i don't know about you guys but i'm throwing up a red flag on these boys injuries. how severe are these injuries . they keep telling us its not a big deal , a little bruse here a little rest there. were gonna play them here or a little time there. but same old story were sitting them out this one because we think this and that, well thats all cool and dandy but how does that play out for really being ready to hit the holes with live bullets hitting you from all sides. i don't like them missing reps going into the opener. i know everybodys not worried about shit because of the emergence of mike bell and the other rbs doing damm good in the preseason games. thats all great but thomas has to be ok for this team to move on this season. buish is also the biggest decoy in the nfl today because of coverages he brings to himself to let someone else open. they are a big part of the puzzle , i hope they are really alright like payton says.

I, for one, don't want to see us overlooking any team. I don't care if it is Detroit and they were winless last season. It is absolutely critical that we win at least 3 of the first 4 games this season. We have a tough schedule down the stretch and we'll be without half of our starting D line for those 4 games. We cannot afford to play catch up…Too many things can happen between now and January.

If Bush and Thomas are not ready…We need to make a move. As good as Bell has been in the Pre Season, we MUST remember that the pre-season is not, nor should it ever be considered an honest evaluation. I remember reading a piece about how some coaches used the pre-season ( or at least some parts of it during certain games) to simply try situational plays, with no intention of winning or of even doing well…just to experiment. You can't trust any results when the test is flawed like that.

Bush, as much as it pains me to say it, is looking like a bust. I know some of you have allready decided on that, and some are never going to admit it…and that's fine. I'm not looking to debate it…I realize that he's not, nor should he ever have been considered to be a true running back, at the same time, even in his role as a hybrid player, He's really not producing on anything even remotely resembling a consistent level. He's injured far too often and cannot seem to get the habit of backfield dancing to go away. Pierre Thomas hasn't proven squat to me. He got some decent numbers playing late in the season…but you have to remember, He was fresh going into those games and the defenders he was facing were not. He won't have that advantage this season. Until I see him play 16 games and go up against some of the elite teams, I am going to reserve judgement and hope for the best.

Agree on alot of points.

I'm scared of the game vs the Lions. That game is going to set the tone for our Saints this year. if we lose, its going to be a long season. The Lions are hungry – what do they have to lose? if they beat us – what a wow factor it will be for them.

Reggie = no bust. Yea hes hurt all the time, it happens. You can't blame the guy cause he is hurt. Everytime he touchs the ball everyone stands and cheers beacuse they know it can go the distance. He is a playmaker – when healthy.

Vince who.. oh that guy… I can't call him a bust cause he never plays! LOL

I don't know, guys…

Reggie's numbers have been dismal. Yes, he's a threat on special teams, but you don't spend a #2 overall pick on a punt returner and pay him 60 million dollars. There are plenty of good kick/punt returners that don't cost anywhere near that, and they weren't drafted with the #2 pick.

Let me put it this way…If you had the choice to make, and you were sitting at the #2 spot, and somehow Mario Williams was still there…Do you still go for Bush? I sure as hell don't. Even if I were to go Rb with the pick, because in all fairness, we weren't in need of a DE at the time, I'd have to go with one of the other guys from that year's draft. Hell, Maurice Jones- Drew was drafted with the 60th pick, and he's blown Bush away, along with the other Rb's.

Of course, Hindsight is 20/20…But if you can sit there and honestly say that if you had it to do all over again, and you'd STILL pick Bush…I have to question your logic.

Even if you're still at a point where your loyalty won't allow you to flat out call him a bust…You have to admit that he's been very disappointing and something is essentially wrong with him as an NFL running back.

airforce1 said:

***If you had the choice to make, and you were sitting at the #2 spot***

I'll take Colston with that pick =)

***something is essentially wrong with him as an NFL running back***

Yep because it's not what he is. Reggie is a playmaker whith his runs but also with his receptions and returns. I might be wrong there but I think sure he set the record for the most receptions caught by a rookie. Now the big question is can he stays healthy for a whole season ??

exactly….

If he plays a whole season Shadow will have to admit……

airforce1 said:

***If you had the choice to make, and you were sitting at the #2 spot***

I'll take Colston with that pick =)

***something is essentially wrong with him as an NFL running back***

Yep because it's not what he is. Reggie is a playmaker whith his runs but also with his receptions and returns. I might be wrong there but I think sure he set the record for the most receptions caught by a rookie. Now the big question is can he stays healthy for a whole season ??

Haha…Nice dodge.

The question remains though…and I think you know the reality of it. I don't personally know any of you guys, but I've been hanging around , reading your thoughts for long enough to feel like you guys know the truth about the game of Football. You know exaclty what my point is..and I think somewhere inside, you agree with it. Hope is fine…it's a good thing. But at some point, you have to come to a realization about all NFL players…not just Reggie Bush and not just everyone else.

Honestly…no BS and no skillful dodging…Just flat out honesty about getting the best player you possibly can with the pick you have…If you were sitting at the #2 spot..knowing good and well that Colston will be there for you in the 7th round, Hell just to make it more authentic, Let's say Mario Williams is off the board and it's now your pick to make…Knowing what you know now, Would you still spend the #2 overall pick of the 2006 draft on Reggie Bush?

spicygumbo said:

---

If you expected for him to gain 1000 yds rushing and 600 yds passing a season, then I say your expectations were to high for him. I one thing I expected bush to do is score TDs and he does that very well.

remember when we drafted him, we had a healthy Deuce so I didn't expect him to be an every down back. I just wanted him to come in and give us big play ablility mainly on ST, I must say he havn't had to many sportcenter highlights but he is a consistant threat to take it to the house on any givin play. looking at it now  he may have been picked to high but he is definetly not a bust. my opinion

I expect any Rb drafted at #2 overall to be a great runner. I didn't have any numbers in mind when we drafted him, and was somewhat content with his 1st season…However, that was based on the idea that he would get better and better and eventually be a top 5 back. You generally draft a guy that high and pay him that much because those are the kind of things you expect to happen. The truth of the matter is, He's been getting worse and worse and his effect on the field is diminishing…and he's only been playing for 3 seasons.

You will at least admit that he was drafted too high…Like I said, He's not the biggest bust we've ever had, but he's a bust nevertheless. We drafted the equivalent of a 4th round talent with the #2 overall pick. By definition, that is a pretty big bust.

He's fast, agile and can catch wel…But he damn sure doesn't break off the plays like he was advertised as having the ability to do. from time to time, He'll break one off and all of the sudden, everyone's singing his praises…conveniently forgetting the 50+ plays that he's been caught dancing and fumbling to get to that one play.

My prediction is, He will not stay healthy this season and we will be forced to draft yet another Rb early to compensate for his lack of production.

shadowdrinker said:

spicygumbo said:

---

If you expected for him to gain 1000 yds rushing and 600 yds passing a season, then I say your expectations were to high for him. I one thing I expected bush to do is score TDs and he does that very well.

remember when we drafted him, we had a healthy Deuce so I didn't expect him to be an every down back. I just wanted him to come in and give us big play ablility mainly on ST, I must say he havn't had to many sportcenter highlights but he is a consistant threat to take it to the house on any givin play. looking at it now  he may have been picked to high but he is definetly not a bust. my opinion

---

I expect any Rb drafted at #2 overall to be a great runner. I didn't have any numbers in mind when we drafted him, and was somewhat content with his 1st season…However, that was based on the idea that he would get better and better and eventually be a top 5 back. You generally draft a guy that high and pay him that much because those are the kind of things you expect to happen. The truth of the matter is, He's been getting worse and worse and his effect on the field is diminishing…and he's only been playing for 3 seasons.

You will at least admit that he was drafted too high…Like I said, He's not the biggest bust we've ever had, but he's a bust nevertheless. We drafted the equivalent of a 4th round talent with the #2 overall pick. By definition, that is a pretty big bust.

He's fast, agile and can catch wel…But he damn sure doesn't break off the plays like he was advertised as having the ability to do. from time to time, He'll break one off and all of the sudden, everyone's singing his praises…conveniently forgetting the 50+ plays that he's been caught dancing and fumbling to get to that one play.

My prediction is, He will not stay healthy this season and we will be forced to draft yet another Rb early to compensate for his lack of production.

This remains to be seen…

I hate the thought of #25 biing out but if he is be surprised by his replacement.