Payton: Reggie Bush Bashers are Off Base
Saints get to enjoy rare extra day off.

His numbers might not be as eye-popping as hoped for the second pick in the NFL draft, but rookie tailback Reggie Bush is making a huge impact on New Orleans' on-field success midway through the season, Saints Coach Sean Payton said Monday.

"I think he's doing fine," Payton said. "I see the 'Reggie Meter' that's in the newspaper and all that other stuff. It's silly.

"The meter is the team. We're 6-2. The expectation level on him is no different than anyone else on this team. We're winning football games. And he's a big part of why we're winning. Whether it's in the special teams aspect, the passing game. . . . I'm happy with the way this guy is playing."

 Payton said the Buccaneers presented some difficult defensive fronts against which to run Sunday, and both Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister were affected by that. The Saints rushed for 49 yards on 35 carries in the 31-14 victory.

But Payton credited Reggie Bush with a critical blitz pickup on Bucs defensive back Ronde Barber on one of the long touchdown passes from Drew Brees to Devery Henderson.

"What I appreciate are guys that put the team ahead of any of their individual accomplishments. And sometimes it's often difficult to do when you're the second player drafted," Payton said. "People want to know what's going on with Reggie Bush after you just finish winning 30-something to whatever and go to 6-2.

"I'm excited about him. I get as excited about him stepping up in a pressure situation in a dog and blitz standpoint, blocking the right guy and we throw a touchdown to Devery Henderson. That's exciting to me. I know it's not as exciting to you guys, but it's exciting to me. Otherwise, that guy hits the quarterback, and we never throw the ball."

FAVORITE WORDS: The three most treasured words an NFL player can hear from his head coach after a Sunday game are: "See you Wednesday."

With a little assistance from one of their own, Saints players heard those words after Sunday's victory at Tampa Bay.

Payton gave the players an extra day off, thanks to some lobbying from offensive tackle Jamar Nesbit.
"I gave them the Monday after the Eagle game, that was a different week because of the (following) bye week, so this would be considered the second one," Payton said.

"I think there's a lot of corrections you have to make, so there's always that balance of a day off, an extra day, and making sure they see some of the mistakes that were made so they don't happen again.

"My thought (Sunday) was to do that, and I lost track of that after talking to them in the locker room. And then Nesbit, our barrister, found a great opportunity to negotiate this day. He did a great job of it, obviously, because they're not here."
A few players, mostly those who required injury treatment such as receiver Joe Horn, tackle Jammal Brown, linebacker Scott Shanle, and Reggie Bush sauntered through the locker room Monday, as did defensive end Will Smith and quarterback Drew Brees.

Other than that, the room was empty.

NO FLEX YET: NBC officials had told the Saints a couple of weeks ago that there was a possibility that the Nov. 19 home game against Cincinnati might be switched to a Sunday night prime-time game for network television as part of the new, flexible schedule for the NBC package.

That didn't come to fruition, though, probably because the Bengals (4-4) have stumbled recently, including Sunday's loss to Baltimore.

The network decided to televise the AFC West game between San Diego and Denver that night, it announced Monday.

As part of that move, the Colts-Cowboys game on CBS has been moved to a 3:15 p.m. start.

INJURY UPDATE: Payton said the Saints came out of Sunday's game with no significant injuries. Marques Colston had a slight concussion but returned; cornerback Jason Craft had a more severe concussion and did not. Both likely will be available this week, as should linebacker Scott Shanle, who had a slight shoulder problem.

Payton said he was optimistic that Horn (groin) and Brown (ankle) would return this week, but he would have a better feel for their status by Wednesday after two additional days of treatment.

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