| The New Orleans Saints felt it received a gift from | | | | product. But what will the reaction be to Bush if he |
| God when USC tailback Reggie Bush fell to them with | | | | does holdout. |
| the second pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. | | | | Bush will be hurting his career if he has a protracted |
| The Saints grabbed Bush immediately after the | | | | holdout and misses significant camp time. Everyone |
| Houston Texans decided to select DE Mario Williams | | | | who has ever done so has suffered for it in their |
| out of NC State with the top overall choice. Texans | | | | rookie season. The NFL is faster, more explosive and |
| owner Bob McNair and ousted GM Charlie Casserly | | | | more dynamic than college. A holdout has to go |
| proceeded to sign Williams to a six year, 54 million | | | | through a steep learning curve to get into a groove. |
| dollar contract. | | | | A recent example is Chicago running back Cedric |
| New Orleans fans, looking to celebrate anything after | | | | Benson. The Texas star was absent for most of |
| Hurricane Katrina, rejoiced on the air during draft day | | | | training camp and suffered for it. He failed to remove |
| and went out and rewarded owner Tom Benson and | | | | Thomas Jones as the starter and when he started to |
| the Saints with a sellout of all season tickets. | | | | come on by the middle of the season, he suffered a |
| The Bush era began in a positive way, but now, things | | | | season-ending knee injury. |
| aren't looking so good. Bush told in a recent interview | | | | This may be all smoke and mirrors just to get a big |
| that the Saints need to be open at the negotiating | | | | contract. Unfortunately, this is an all-too common |
| table. "We have to have a fair offer. One that meets | | | | occurrence in the modern NFL. Guys who haven't |
| with our expectations." The 'we' and 'our' meaning | | | | played a down are getting eight and nine million dollars |
| Bush and his agent Joel Segal. | | | | a year with huge signing bonuses. The agents have to |
| The word was not mentioned but the meaning and | | | | because there is no guaranteed contracts in the |
| implication were obvious - if Bush didn't get the offer | | | | National Football League, so the signing bonus was |
| he wanted then a holdout is possible. What does he | | | | created. It's up-front money that's guaranteed. |
| want? A contract similar to or slightly better than the | | | | Still, I long for the days when a rookie would sign a |
| one Williams got from Houston. Maybe that's why the | | | | reasonable contract, get into camp and learn the |
| Texans passed on him? | | | | system and then earn a big contract out on the field. |
| And while it's too early for New Orleans to push the | | | | Believe me. If he's good, he'll eventually get the big |
| panic button just yet, a holdout is something the | | | | bucks, through an extension or free agency. |
| franchise, the city and Bush for that matter, do not | | | | Just sign and get into camp - perform on the field - the |
| need. | | | | money will follow. Because you never know. Bush |
| Benson, a notoriously frugal owner, has been trying to | | | | may be the next Sayers like everyone says or he |
| get out of New Orleans for a decade. He may not be | | | | could end up being the next KiJana Carter. Nothing is |
| willing to give in to Bush's demands. The city and its | | | | certain until he proves it on the gridiron, not at the |
| inhabitants need someone or something to look up to. | | | | negotiating table. |
| The football fans seemed to have found it in the USC | | | | |