blacksaint

METAIRIE

Posted on Wed, Sep. 26, 2007
By Larry Holder

You can't watch the NFL Network, ESPN or numerous other TV stations without bumping into New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush and one of his 33 commercials streaming the airwaves.

The highly marketable 22-year-old mogul apparently has no problem playing the part of product spokesman. Showing support for one of the most respected Saints players in team history must not be in his Subway contract.

Bush refused numerous interview requests from Saints officials and media members Monday for comments concerning the season-ending knee injury of teammate Deuce McAllister. Even Saints officials realized how poor Bush's refusal would appear.

Fullback Mike Karney cried near the end of his interview as losing his teammate and good buddy for the second time in three seasons was more than he could handle.

Bush's "I don't want to talk" routine resounded pretty loud and clear through Karney's sadness.

It's not the first time he's been elusive from the media the past two seasons as he routinely exits the locker room. And it likely won't be the last.

It's also not the only thing Bush has ducked his teammates.

Yahoo! Sports columnist Michael Silver referenced in a column last week where Bush hosted a dinner in June for a few dozen teammates at a New Orleans seafood hot spot after a week of offseason workouts.

Bush didn't bother to show up. He at least paid the bill. I wonder how the weekly offensive linemen dinner would go if All-Pro left tackle Jammal Brown picked up the tab but found it unimportant to attend?

I can tell you from talking to those guys about their weekly feast, the absence wouldn't go over well.

Bush also circled the globe doing commercials, hanging out at the Playboy mansion and working out in SoCal using some Fre-Flo-Do nonsense as opposed to training with the rest of his teammates at the Saints' practice facility.

Saints players young and old in successful times and brutal times this season have faced the music. Cornerback Jason David constantly takes the heat for his poor play thus far and has yet to turn anyone away. Fred Thomas faced a crush of scrutiny, yet he answered the critics as openly and honestly as he could.

And at a time where McAllister could have flown completely off the handle, the veteran Saints running back publicly welcomed Bush after he fell to the team with the No. 2 pick of the 2006 NFL draft. Deuce could have made Bush feel unwelcome if he had wanted to.

He didn't.

McAllister answered every question, whether it was how he felt when the Saints drafted Bush to if he thought his days with the Saints were numbered with the drafting of Bush last year and Antonio Pittman this year.

By no means am I underestimating Bush's community work. His donations to numerous charitable causes and work to help others in the Gulf South and around the country are plentiful and I respect him for that.

But Bush turned a relatively harmless interview opportunity and a chance to show his support for his dejected teammate into a public display of disrespect to McAllister.

"It's the first time I'm 0-3," Bush said following Monday night's loss to the Tennessee Titans. "At the same time, we have 13 weeks left. This is the point where we really have to come together and come closer more than ever.

"Right now, more than ever, we need to step up and come together."

A public snub on one of the roughest days in McAllister's professional life is a fantastic start to Bush's whole coming together concept.

It's time for Reggie to grow into McAllister's shoes as the Saints' feature running back. It's also time for him to grow up.

SunHerald.com : It's time for Reggie Bush to grow up

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