Have you nay sayers watched the tapes? He beat the crap out of Favre & intimidated the crap out of Manning. There’s more to his playing than interceptions. He was taking up the slack when the “young” players (Porter & Greer) were injured. Do you only notice pick 6′s? There are other things going on on the field than the glamorous , highflying plays. Manning threw AWAY from Sharper the entire Super Bowl game. Pay attention!!!
So using your logic, if the Saints decided they did not want to pay Reggie $8 million in 2010 (because, in your opinion, he does not bring that value to the team), that would be a football decision, and not a business decision. I guess I’m confused.
Florio, you are such a Bush-hating douche. Get over it, already. Reggie is one of the best third-down backs in the league, hands down. And he absolutely FLIES into the end zone anytime he’s near the goal line. On top of that, he is one of the best punt returners in the league. These are his roles on this team – he is not an every down tailback and the Saints never expected him to be that (which is something that you – FLORIO – just can not let go of, can’t understand or are just too stoopid to grasp). The fact is that every time Reggie is on the field, opposing defenses must account for him – and that’s a great advantage for the Saints offense. The Saints are smart for keeping him – and wise enough to ignore the opinions of losers like you. By the way, nice Super Bowl prediction, Einstein.
“PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS- TEAMS GAMEPLAN FOR HIM. HE IS A GAME CHANGER”
No they dont. He’s the 3rd running option, the 4th receiving option (2 less rec and he would have been 5th), and someone who had 130 punt retyrn yards is a GAME CHANGER? Please, he comes out of the backfield and matches up against a LB because the offense is focused on the other options.
He was never worth the 2nd overall pick nor is he worth $8mil/year.
Florio,
A number of posters, including myself told that Bush would be back with Saints regardless of all your protests that the Saints would cut him because he didn’t warrant his salary.
You just don’t understand enough about football to realize the value he brings to that offense. The fact that he doesn’t post the numbers you think he should is meaningless!
It is an even lamer argument now that you have been proven utterly wrong about your predicition to suggest this is about selling jerseys etc…
Did you not realize 5 months ago that the NFL teams sell jerseys? It doesn’t matter because thats not the reason they are keeping him anyway but if it was you just as stupid for not realizing months ago when you proclaimed Bush would not be back with the Saints… Nothing has changed.
In fact the only thing that has changed is the Saints won the Super Bowl, they cut anybody they wanted to except Drew Brees and there would be no fan revolt!!!
Sims you think more teams gameplan for Bush than Brees and the wide outs?? I think you have been on Bourbon street too long hahah. Bush=Bust
he is not an every down tailback and the Saints never expected him to be that (which is something that you – FLORIO – just can not let go of, can’t understand or are just too stoopid to grasp).
Are you kidding, toneman? They absolutely thought he was going to be an every down, workhorse back. When was the last time a team spent the second overall pick on someone they hoped would be a punt returner/3rd down back? If you actually think a team would target a roleplayer with that pick, YOU either can’t understand, or are too stupid to grasp the game of football.
First off Zach, that offense is built around matchups. That’s why you see their recievers, RB’s, and TE’s all have completely different skill sets….cause regardless of the coverage, there’s going to be a mismatch somewhere, and Brees will find it. Reggie fits in great that way. He’s an awesome dumpoff option against linebackers, and if your playing pass, he can dash on you. And then he has the aforementioned return capabilities. So though he doesn’t meet his 2nd pick status, he IS of great value to the team. 8 million on football alone, probably not, but i don’t claim to think the money IS based on football alone.
Second, Florio, i’m a little confused. You say its a business decision, but compare it to Sharper, a 34 year old with a knee problem who we haven’t signed yet, and Brees, who hasn’t gotten even gotten his new contract yet. Not a good comparison.
I do agree in principle it is a business decision, and a smart one. If you could quantify what Bush provides on the field, add that to what he sells in jerseys and Saints merchandise, add in the charity work he does in the area, and add THAT to the good PR he brings from Cali…..well I’D say that’s a hell of deal for 8 million. Of course, it would be nice if those things COULD be quantified…..
Zach,
you’re a blooming retard if you think teams dont gameplan for Reggie….he’s a match-up nightmare for opposing teams
do you think it’s just a coinsidence that in his rookie year when he was healthy all season the Saints made it to the NFC title game…the next 2 season’s he had injuries and the Saints had 7-9 and 8-8 seasons with him hurt….this season with him healthy the Saints won the Super Bowl
Florio , you still can’t get over the fact that the Saints won the Super Bowl.
You picked aqgainst them in every playoff game. Then when they beat your precious ViQueens & beat the hell out of Farve, you were beside yourself.
The New Orleans Saints WON & you & all the rest of the douchebag crybabies sould get over it.
WHO DAT!!
Really they beat the hell out of the vikings??? I recall the game going to overtime and them winning by 3 weird
I’m a Saints fan
1. Bush is not worth 8 million. He will be the highest paid running back in the league this year and isn’t even the best RB on the team. Also, contrary to popular opinion, Reggie Bush is a terrible punt returner. I’d much rather they sign Pierre Thomas to a long-term deal. Face it Saint’s fan…. Reggie Bush isn’t that good.
2. Darren Sharper will be 35 years old and has a shaky knee–you don’t sign players like that to big contracts. Let him test the market, and then sign him to an incentive laden deal.
Plus let’s not all forget he brings along the lucky Kim Kardashian booty!!
idropbombs says: Unerstand that the Aints are a 1 year wonder and they will never make a SB again.
=====
In the last five years, nine different NFC teams made it to the NFC Championship Game, which means only ONE team appeared twice. Brownie points if you can name the team. Hint, it does not start with an “A”.
it’s real simple…. if Reggie wasn’t a bad MFer people wouldnt hate on him….just like Kobe, T.O., Ocho, Tiger etc. etc. etc…..
no one ever hates on Joey Harrington, it’s because he sucks and media couldnt possibly sell a story on him
zach,diehardskinsfan, no disrespect, but you are both as clueless as florio. YOU HONESTLY DONT THINK TEAMS GAMEPLAN FOR BUSH? i want some of what your smoking. The guy is the definition of game changer. You two, and Florio, dont you watch the games. Seriously. He has been a little plagued by injuries the last 2 years. Reggie plays, he produces. He is a TD waiting to happen. He is the top receiving threat out of the backfield, as dangerous as Josh Cribbs as a returner, and he is still pretty damn good running the ball. Yes, he has had injuries. BUT, he DOES change the way defenses try and defend the Saints. Like someone mentioned before me, if he was released, he would make 8 mil a year within 24 hours…and you can laugh at me, but look out next year. Reggie looked GOOD running the ball in the playoffs. Bush wasnt a true college running back until his junior year when he stuck to 2 cuts. He was doing that in the playoffs. Next year, Bush is going to blow up. Watch.
Are you kidding, toneman? They absolutely thought he was going to be an every down, workhorse back. When was the last time a team spent the second overall pick on someone they hoped would be a punt returner/3rd down back? If you actually think a team would target a roleplayer with that pick, YOU either can’t understand, or are too stupid to grasp the game of football.
Are you retarded, shannnscott2000? Sean Payton drafted Bush because he knew Reggie was a PLAYMAKER – not a workhorse. It doesn’t matter if he makes the plays as a third down back, punt returner, wide receiver or tailback – he just MAKES THE PLAYS. Idiot. The Saints drafted a playmaker – and they got a damn good one.
Florio says,
Though the Saints likely would have won the Super Bowl without Bush…
Really!!!!! I thought u said the Saints had no chance of winning since u so correctly predicted that thru out the playoffs.
was that u who Jim Mora, Sr was looking at when he said ” u think u know but u dont know “
Yo the dude is really burning bridges with the Saints and I don’t like that. He really is a sort of high caliber Journey Man, I guess. I bet he was one of the most popular players on the team last year, so for it to end like this is a shame. He’s good on and off field, it’s just the way he’s handling himself right now is a bit cocky.
BUT
He’d be great for the Jets for a year or two. Similar system to Williams, Sharper’s swagger is PERFECT for the Jets. Also, said he wants to play there. For his sake, he better be able to get the green light on his knee ASAP.
It’s weeks later, but still, congratulations Saints! That really was a great year. I’m bettin y’all will draft or already have a young FS in development. Williams did a GREAT job man.
“Sean Payton drafted Bush because he knew Reggie was a PLAYMAKER – not a workhorse. It doesn’t matter if he makes the plays as a third down back, punt returner, wide receiver or tailback – he just MAKES THE PLAYS.”
Seriously…#2 overall pick for a 3rd down back and punt returner? You cant be serious.
Bush is not the reason they won, re-making their defense is the reason why.
Not worth it. He shows up 3 of 16 games.
shannscott2000 says:
FLORIO – just can not let go of, can’t understand or are just too stoopid to grasp.
the irony of this statement is priceless
idropbombs says:
“You finally got your SB win after Hurrican Katrina, just like the Patriots after 9/11. ”
according to this logic, shouldn’t the jets or giants won the superbowl after 9/11? conspiracy theorists are idiots. if you thinks it’s all fixed, why watch?
Are you retarded, shannnscott2000? Sean Payton drafted Bush because he knew Reggie was a PLAYMAKER – not a workhorse. It doesn’t matter if he makes the plays as a third down back, punt returner, wide receiver or tailback – he just MAKES THE PLAYS. Idiot. The Saints drafted a playmaker – and they got a damn good one.
Look douche, you obviously don’t understand the value of the second overall pick. You don’t make that kind of commitment and spend that kind of money on a guy that isn’t on the field on first and second down.
Look at his stats last year.
Great Running Back? Nope-Only 5 rushing tds and fewer that 400 rushing yards.
Receiver? No again-3 receiving tds and fewer than 350 receiving yards.
All-Around Player? Nada-Fewer that 800 yds from scrimmage.
Injury-Prone? Ding. Ding. Ding. Only appeared in all 16 games once in his career (his rookie year when he had a whopping 565 rushing yards) Great Punt Returner? Nope – No punts returned for TD’s in ’09 (a dismal 4.8 yds per return-might as well just call a fair catch), 3 in ’08 and only 1 in previous years.
Touchdown waiting to happen? He’s never even scored more than eight touchdowns in a single season.
IS HIS BREAKOUT YEAR EVER GOING TO HAPPEN? Research shows running backs reach their peak at age 26. Reggie Bush’s best days might be behind him already.
You want me to keep going, tonedouche?
@patpatriotagain
You have no idea how ironic, actually. Do you know how the internet works, buddy? Why don’t you read my post again and all the other posts in this thread until you get it!
All you internet GM’s slay me…..
If you don’t believe opposing defensive coordinators are forced to use “spys” in coverage and gameplan for Bush, you need to back away from the keyboard.
It’s really simple….one crease or gap and he’s gone for a quick 6.
That said, it is true Bush is not an every down running back. But he is a valuable asset.
Ray Da Mayor says:
“If you don’t believe opposing defensive coordinators are forced to use “spys” in coverage and gameplan for Bush, you need to back away from the keyboard.
It’s really simple….one crease or gap and he’s gone for a quick 6.”
If all he needs is one crease or gap why isn’t he on the field every freakin’ play?
I think this was the best thing I’ve read all day. I am still peeing my pantz.