Deuce held out to his rookie season untill a week or so into camp

GM, Subway, Adidas, and Pepsi say he'll play this year.

Here's a nice little nasty pain in the butt article today from WWL...

http://www.wwl.com/Article.asp?id=248442&spid=

Gus Kattengell / WWL Sports Reporter

7-24-06



Report: Bush contemplating sitting out season



Could the unthinkable happen? The savior to be, hold out for the 2006 season and never put on the Black and Gold? A report this weekend suggests such a tactic is being considered from the Heisman winner’s camp. According to the report, league sources stated that Reggie Bush is thinking about sitting out the year and reentering the draft in ’07.



It is believed that Bush is seeking to be paid equally or more than top overall pick Mario Williams of the Houston Texans. Guaranteed money is the key when it comes to NFL contracts and that is undoubtedly what’s keeping this deal from being finalized. Williams got $26.4 million in guaranteed cash, $2.4 million more than San Francisco’s Alex Smith, last year’s top overall pick, who received $24 million. Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown was the 2nd player taken overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Brown received $19.5 million in guaranteed money. So you might expect under normal circumstances, Bush would likely get between $21 and $24 million. However, Bush has endeared himself to the community, has helped the team sell season tickets at a record level and is the most talked about rookie heading into the 2006 NFL season.



So who holds the cards in the negotiation? Bush’s side can contend that he already has shown what type of impact he can have on an organization. They can understandably argue that sort of marketing weapon for a team shouldn’t come cheaply. The Saints have their tickets sold already, and should have a healthy Deuce McAllister returning, not to mention an upgrade at quarterback in Drew Brees. Bush’s side would argue however, Brees and McAllister are coming off surgeries and that the team shouldn’t risk upsetting their fan base by not signing a player that’s created so much excitement.



One thing is for certain. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis has a tough task in getting this deal done, especially if Bush’s hold out goes deep into training. So what if the Saints offer Bush the same money Mario Williams received from the Texans, $26 million in guaranteed money and Bush passes?



I do feel that Bush has some leverage, to an extent. If he threatens holding out the season base on a difference of $2-$3 million dollars, then I believe the fans will not be as supportive. Let’s be real, in a community still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, having someone, potential or no potential to help you win games, turns down a contract based on that difference, it will not be supported.



The truth is both sides equally share in the rewards or fallout based on the situation. The Saints and Bush both win if he gets signed and into camp on time. Bush gets his money and local endorsement deals begin to spring up. The fan base gets excited, the organization gets their player on the field and boom there goes the national attention train leaving the station. Draw out this negotiations and the team looks bad for not shelling out money. Bush goes from generous gift giver to being just another greedy athlete. I was on a national radio show this weekend and the host informed me, that the station was polling listeners on their view of Bush. It was over 70% negative, callers were even calling the show, suggesting the Saints let him sit out the year and then he can see just what team would sign him next season.



Let’s just hope this is posturing by the Bush camp, trying to increase the pressure as camp approaches. Hold out, that’s fine. Make your point. Sitting out the entire season is ridiculous and in my mind, would hurt both sides for a long time.

Look, Bush will sign, the Saints can't pay him more money then Mario it's just the way it is, everything is slotted. And to change that will change the way teams draft forever.