+1

I wanted Reggie with the #2 pick. I'll agree that Payton needed Bush in his offense for what he was capable of. Too bad it only came in brief, sporadic times throughout 6 seasons.

Trades happen. Had Houston really wanted Reggie they would have had him. And had Payton got what he "wanted" for that pick (who knows exactly what that was) we could have drafted Williams. Reggie was the sexy pick, Houston didn't want the risk, nor did any other team in range of the #2 pick so we got him.

But let's skip all the "what if" scenarios.. I don't think Reggie was nearly as essential to the success of the offense as Williams could have been to the defense - long term.

Easy there nips

At least according to SP's book, Bush was who he most coveted in that draft, but I give you that it might be just a case of "talking after the fact" and the story being told following the SB win.

yeah, but I think Reggie was essential to keeping the offense anddefense in New Orleans.

I don't think Payton does that. I think in spite of his being squirrely about injuries ("he has a knee") I think Payton is actually very straight shooting and honest at the podium or in what he writes. I do think Reggie Bush was very coveted in that draft, and if you look at it as a either/or choice between offense or defense (Bush vs. Williams) Payton was obviously going to pick the offensive weapon. Especially starting from square one like he was.

Our offense under SP is, and always has been, about creating match up problems, which Drew diagnoses at the line and directs the play accordingly. Until Sproles, Bush almost gauranteed a mismatch somewhere on the field, if not on him, then on whoever the fast guy they have on him should have been guarding. I'm sorry if he didn't run for 1500 yards a season and score 20 TDs, but he did just about everything we drafted him for except for running between tackles and playing 16 games.

Free agent OLB/DE Mario Williams insists becoming the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history is "really not that big of a deal" to him.
"I'm not worried about that," Williams said. "I was the first pick, and I've already had everything I really wanted, so my biggest thing is to be in a good position, a good scheme, a good system." Williams' hope is that the Texans will make him an offer rich enough to stay in Houston. "I love it here. The team is right where it needs to be," said Williams. "The pieces fit, but it's part of business. Whatever happens, happens." Williams says he's been 100 percent recovered from his torn pectoral for two weeks.

Top-dollar deal not Mario Williams' priority - Rotoworld.com

It might be that he also wants to remain in a 3-4 scheme.

I thought he excelled as a 4-3 DE and didn't care too much for the 3-4 OLB switch.

All of his pro-bowl and all-pro selections were as a 4-3 DE.

I agree. Mario played his best in a 4-3.

And to the young man's credit he never complained about the switch at all to the best of my knowledge.

Class act and I'd love to see him in a Saint uniform, although its highly unlikely.

Me too! I was wrong about him 2006.

What I meant was that I'm not sure if he'd be willing to be an OLB in a 4-3 after making the switch to being a 5-tech to accommodate the 3-4.

Naturally he could be a DE for the Saints, but most of the discussion has revolved around the idea of him being an OLB for the Saints.

I know that there's not much difference between being a DE in a 4-3 as opposed to being an OLB in a 3-4, but I was just wondering if he preferred that spot and scheme now that he made the transition.

I'm pretty sure he knows that if he came here he'd be a 4-3 DE. I don't think anyone wants him here as a 4-3 OLB and if they do I'd place them on ignore immediately.

Calais Campbell

But what I'm saying is that maybe he prefers to stay as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme rather than returning to being a pure DE in a 4-3.

He already was a Pro Bowl 4-3 DE, so maybe he wants this new challenge of becoming as dominant in this new position as he was in the earlier one?

He was injured this past season and maybe he wants to give it another shot, and hoping he can have a full season to master the new position.

Now I'm not saying that is the case or that if it would ultimately affect his decision of which team he signs for... I was merely speculating as we have nothing else to do these days.