07-31-2006, 11:17 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,665
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Quote:
JACKSON, Miss. -- With his contract done more than a week before he thought it might be, Reggie Bush scrambled to get to the New Orleans Saints' training camp here by Monday evening.
Bush's deal is worth up to $62 million, with a little more than $26.3 million guaranteed.
Although Bush was selected second overall, he was considered by many teams worthy of the top overall pick. But the Houston Texans went instead with Mario Williams, an imposing defensive end out of N.C. State, and signed him to a deal also worth as much as $62 million if incentive benchmarks are net, with about $26.5 million guaranteed.
That left Bush available for the Saints, who said they were "sensitive" to the fact that Bush expected to be a No. 1 pick, and ended up agreeing to a deal that places Bush much closer to Williams than the third overall pick, Vince Young. Young's contract with Tennessee is worth up to $58 million, including incentives, with about $25.7 million guaranteed.
Bush was expected to sign his contract and speak to the media Monday evening. Travel complications, however, have pushed the news conference back to Tuesday morning.
Bush's flight from Atlanta landed in Jackson shortly before 6:30 p.m. and he was driven along with his marketing agent, Mike Ornstein, to training camp at Millsaps College to sign his contract.
"You never know when it's going to happen. It's like waiting to be called into the army," Bush said as walked from the airport to a car awaiting him. "I'm just glad to finally be here. It's a business, but I knew we'd get it done soon. I'm ready to go."
The Heisman Trophy winner out of Southern California was expected to undergo a conditioning test that consists of 300-yard shuttle sprints -- as has been required of other players -- and then likely start practicing on Tuesday, Saints coach Sean Payton said.
"If you asked me in the beginning how long you might expect someone like him to be out, I might say three or four days," Payton said. "We're glad it's finished and we move on. It's a lot better than two weeks, three weeks and all of a sudden you feel like he's missed the preseason. We're going to be in camp here for about 4? weeks."
The metal stands set up for fans to watch practice have been filling up with an increasing concentration of Bush jerseys in anticipation of the real No. 25 showing up.
And his teammates are interested in what he can do as well.
With Deuce McAllister being a more bruising, straight-ahead runner, Bush is expected not only to run the ball as a tailback but also to catch the ball out of the back field on screen or swing passes. He could also line up in as a slot receiver, creating yet another concern for defenses already trying to cover wideouts like Joe Horn and Donte Stallworth.
"Before we had the addition of him we definitely had some guys who could make plays," Stallworth said. "But you bring this guy in. He's a world-class talent. Payton has a way of getting guys open. He knows how to utilize his players at certain positions. It'll be fun."[/b]
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2535597 |
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