New Orleans Saints drop the ball by handling Reggie Bush with kid gloves

saintsfan1976 · 05-03-2011, 08:13 AM

There isn't much logic in immediately applying grades to NFL drafts, mainly because no evaluation can be made until guys actually step onto the field and do something, and partly because every team boasts success after the extravaganza.

The New Orleans Saints shouldn't have to ease Reggie Bush's hurt feelings.
Each franchise, obviously, would give itself an "A." Yearly, each claims to have fulfilled all objectives. All swear that every player selected was graded higher on their draft board than where he was picked.
But for the New Orleans Saints, and the 2011 draft, a personal exception is offered.

As in, the team miserably failed in its dealings with Reggie Bush. Specifically, it fell down on the job when, after making a trade and drafting running back Mark Ingram in the first round, it wasted time stroking the ego and easing the apparently hurt feelings of the most famous part-time, situational player in franchise history.

In short, the Saints should tell him to climb aboard or kick rocks.
If New Orleans had drafted a quarterback in the first round, Drew Brees would have warranted consultation or clarification.
If the decision had been to take a middle linebacker, who would have been expected to compete with Jon Vilma for playing time, Vilma would have earned a conversation.
If a guard had been picked with the notion of taking reps from Jahri Evans or a safety had been snatched up on the belief that Malcolm Jenkins wasn't cutting it, Evans and Jenkins have played well enough to merit an account of the team's thinking.

But Bush?

Really?

Coach Sean Payton felt the need to call Bush on Friday to assure him the franchise still values him and to specifically detail Bush's role, advising him that the team still can use his talents?

That's comical.

Bush's mythological powers have been on display sparingly enough since he joined the Saints as the No. 2 overall pick in 2006 that he should have been initiating contact with the organization Thursday night. He should have been thanking the front office for picking a player who can do all the things Bush has proven he can't do through trial and error, tasks even Bush has to know deep down that he has failed to perform.

Because if he had shown he consistently could do the work, the Saints wouldn't have had much reason to pick Ingram.

The truth is that an argument in favor of the organization cutting ties with Bush, regardless of the size of the pay cut he's willing to take from the $11 million-plus he's scheduled to make, can be made just as persuasively, if not more, as one can be made for the team keeping him.

He hasn't played all 16 regular-season games since he was a rookie; otherwise, he has missed at least two games each season, topping out at a high of eight last year.

He never has run for more than 581 yards (2007), caught passes for more than 742 yards ('06) or had more than one season as a breakout punt returner (20 for 270 yards and three touchdowns in '08).

No, we can't ignore that he's an offensive threat. Bush has ability, and Payton has done a good job of using it.

But availability and durability are talents, too, and when they're absent, all the other gifts mean nothing. A fast guy who can't play isn't much of a distraction to the opposing defense.

This wasn't a case of Chris Johnson feeling insulted by the Titans, Adrian Peterson being slighted by the Vikings or Michael Turner wondering what the Falcons were thinking by those respective organizations picking a running back in the first round. Those players are load carriers who have earned the right to be concerned if their workload might decrease against their wishes.

Bush's numbers have been on a consistent decline. He never has been, or will be, a feature back for the Saints, and as much as fans love him and as electrifying as he periodically has been, his production never has measured up to the reputation.

As wonderful as experts say New Orleans did in the draft, and as high as the marks have been for the work, the way the franchise dealt with Bush only can be classified as a smudge on the draft.
There shouldn't have been a need to explain the selection of Ingram by one party. Rather, there should have been an appreciation for the selection of him by the other.

New Orleans Saints drop the ball by handling Reggie Bush with kid gloves | NOLA.com

05-03-2011, 08:13 AM	#1
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,565 Blog Entries: 3	New Orleans Saints drop the ball by handling Reggie Bush with kid gloves There isn't much logic in immediately applying grades to NFL drafts, mainly because no evaluation can be made until guys actually step onto the field and do something, and partly because every team boasts success after the extravaganza. The New Orleans Saints shouldn't have to ease Reggie Bush's hurt feelings. Each franchise, obviously, would give itself an "A." Yearly, each claims to have fulfilled all objectives. All swear that every player selected was graded higher on their draft board than where he was picked. But for the New Orleans Saints, and the 2011 draft, a personal exception is offered. As in, the team miserably failed in its dealings with Reggie Bush. Specifically, it fell down on the job when, after making a trade and drafting running back Mark Ingram in the first round, it wasted time stroking the ego and easing the apparently hurt feelings of the most famous part-time, situational player in franchise history. In short, the Saints should tell him to climb aboard or kick rocks. If New Orleans had drafted a quarterback in the first round, Drew Brees would have warranted consultation or clarification. If the decision had been to take a middle linebacker, who would have been expected to compete with Jon Vilma for playing time, Vilma would have earned a conversation. If a guard had been picked with the notion of taking reps from Jahri Evans or a safety had been snatched up on the belief that Malcolm Jenkins wasn't cutting it, Evans and Jenkins have played well enough to merit an account of the team's thinking. But Bush? Really? Coach Sean Payton felt the need to call Bush on Friday to assure him the franchise still values him and to specifically detail Bush's role, advising him that the team still can use his talents? That's comical. Bush's mythological powers have been on display sparingly enough since he joined the Saints as the No. 2 overall pick in 2006 that he should have been initiating contact with the organization Thursday night. He should have been thanking the front office for picking a player who can do all the things Bush has proven he can't do through trial and error, tasks even Bush has to know deep down that he has failed to perform. Because if he had shown he consistently could do the work, the Saints wouldn't have had much reason to pick Ingram. The truth is that an argument in favor of the organization cutting ties with Bush, regardless of the size of the pay cut he's willing to take from the $11 million-plus he's scheduled to make, can be made just as persuasively, if not more, as one can be made for the team keeping him. He hasn't played all 16 regular-season games since he was a rookie; otherwise, he has missed at least two games each season, topping out at a high of eight last year. He never has run for more than 581 yards (2007), caught passes for more than 742 yards ('06) or had more than one season as a breakout punt returner (20 for 270 yards and three touchdowns in '08). No, we can't ignore that he's an offensive threat. Bush has ability, and Payton has done a good job of using it. But availability and durability are talents, too, and when they're absent, all the other gifts mean nothing. A fast guy who can't play isn't much of a distraction to the opposing defense. This wasn't a case of Chris Johnson feeling insulted by the Titans, Adrian Peterson being slighted by the Vikings or Michael Turner wondering what the Falcons were thinking by those respective organizations picking a running back in the first round. Those players are load carriers who have earned the right to be concerned if their workload might decrease against their wishes. Bush's numbers have been on a consistent decline. He never has been, or will be, a feature back for the Saints, and as much as fans love him and as electrifying as he periodically has been, his production never has measured up to the reputation. As wonderful as experts say New Orleans did in the draft, and as high as the marks have been for the work, the way the franchise dealt with Bush only can be classified as a smudge on the draft. There shouldn't have been a need to explain the selection of Ingram by one party. Rather, there should have been an appreciation for the selection of him by the other. New Orleans Saints drop the ball by handling Reggie Bush with kid gloves \| NOLA.com Attached Thumbnails Halo likes this.