This board consistently makes these points, yet may still fail to realize...
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Reggie may be the greatest tweener to play in the backfield ever
But does anybody think that his body is designed to take the weekly pounding of a true running back for 16+ games? Is it the best use of his talent? Is he known for his blocking skills? Do you really want him blocking all the time for Brees? My answer is not really and only when we have to. Still, the jury is out on the kid. The Saints need to use Reggie as a new type of NFL player. Payton has created a unique position for him to gain 1800 all purpose yards. Payton knows how to design the offense that best uses his god given talents. Teams have to cover him in the flat with more than a LB. We use him running up the field in zones that are being cleared out. We use him as a Hot Read for Brees to get rid of the ball quickly to. We use him as a decoy to open up the running and passing game. We use him to create misdirection as teams over play him. Using him as a pure RB isn’t what god intended for Reggie Bush.

How many of you would bet your paycheck that Deuce returns as an effective NFL running back in 2008 or later?
My guess is not many of us. I don’t think Payton’s willing to bet the entire season on his (both) surgically repaired knees. Deuce certainly has a great heart, and if anybody can come back, he can. But heart alone may not be enough to win us the Superbowl. Still, who on this board thinks we should rush Deuce’s return? Assuming we keep Deuce, he may (and I stress may) be ready to play at close to 100% around game 8 if ever. Playing him too early is a huge risk because he may be totally ineffective or reinjure himself. Still, I expect him to only be a shell of the kid we saw at age 25 (he's 29 now) with two knee injuries. This may very well be his last year as a Saint.

Stecker isn't a true feature back, and he's getting up there (33 in November).
This kid has heart too, but he's at the age where injuries take longer to heal. If he loses a step this season, he's done as any type of starter or decent backup. Still, who doesn’t love the guy’s heart. Stecker isn’t the type of back that will get you deep into the playoffs. He’s a special teams player and a get it done emergency type of player.

This Leads Us to Pierre Thomas
Keeping Thomas will no doubt be the easiest decision Payton makes in 2008. The hard decision becomes on how much you can rely on him to be your starting running back. Assuming we don’t draft a true #1 RB in round one, he will be your starting running back in 2008. We all love the kid but the question remains, can he do it consistently on a weekly basis? Thomas has a great preseason and a great game against a Chicago defense that can be argued, really didn't come to play. Yet, we lost the game even with Thomas's great individual performance. So how does this warrant putting all your eggs in his basket?

I’m pretty sure it hard to disagree with my current assessment of our current RB situation.
This is why a few of us on the board realize that it makes so much since to draft a true #1 running back in 2008. Assuming we go deep in the playoff in 2008, we would be picking late in round 1 next year and may not get a great running back in 2009. Add to that the fact that you NEVER GET A #1 rated back in free agency, and my point becomes a little clearer.

Does anybody think that this doesn’t enter Payton’s mind entering the draft?
In the draft there will be LB, CB and DT in later rounds. No player on the team (except QB) touches the ball more or can have a greater impact than RB. Next year LB, CB and DL will be available in free agency, but rarely if ever will you find a true #1 RB. We all know what Duece’s running meant to the play of Reggie Bush and Drew Brees and it certainly kept them on the field by not having to ask them to do too much.

Payton will draft Mendenhall because he feels he has too.
Look folks, I too want a LB, CB or DT and it would certainly be hard to pass up Dorsey or Ellis in favor of another RB nor do I think we will or should. It makes us all want to puke (me included), but Payton knows offense. Will he be able to call the game he wants with Stecker in the game? Will we be able to get the RB in round 2 that Payton wants? Does Payton like having the best offense in the league? Does it validate his greatness as an offensive mind? What do you think. I certainly think that Payton wants a player that makes an IMPACT THIS YEAR and doesn't have to sit the bench.

Looks like you secretly want SP to sign Ricky Williams after he gets cut and have him retire as a Saint as the all time leading Saints rusher! The Mendeee sentiment is just a smoke screen so that the Saints will indeed pick a LB or CB in the draft finally! With Rivers, we may finally have a reincarnation of the Dome Patrol, especially IF Morgan and Vilma pan out!

Great assessment. I agree that Mendenhall is the 2nd best RB in the draft and would certainly fit the bill of the type of back we need considering his size (225-230) and his straight line speed (4.45). Also, he hasnt really had to take too many carries with only one season as a starter under his belt. And he is the one of the few "bigger" backs to take in the draft. But can we really pass up the chance for Ellis, Rivers, or McKelvin to add much needed speed and explosiveness to our defense? Overall, the variance between Mendenhall and other backs that would fit our offense is much larger than say a Rivers, Ellis, or McKelvin. Cool fact: Mendenhall would take over the starter job with Pierre Thomas as the 3rd back. Thomas was the starter at Illinois with Mendenhall as the backup at Illinois for two years.

Point well taken.... but

Here's the real questions yet to be asked...
Will the drafting of Mendenhall or another true #1 RB be seen by the media that the "Reggie Bush Experiment" has failed. Will he be deemed a BUST? What does Reggie want his legacy to be? What will he say? Will he be mad and want to be traded, or will he be happy playing the roll he played at USC for his entire NFL career?

You know what would really make the offense interesting
is a full back that can actually run with the football and be a real threat out of the back field too... like Tony Galbreath or Mike Alstott. I might be insane but Jacob Hester just might fill the bill. Imagine keeping 2 FBs. We might could run the option. LOL

Ok I'm letting my imagination get the best of me now. I'm going to bed.