Saints Rookie Shows He Can Take Big Hits, While Team Looks for Ways To Use His Talents
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

He New Orleans Saints didn’t get their $62 million worth out of running back Reggie Bush on Thursday night, but they’re not paying him for preseason games.

Bush, a former Heisman Trophy winner who may be the most electrifying rookie in the NFL since Atlanta Falcons Michael Vick in 2001, carried just four times for 14 yards and lost 5 yards on a pass reception in the Saints’ 10-9 loss to the Chiefs in a preseason finale at Arrowhead Stadium.

But he learned some valuable lessons that he’ll apply when the regular season starts Sept. 10 against Cleveland Browns.

When Bush caught a screen pass that was tipped by Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, he tried to run wide instead of taking what yardage he could get and was pulled down by linebacker Derrick Johnson.

“It’s tough when I feel like I can score anytime I touch the ball,” said Bush, who scored 42 touchdowns in three seasons at USC. “When you get caught up in trying to make too much happen … I’m trying to harness that and learn when to go for the big play and when to get down and when to get out of bounds, stuff like that.

“The ball got tipped, but instead of going back and losing yards, I could have gotten 1 or 2 yards upfield and it would have been better.”

If there were any concerns that Bush, listed generously at 6 feet and 203 pounds, could absorb jarring hits in the NFL, he dispelled them against the Chiefs.

On his third carry, Bush was hammered at the line of scrimmage by Kansas City Chiefs safety Greg Wesley, who drove him down for no gain. Bush popped right up and returned to the huddle.

“I got up and shook ’em off,” said Bush. “I’m a tough guy. It didn’t faze me at all.”

Bush, the second pick in the NFL draft last spring, finished the preseason with 102 yards in 19 carries, including a long of 44 yards in the first preseason game against the Tennessee Volunteers.

“This preseason, I think I learned a lot,” he said. “That’s going to help me getting ready for the season. I learned what you can and what you can’t do.”

The Saints are still experimenting with ways to pair Bush with veteran Deuce McAllister, the franchise’s career rushing leader who is coming off major knee surgery.

“I definitely feel like we can both save each other’s legs,” said Bush, who thrived in a similar situation last year with LenDale White at USC when Bush carried 200 times for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns while White, a second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans, rushed 197 times for 1,302 yards and scored 24 touchdowns.

“Sharing time with LenDale, I’m very familiar with the situation. So I’m happy Deuce is here, and I’m hoping to make this thing work.”

Reggie Bush, who returned three punts and one kickoff for touchdowns in his college career, will return kicks for the Saints once the regular season starts.

“I think he’s a 12- to 15-carry guy, then five catches and a few punt returns,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said last week. “But I don’t want to make him our every-down punt returner. I’d probably use him when a team is backed up, punting from its own end zone and we’ve got a chance to catch it at the 50 and make something happen. Reggie Bush is so explosive.”