For Saints and Fans, the Reggie Bush Era Is a Sign Of Hope

Ever since April 29, Reggie Bush fanatics have been clamoring for a glimpse of their New Orleans Saints savior. They came in flocks for their chance to take a peek at the Saints' first-round draft pick during mini-camp practices.

The 2005 Heisman Trophy running back could do no wrong at the Saints' practice facility on Saturday.

Quarterback Drew Brees would run through a simple handoff to Reggie Bush and the crowd erupted. Reggie Bush broke through the line with a burst of speed and darted near the end zone.

"Six," shouted one fan.

"We need about 20 of those (touchdowns)," exclaimed another patron.

"I hear them," Reggie Bush said. "I try to focus on practice. This is work time. This is where we work, this is our office. I try not to let it distract me too much."

Fans then began chanting "Reggie, Reggie" during stretches. The six-foot, 203-pound back ducked his head in embarrassment. Fred McAfee stretched next to him and bellowed out laughter.

"That's different," Reggie Bush said. "It's fun. There are a lot of good guys on this team. We've been having fun, especially in the running back group. That's one of the first things with being successful and winning games is having fun. It's a lot different when you are winning. You can have fun, joke around and do all those crazy things that we did at USC."

McAfee was roped into the Reggie Bush mix again when someone in the crowd asked the veteran special teamer how much Reggie Bush paid for his old No. 25 jersey.

The former Mississippi College player began counting his fingers, then counting his toes, then his fingers again. Many of the fans burst out in cheers.

Later in the morning session, Reggie Bush was elevated to the ranks of Batman and Superman.

"We got a superhero on this team - Reggie Bushman," said another fan.

The practice, for the fans, was all Reggie, all the time.

It's something first-year coach Sean Payton has come to expect when Reggie Bush is in the vicinity.

"In Reggie's case, there's a little bit of momentum in the off-season," Payton said. "He's part of that. Certainly there are a lot of other parts to that. I think they are excited about that and deservedly so."

A 100 percent healthy Reggie Bush zigged and zagged up and down the field with no hints of a gimpy hamstring. But he continues to receive treatment after each practice.

"Just stretching, nothing special, nothing serious. ... I pretty much have (the injury) out of my mind," Reggie Bush said. "On the field, off the field, just make sure I'm doing everything necessary to get myself back on the field as soon as possible."

Payton said Reggie Bush's abilities are more recognizable the way mini-camp is set up.

"The people who came out can see that," Payton said. "His elusiveness and ability in space are noticeable. Those are good things. We have to make sure we keep him healthy and do enough things to compliment players in the system."

Being coined the messiah of the Saints was something Reggie Bush expected. If it didn't happen, he'd be worried.

"Pressure to me now has become almost part of my life," Reggie Bush said. "It doesn't really affect me anymore. People talk about me being under pressure or having pressure of having to come in and be this great player that everyone expects me to be right away. It doesn't really faze me. It's become second nature now. It's almost like it would be weird not to have it."

Reggie Bush will have nine more practices with the Saints during the next two weeks before his contract needs to be signed.

With no contract comes no training camp. Then he earns the title of "hold out." That's something Reggie Bush doesn't covet.

"Honestly, it's in the works," Reggie Bush said. "Hopefully we've been talking to coach."

Reggie Bush stopped, and then his eyes lit up as Payton walked through the door.

"Right on time, coach," Reggie Bush said to Payton. "They're asking me about when my contract is going to be done."

Payton turns around at the top of the stairs and said, "Right before training camp."

Reggie Bush and Payton get a chuckle out of the running back's answer.

"There you go, that's the answer," Reggie Bush said with a grin.

It might be fun and games now, but it may not be that easy at the negotiating table.

The Houston Texans already have inked a six-year, $54 million deal with top overall pick Mario Williams. The former North Carolina State star has $26.5 million of it guaranteed. Reggie Bush and his agent Joel Segal likely will want as much, if not more, than Williams was given.

"Being a top pick, you have a little bit of an upper hand in the contract negotiations," Reggie Bush said. "Especially being in the top three.

You have a little leeway in negotiating. We'll see what happens. Right now, I'm just playing football."

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