Reggie Bush Improving His Knee and Leadership This Offseason

With his Hollywood-driven career at a crossroads, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush finally seems to be understanding that, indeed, the National Football League is a job and that image isn’t everything. 

People around the Saints who I have talked to said Bush is saying and doing all of the right things at OTAs, which you know must make Saints head coach Sean Payton happy. 

The former Heisman winner from USC seems to understand the urgency around his rehab of his left knee (PCL) after an injury-riddled 2008 season—106 carries for 404 yards and two touchdowns and 52 catches for 440 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games.

Bush recently said of the Saints not picking a running back in this past April’s NFL Draft, “The fact that we didn’t draft (one) speaks volumes to what they are looking from me this year”. 

The former 2006 second overall selection added, “I don’t know how much my role is going to change, but I think it’s going to step up a lot more, especially in the leadership role position…I’m excited about the task, and it’s going to be a great task.” 

Bush’s surgically repaired knee is about 75 percent by his estimation, so he will keep working hard to be ready by the end of training camp.

I like that Reggie “Mr. Kim Kardashian” Bush is finally understanding you have to work hard to stay in the NFL, and this league is not all about Playstation-type moves in the open field.

The Saints will need Bush, emerging Pierre Thomas, and rookie undrafted free agent P.J. Hill (Wisconsin) to pick-up the slack after former franchise running back Deuce McAllister was cut earlier this offseason. 

Bush was once thought of as the next Gale Sayers, but much like former 2006 Draft Classmates Vince Young and Matt Leinart, he has found out the hard way that the NFL is not college football, and you have to be on top of your game at all times (studying film, working out year-round, and being a true “professional”).

 

Lloyd’s Leftovers

One thing rehabbing Saints jitterbug running back Reggie Bush does not have to worry about this offseason is picking out an engagement ring for his socialite girlfriend.