Bush Message Could Be Messy For Saints

The New Orleans Saints felt it received a gift from God when USC tailback Reggie Bush fell to them with the second pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

The Saints grabbed Bush immediately after the Houston Texans decided to select DE Mario Williams out of NC State with the top overall choice. Texans owner Bob McNair and ousted GM Charlie Casserly proceeded to sign Williams to a six year, 54 million dollar contract.

New Orleans fans, looking to celebrate anything after Hurricane Katrina, rejoiced on the air during draft day and went out and rewarded owner Tom Benson and the Saints with a sellout of all season tickets.

The Bush era began in a positive way, but now, things aren't looking so good. Bush told ESPN.com in a recent interview that the Saints need to be open at the negotiating table. "We have to have a fair offer. One that meets with our expectations." The 'we' and 'our' meaning Bush and his agent Joel Segal.

The word was not mentioned but the meaning and implication were obvious - if Bush didn't get the offer he wanted then a holdout is possible. What does he want? A contract similar to or slightly better than the one Williams got from Houston. Maybe that's why the Texans passed on him?

And while it's too early for New Orleans to push the panic button just yet, a holdout is something the franchise, the city and Bush for that matter, do not need.

Benson, a notoriously frugal owner, has been trying to get out of New Orleans for a decade. He may not be willing to give in to Bush's demands. The city and its inhabitants need someone or something to look up to. The football fans seemed to have found it in the USC product. But what will the reaction be to Bush if he does holdout.

Bush will be hurting his career if he has a protracted holdout and misses significant camp time. Everyone who has ever done so has suffered for it in their rookie season. The NFL is faster, more explosive and more dynamic than college. A holdout has to go through a steep learning curve to get into a groove.

A recent example is Chicago running back Cedric Benson. The Texas star was absent for most of training camp and suffered for it. He failed to remove Thomas Jones as the starter and when he started to come on by the middle of the season, he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

This may be all smoke and mirrors just to get a big contract. Unfortunately, this is an all-too common occurrence in the modern NFL. Guys who haven't played a down are getting eight and nine million dollars a year with huge signing bonuses. The agents have to because there is no guaranteed contracts in the National Football League, so the signing bonus was created. It's up-front money that's guaranteed.

Still, I long for the days when a rookie would sign a reasonable contract, get into camp and learn the system and then earn a big contract out on the field. Believe me. If he's good, he'll eventually get the big bucks, through an extension or free agency.

Just sign and get into camp - perform on the field - the money will follow. Because you never know. Bush may be the next Sayers like everyone says or he could end up being the next KiJana Carter. Nothing is certain until he proves it on the gridiron, not at the negotiating table.