ssmitty

5. At USC, Reggie Bush was a touchdown waiting to happen as a returner. Oftentimes highly paid or high profile players in the NFL are kept away from the return game as general mangers and coaches are deathly afraid of losing a star to an injury on special teams.


Reggie Bush returning kicks isn't just scary for New Orleans' opponents. (Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

With that as a back drop, we asked Saints general manger Mickey Loomis if Bush would be used as a returner. Loomis said it would be totally up to Sean Payton and his staff, but he would never tell a coach not to play a top draft pick on special teams. Loomis did add he could conjure up a scenario where Bush was only back on returns in fourth quarter and special situations, similar to a role Deion Sanders once had.

For the record, I asked Bush about being a special teams player in the pros in February. He insisted at the time that he would beg his pro team to be back on every kick.

I think the ability to score every time he touches the ball outweighs the risk of injury. You can get hurt on any play in the NFL. You cannot coach scared. I think teams get too nervous about using highly paid players on special teams ever since the Jason Sehorn injury. Tim Brown returned punts his entire career, and he was able to always play at the receiver position.

Factor returns into the "touches" for Bush during his neophyte season. He should be back on kicks.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5576238