McAllister Gladly Takes Backseat to Rookie Reggie Bush
Deuce McAllister stood at the podium all smiles.

He had just rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in a 24-21 win over Tampa Bay and was a mere afterthought, even though his rookie sidekick Reggie Bush had only run for 23 yards on nine tries.

McAllister didn't care about getting glory. His New Orleans Saints are 4-1.

"He can have it,'' McAllister laughed. "I'm proud and happy for him.''
No egos. No unhealthy competitions. No backbiting.

At least that's how things are for the Saints these days.

"Last year, players weren't being held accountable for what they were doing,'' defensive end Charles Grant said. "This year, they are. Everybody's being held accountable to the coaches and to the players.''

While having two first-round running backs in the same backfield initially looked like trouble, the Saints are suddenly in an enviable position. While McAllister got 15 carries to Reggie Bush's nine, Reggie Bush added a team-high 11 receptions for 63 yards.

"They've got great runners here,'' Bucs' coach Jon Gruden said. "It would be a fun job to have, running backs coach of the Saints.''

George Henshaw is that fortunate coach, who now appears to have a healthy McAllister to work with after going through a season-ending knee surgery last year.

"I'm just looking for opportunities,'' McAllister said. "They did a lot of blitzing on the back and the front side. We were just looking for our opportunities to find some holes.

"I'm game ready. Some days it (knee) feels better than others. Today it felt pretty good. I'm doing pretty good for an older guy.''

Other things are different as well.

"I didn't hear one boo today from the crowd,'' cornerbacker Mike McKenzie said. "It's definitely a different deal this year.''

There were plenty of tense moments in Sunday's win. Things were looking pretty dim late in the fourth period until Reggie Bush 65-yard punt return for a touchdown.

"It was set up perfectly,'' said Aaron Stecker, who delivered the key block to spring Reggie Bush. "Everybody held up their blocks.

"If we keep doing that, it won't be the last time that happens this year.''

As for the breakdown in touches between McAllister and Reggie Bush, neither coach Sean Payton or quarterback Drew Brees had a feel for predicting the future.

"It's hard to plan out where the ball is going to go receptions-wise,'' Payton said. "You kind of take what the defense gives you.''

Reggie Bush and McAllister maintain it doesn't matter.

"I'm just happy to be on the team,'' Reggie Bush said.

So are many coaches, fans and teammates, including Deuce McAllister.

New Orleans Saints News:
April News
•Saints Want Bush to Emulate Westbrook

March News
•Reggie Bush Vows to Focus on Football

February News
•Bush teams with Shaq to host All-Star charity event
•Dog thinks 2 $900 Super Bowl tickets tasty treat
•Boonton man scores big with Super Bowl tickets
•Dog thinks 2 $900 Super Bowl tickets tasty treat

Super Bowl Weekend
•OK!'s Guide to the Super Bowl Parties
•"Hannah" primed to claim Super Bowl weekend
•Paris Hilton, Ludacris party alongside 50 Cent at pre-game Super Bowl concert

January News:
•Reggie Bush to Give Deposition
•New Book Points a Finger at Reggie Bush
•Reggie Bush Engaged to Kim Kardashian?

December News:
•Eagles vs. Saints Preview 12/23/07
•Bush Hoping to Play Against Eagles 12/18/07
•Cardinals 24, Saints 31
•Bush Out For the Year 12/12/07
•Falcons 14, Saints 34 12/10/07
•Falcons vs. Saints Preview 12/10/07
•Buccaneers 27, Saints 23 12/02/07
•Buccaneers vs. Saints Preview 12/02/07

November News:
•Panthers 6, Saints 31 11/25/07
•The Dissapointment of Reggie Bush 11/21/07
•Texans 23 Saints 10 11/18/07
•Jaguars Saints Preview 11/04/07

October News:
• Falcons 16 Saints 22 10/21/07
• Preview: Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
• Saints 28,Seahawks 17 10/14/07
• Preview: Saints Vs Seahawks 10/14/07

September News:
• Titans 31, Saints 14
• Duo Clash: Reggie Bush and Vince Young Meet Again
• Preview: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
• Bucs 31 Saints 14
• New Orleans 10, Indianapolis 41
• Preview: New Orleans at Indianapolis
• Saints have Super Bowl aspirations

August News:
• Saints Make Progress, Dominating at Times - 08/27/07
• Brees Strong as New Orleans Saints Blowout Chiefs - 08/24/07
• New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs - 08/23/07
• New Orleans Saints Ready for Cincinnati Bengals
• Saints Bid Farewell to Jackson
• Saints' Starters Set to Hit the Field Against Bengals
• New Orleans Saints - NFC South Preview
• New Orleans Saints Play Exhibition on Sunday
• 2007 New Orleans Saints Odds and Predictions
• Saints Already Eyeing Sunday Night Opener

July News:
• Second-Year Coach is Reason for Saints' Success
• These Saints May Have Answers
• New Orleans Saints Enter '07 in Strange Position — as Contenders
• Will '07 Saints be Super?
• 2007 NFL Preview: New Orleans Saints
• New Orleans Saints Predictions

June News:
• New Orleans Saints Ready for Training
• New Orleans Saints Almost Finished With OTA's
• New Orleans Saints' Brees Buries Past, Looks to Future
• New Orleans Saints Signs Two Local Players
• New Orleans Saints' Meachem Expected Back by Camp
• New Orleans Saints 2007 Preview

May News:
• New Orleans Saints Camp Shows Team Ready For NFL Tops

April News:
• JaMarcus Russell, Draft, New Orleans Saints
• New Orleans Saints 2007 - 2008 Schedule
• New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview

Feb News:
• Saints Limp into Scouting Combine
• Saints Tag Grant as Franchise Player
• New Orleans Saints Re-Sign LB Scott Shanle
• Super Bowl XLI Champions - Indianapolis Colts
• As You Watch Super Bowl, Don't Forget New Orleans

Jan News:
• Super Bowl XLI Preview
• New Orleans Saints Eager to Build on a Winning NFL Season
• Bears Win Over Saints - NFC Champions
• Saints vs. Bears - Playoffs NFC Championship
• Philadelphia 24, New Orleans 27
• Eagles at Saints - Playoffs
• Saints' 2007 Opponents Set

Dec News:
• Saints 21, Panthers 31
• Saints vs. Panthers Preview
• Saints 30, Giants 7
• Saints vs. Giants Preview
• Saints Fall to Redskins, but March into Playoffs
• Redskins vs. Saints Preview
• New Orleans Saints 42, Dallas Cowboys 17
• More About New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys
• New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys Preview
• Reggie Bush’s 4 TD’s: New Orleans Saints 34, San Francisco 49ers 10

Nov News:
• New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers Preview
• New Orleans Saints Playoff Contenders
• New Orleans Saints 31, Atlanta Falcons 13
• Saints vs. Atlanta Preview
• Cincinnati Bengals 31, New Orleans Saints 16
• Another Saints vs. Bengals Preview
• New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview
• Pittsburgh 38, New Orleans 31
• Saints, Steelers, Headed in Opposite Directions
• New Orleans Saints at Pittsburgh Steelers Preview
• New Orleans Saints at Mid Season
• New Orleans 31,Tampa Bay 14

Oct News:
• Saints Vs Ravens - Saints Lose
• New Orleans Saints Report Card
• Just Like the City of New Orleans, Saints Bounce Back
• New Orleans Saints Story Almost Too Good To Be True
• Philadelphia Eagles Collapse to New Orleans Saints 27-24
• Eagles Vs Saints Preview
• New Orleans Saints 24 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21
• New Orleans Saints Ready for Tampa Bay Bucs
• Saints Again Show Spunk, but Run Out of Gas