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Right after Pierre Thomas converted a 3-yard pass into a 14-yard gain on the Saints’ game-winning drive against San Francisco, ESPN commentator Ron Jaworski offered this ill-time statement:

“You see the difference with the loss of Reggie Bush. Nothing against Pierre Thomas, but, boy I tell you, you get Reggie Bush the ball in open space, he makes people miss.”

Nothing against Pierre Thomas? Wow, that’s a serious lack of respect for one of the most resourceful pass-receiving running backs in the NFL.

Thomas did what he always does on that play. He maximized the amount of yards he could gain, heading straight up-field with two defenders bearing down on him, slithering between them as they made contact and falling forward to the 49ers’ 48, setting up the big Drew Brees pass to Marques Colston that put New Orleans in field-goal range.

It’s doubtful Bush would have gotten that far. After dancing to see if he could break a long one, he probably would have been tackled short of a first down.

Jaworski would be surprised to learn that Thomas has averaged more yards per catch than Bush in all three of his NFL seasons. Last year, he averaged 7.7 yards on his 39 catches to Bush’s 7.1 on 47 receptions. In 2008, he averaged 9.2 yards on his 31 catches to Bush’s 8.5 on 52 receptions.

As a rookie, Thomas became the first running back in Saints history to have 100 yards rushing and receiving (12 catches, 111 yards) in a game as New Orleans lost its regular-season finale to Chicago.

Nothing against Thomas? Is there an NFL running back who follows his blocks better on screens?

Thomas even outperformed Bush as a receiver in the playoffs last year, catching 12 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The best was a 38-yarder against Minnesota on – you guessed it – a perfectly executed screen.

This is no slam on Bush. Healthier than he had ever been at the start of training camp, he appeared on the verge of his best season until sustaining a broken fibula early in the fourth quarter against San Francisco.

But his much-talked-about breakaway ability as a receiver essentially has been limited to one play in his five-year career – the breathtaking 88-yard touchdown against Chicago in the 2006 NFC Championship Game.

The numbers don’t lie. In two of the last three seasons, his longest reception was less than 30 yards.

The Saints will miss Bush, who is projected to be out four-to-six weeks, but look for Thomas to lead the team in catches during his absence, or at least come close.

Nothing against Jaworski, but the next time he calls a Saints game – Dec. 27 at Atlanta – he might owe Thomas an apology.

homerj07

PT Cruiser is a great player. I hope he starts getting the kudos he deserves.

Oh - Jaws is a large festering penis wart!!

Rugby Saint II

I used to like Jaws.............way back before he got stupid. He'll come around though, you just wait!

DRsaints

He's right in the sense that Bush can make big plays happen. Most teams pay special attention to where Bush is on the field though. PT doesn't get that kind of attention and so it's not as much feast or famine with him.

Boutte

Reggie is money when it comes to getting first downs. Thomas is magician on those screens. If I had to pick one back over the other I guess I'd have to go with P.T. Luckily we don't have to make that choice.