Reggie Bush Enjoys Sweet Times Underneath the Spotlight
How sweet is it to be Reggie Bush these days?

Touch-him-and-get-a-sugar-rush sweet. Stand-in-his-shadow-and-develop-a-cavity sweet. Look-at-him-and-gain-five-pounds sweet.

"I'm enjoying it, enjoying being in this position right now, kind of taking advantage of it while I've got it," Bush said.

He's capitalizing on celebrity like few Saints players ever have, or will.

There was/is the link to, appearance in the music video of, and possible breakup with singer Ciara, a hottie by almost any measure. And if truly there was a romance and severance, that'll only pave the way for Bush to be able to escort a different hottie or five down future red carpets.

And there's his ever-expanding endorsement base, which was wide enough last summer that it helped him become the most recognizable Saints player even before he ever laced up his tailor-made, gold-highlighted cleats.

And there's the buildup accompanying the approach to his second season, after a rookie year that left Saints fans wanting more, when Bush ran for 565 yards and six touchdowns, caught 88 passes for 742 yards and two scores and returned a punt 65 yards for a game-winning score on the 100th touch of his career (54 rushes, 34 catches and 12th punt return).

And, even, there has been an audience with Becks, Posh and the Beckham kids, allowing Bush to press palms and chitchat with one of the few athletes (soccer star David Beckham) who is more recognizable than Bush.

How sweet is it to be Reggie Bush these days? Even Reggie Bush would want to be Reggie Bush if he wasn't already.

"I'm just glad to have him off those commercial shoots and have him here in camp with us," quarterback Drew Brees joked.

"I get a chance to do a lot of commercials, do some traveling, meet some new and exciting people, guys like David Beckham," Bush said. "It was great, so I'm enjoying it right now.

"I never really had an expectation level for it. I just kind of take it as it comes. But at the same time, I have had a chance to do a lot of new, exciting things, I've partnered up with a lot of exciting companies and corporate sponsors that I'm very excited about."

None of it would be possible, though, if Bush didn't have star appeal on the field. And that, he has an abundance of.

The theory here won't change that the Saints' franchise never has had a player of Bush's caliber, never has had a runner, receiver or anyone else who is capable of doing the things Bush is capable of doing.

The touchdown-waiting-to-happen tag, while cliché, sticks. But so, too, does the fact that Bush has the ability to do something only a handful of players can, and of taking away your breath, any time he touches the football.

"If there's one thing about Reggie, obviously, he's got a lot of things going on, he's got a lot of people pulling at him," Brees said. "But he's always going to find a way to make sure he's ready to go. He's a competitor, he's a very prideful guy, so I'm never worried about Reggie."

"He's in good shape, he has trained well," Coach Sean Payton said. "We're real pleased with how he tested. He's running around and, I think, in real good shape."

He's in 10 times better shape than last year because this time, he knew what to expect. But it speaks well of Bush's dedication and discipline that, even with all his outside interests, he creates the time to put in the work. That can't be said of players who have weeks more free time.

"That stuff kind of takes a toll on you, all the meetings with the sponsors," Bush said.

"It's fun but after a certain amount of time you just want to get back to football. I kind of took a break from that stuff, but it has its season."

Its season is the offseason, where meetings with people like Becks and Posh can take place.

"We just kind of shot the breeze," Bush said of his visit with Beckham. "Just hung out and just talked. Just being around him and meeting him, and getting a chance to meet his family -- his kids and his wife -- it was cool. To meet somebody from another sport, but somebody who is so popular."

Somebody whose personal and professional life might even be sweeter than that of Bush.

But not by much.

Other Football News:
Michael Bush , John Brantley , Joe McKnight , Brady Quinn, Chris Leak, Stephen Garcia.

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