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Like countless others in New Orleans, Saints player Rafael Bush is pumped about the wheeling and dealing his team did this offseason, doling out one groundbreaking contract to acquire three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd in free agency and another to keep 2013 All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham on the roster long-term.

But it’s way too early to get “a big head” about the 2014 Saints, Bush said during a conversation with The Advocate on Wednesday. In the safety’s words, signing guys in the spring and summer “doesn’t automatically give you a pass to win a Super Bowl” in the winter.

“There’s still a whole lot of work left to be done,” Bush remarked. “I’m excited to get in camp and get things rolling.”

Talking eight days before the Saints are set to report to training camp at The Greenbrier golf resort in West Virginia, Bush said the six-year, $54 million free-agent contract New Orleans gave Byrd in March and the four-season, $40 million extension it handed Graham on Tuesday ensured the team headed into the 2014 campaign as loaded with talent as possible, which he called “half the process.”

Aside from the deals that made Byrd the best-paid NFL safety ever and Graham the tight end with the highest annual salary in league history, other Saints moves making waves this offseason included acquiring 12-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey in free agency and trading up seven spots in the first round of this year’s draft to select Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, honored as the best wide receiver to play college football in 2013.

“Top to bottom, we have one of the best rosters in the NFL,” Bush said. “We have pretty much everything we need to beat anybody in the NFL.”

Read more: Rafael Bush says Saints still have work to do | Sports | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

joker-saint

I can't wait to see our defense in action!!!! Is it football season yet?.....Lol

saintsfan1976

I can't wait to see Bush separate WR's from completions.

SmashMouth

Julio gets first crack at getting separated...

B_Dub_Saint

Knock some fools out and we will win the SB.

I still don't know why this was a penalty

K Major

This collision appears to be more forearm than helmet to helmet. Bush is flat out nasty (in a good way).

B_Dub_Saint

You know what my problem is K, Seattle mauled people all season long, we get a solid hit that could change the momentum of the game and it goes the other way. I guess that's just the way it goes.

Utah_Saint

I'm glad he didn't become a Falcon. That would've been such a waste of a career.

jnormand

Exactly!

blackangold

SEA did get away with a lot but there was no doubt about the Bush hit, I wish that wasn't the rule but it is.


Is it pre-season yet? Can't wait!