Before the internet, nothing happened.

I was always told: "Where there's smoke, there's a fire"

Sometimes there is smoke being put out there wanting people to believe there is a fire.

No way to know unless the "league sources" are known... doesn't matter though we have Bush for 2 years regardless

As I pointed out earlier, it is pretty easy to figure out who the NFL source is. NFL source would not refer to the player, his agent or the players union. That leaves either the league office or one of the franchises. This would not be a subject you would ever expect the league to speak on. That leaves the team's front offices. It makes no sense for the Saints, or any other franchise, to put this out there. That leaves one solitary plausible source ... the Falcons. Not only would they have the motive, but they would have the access as the Advocate writer would have undoubtedly contacted them regarding the story.

Guess that makes it a fact then?

No. But highly likely. What NFL source do you believe it was that said this to the writer and what is your basis for your opinion?

Well?

Occam's Razor.

Of course, an offer sheet has to be filed with the league and it was confirmed by many official outlets. The claim that Bush didn't want the Saints to match was solely from one single writer with the Advocate that credited an NFL source alone. There was no confirmation or any other outlet that credited any source as saying the same thing.

But, I am wondering, why are you wanting to believe so badly that Bush doesn't want to be a Saint?

Same reason you are believing that Bush wanted to stay a back-up.

No. Not a back-up. He's likely to play a great deal in the 4-2-5/3-3-5 and stands a far greater chance at getting a ring than he would in Atlanta. Besides, there was no guarantee he would be a starter in Atlanta regardless of what they implied. I believe absolutely he would like to be a starter, but not bad enough to be an issue whatsoever with the Saints.