What we're NOT talking about?
 

So with Bush-Mania taking hold in NO, and Benson rolling in the dough from the advance ticket sales, just what is everyone carefully NOT talking about?

A little player by the name of Deuce McAllister.

I've seen a million articles on Reggie, but zippo about Deuce. Is Deuce begginning to get that feeling of Deja Vu? Memories can't be that short around here. I mean, didn't the same thing happen a few years ago with Ricky? Benson isn't exactly loose with the wallet, so with the money they're going to have to pay Bush, what are they going to do with Deuce's hefty contract? Let him ride pine?

Does anyone else feel Tradewind blowing into the Big Easy?

Or am I the only knucklehead that sees the pink elephant in the living room? :pink:

RE: What we
 

deuce has already came out n said that he loves the bush pick... that he thinks it will help prolong his career and he cant wait to play with bush...

Deuce: the ultimate team player

I think i'd go with that last line, with the knucklehead part. :P j/k

Anway, we have talked about Deuce. He said he was on board with the signing.

This is also not similar to Ricky, cause ricky had one of the worst contracts ever out together cause of going with Master P as his agent, making him easily tradeable. Plus he was in the third year of that horrible rookie deal. Deuce is in the second year of the richest contract in Saints history, making him untradeable, unless somehow we can absorb a 10 mil cap hit, at a mimimum. I don't think we can. Add to that, Bush is not an every down back, yet. He didn't have to do it in college, and if he is gonna be returning kicks and stuff, I don't want him as the every down back. Line him up at receiver with Deuce in the backfield, let him return punts and kicks, and let him work between the 20s like USC did. Keep him and Deuce fresh all game.

RE: What we
 

They obviously compliment each other and I don't think there's a question Bush needs someone like Deuce to take the load off of him. Deuce will outrush Bush this year.

The only problem is the future. Will we be able to work out a $ deal that lets them both stay for a while? I don't know :-/

In the future, when Reggie Bush growns into a playing weight that will allow him to shoulder more of the load, we may see the end of Deuce. But this could also possibly be Deuce's last deal as a Saint, since it runs through 2012, so we would really only have to worry about paying Reggie if we accelerated some of Deuce's cap hit in the future.

Bottom line is.....if the combo package works.....this should last a LOOOOng time.....unless one of them becomes stupid about things and starts yappin and cryin about too much contract money.

We do have $ to play with under the cap to sign this guy then?

Also did anyone else catch the look on Reggie's face when he was picked? It looked like he just swallowed something nasty at his mother-in-law's dinner table and was trying to pretend that it tasted good!!!

:puke:

The money seems to be the issue and I can't see 2 marquis backs sharing time for very long. (Like a season at the most!)

We definitely have the money to pay him. We are 14 mil under the cap right now. Enough to sign bush and all our picks, not enough to accept having to take a cap hit on trading Bush.

And yeah I saw his face, pretty much thesame face Eli gave the chargers. But I hope it's more of him being disappointed at not having gone first than not actually wanting to play here, although Michael Smith did report he told his agent to make a deal with the Jets happen. I'm still a little leery, but once he inks the deal, that will all go away.

Why would Reggie initaially be happy? With the negative publicity the city's gotten because of all the destruction caused by the hurricane his impression of the whole situation can't be very good. Him coming here, and getting the type of reception he's getting from the fanbase and actually seeing things in the city firsthand should change his mnd quickly.

Meant to say trading Deuce.

Thats true.....I too saw disappointment. I'm sure it was a mixture of...not being number 1.....and coming to a team that...
1. Has the worst history.
2. Has a greedy and selfish owner.
3. Just got obliterated by a storm.
4. Has an uncertain future.

However....I think the recption he is recieving in NO will slowly allow him not only to feel comfortable with the idea of being a Saint. But I'm sure he will in turn want to make the fans happy he is there as well.

The plus side to Bush is also the negative we have to deal with. He sees the game as a business.

For example,
1. He was in peak condition for his workout because that's how he secured the top of most teams draft boards.
2. He doesn't generally do things that cost him--drugs, guns, etc. The deal with his parents seems out of character for him. Might well be his family trying to cash in on him. Unfortunate for not the first time this has happened. We will have to wait and see how this works out.
3. He does and says all the right things.
4. He sees that what he does on the field puts $$$ in his pocket a pretty mature attitude that a lot of draft picks never get (ie Sullivan).

The disappointment he had with us probably related to a few specific items.
1. He most likely lost some cash over not being taken #1.
2. He lost out on the larger advertising dollars available in Houston, New York and the larger fan base in general that would be over and above his base contract.
3. Texas has no personal income tax--a fact he mentioned in an intereview a few weeks ago.
4. Louisiana has the far smaller market, the damaged market via the storms, a much lower per capita income and a state tax that will dig into the overall worth of his contract.

On balance, I think he will still be ready to light it up and excel here since he now has to compete for a national advertising audience. I figure he'll want to be the very best player on this team and try to parlay it into a Gatorade, Nike or Under Armor deal.

The difference in Ricky & Deuce situation are Ricky had a bad contract that made him easy to trade, and Deuce was picked almost at the end of round one that made him easier to sign. Now with Deuce just signning a new BIG contract will make it nearly impossible to trade him and Bush being pick 2nd in this draft will make it interesting on how long the hold over will last. I hope it want be one but realistic it will be inevitable. Don't get me wrong I am estatic we pick him. This is when Loomis start earning his paycheck and i hope he can put it together w/out trading keystone players like Donte Stallworth or Charles Grant

Reggie
 

Its obvious that Reggie Bush did want to be in New Orleans. However, I agree with those that say that the fan reception coupled with the idea of being on an up and coming team that has the support of the entire country will change his mind. Bush has already said he hopes to be a light to the city. He may miss out on a few dollars, but in the grand scheme of things he will still be a VERY VERY rich man. The city will embrace him and everything will work out. I only wish we had done a better job of addressing some defensive needs in the draft. We should score a lot of points, but as of now our defense will be losing us some games.

RE: Reggie
 

I think the endorsements find the bigtime players. If you play in NY and you suck you're not going to get endorsement contracts.

If you're constantly on ESPN highlights and going to the Pro-Bowl all these companies aren't going to say, "Yeah, but he plays in a small market."

Exactly. I know that 43rd market stuff seems bad, but tell me a player that comes in with the name value of Reggie Bush? If he plays well, he has the potential to be just as beneficial to the city as he will be to the team. New corporations will see a goodlooking young guy with the city at his feet and want a piece. Then stay for a while inthe city.

As for Deuce, it's simple: he is exactly what I would look for in a fellow military member. A quality guy that comes with it every day, works his butt off and plays for the team, not himself. He gives the team a great face, has always been an even keel kind of guy and is a helluva smart man to boot.

I hope we keep him around until he retires just on principle, let alone his ability.