MartyBall4Buffalo Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush not only appears headed for a holdout with the New Orleans Saints, a league source said Bush is toying with the idea of sitting out the entire season and going back in the draft in 2007 if he doesn't get his price. "No player has ever had the kind of leverage that Reggie Bush has right now," the source said. "The Saints made it clear what they were willing to do before and now we'll see if they're going to get there." It seems unlikely the Saints will do that in time for Bush to report to training camp with the team on Thursday in Jackson, Miss. Two sources said that talks between the Saints and agent Joel Segal have been nearly non-existent. On Wednesday, Mike Ornstein, who is Bush's marketing agent, told the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss., that he didn't think Bush would be signed in time for camp. Ornstein is not allowed to negotiate contracts, but he is acutely aware of all of Bush's business matters. One of the sources took that a step further, saying Segal was considering not having Bush sign at all. Segal declined to comment when contacted Friday and messages left with multiple members of the New Orleans organization weren't returned. While it appears unlikely on face value that Bush would sit out, he appears well-positioned to do so if he really wants. Bush supposedly has more than $5 million in the bank from multiple endorsement deals Ornstein has negotiated since Bush left the University of Southern California. That money is guaranteed regardless of whether Bush plays this season. Next, Bush could probably sit out 2006 and still be a high pick next year. Furthermore, Bush probably has the public sentiment running in his favor. Even though holdout players are generally unpopular, Bush has caused tremendous excitement in New Orleans. In May, shortly after Bush was drafted, the Saints had already set a franchise record for season-ticket sales, having topped 55,000 at that time. That's extraordinary, especially considering the condition of the hurricane-ravaged city. Moreover, team owner Tom Benson is immensely unpopular in New Orleans. Ranging from his hard-line negotiations with the city and state to constant threats that he will move the team, Benson is often treated with open scorn by Saints fans. Bush has also worked hard to endear himself to fans in the city after it came out that he didn't want to play in New Orleans. Bush has made multiple donations to hurricane relief. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-b...=yhoo&type=lgns
MartyBall4Buffalo Posted July 22, 2006 Author Posted July 22, 2006 yeah and kind of make sense why the saints haven't gone ahead and traded michael bennet yet either. This is a really low brow move by the bush camp. All that talent and no heart for the game.
cantankerous Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 He can't just sit out and re-enter the draft though...the Saints had the #2 pick and if he doesn't want to sign they just lose out on that pick? I don't think that's going to happen. What a greedy bastard Bush is....what is he wanting? 100 million????!!! As the #2 pick he should get at least 40 mill...that isn't enough? The more I hear about Bush the less I respect him.
ajzepp Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 He can't just sit out and re-enter the draft though...the Saints had the #2 pick and if he doesn't want to sign they just lose out on that pick? I don't think that's going to happen. What a greedy bastard Bush is....what is he wanting? 100 million????!!! As the #2 pick he should get at least 40 mill...that isn't enough? The more I hear about Bush the less I respect him. 727121[/snapback] I usually give football players the benefit of the doubt since they are at greater risk for career ending injuries than many other athletes, but if the only reason he's holding out is because he doesn't want to play in that particular city, then I don't have much respect for him either. The money for his spot should be slotted for the most part, so I don't see how that's a huge issue.
inkman Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 So how many losses will it take Buffaro to get that #1 pick?
generaLee83 Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 He can't just sit out and re-enter the draft though...the Saints had the #2 pick and if he doesn't want to sign they just lose out on that pick? I don't think that's going to happen. What a greedy bastard Bush is....what is he wanting? 100 million????!!! As the #2 pick he should get at least 40 mill...that isn't enough? The more I hear about Bush the less I respect him. 727121[/snapback] I completely agree. I had never really heard much about his personality but this really sums it up. It really disgusts me that any rookie would even remotely consider holding out. It's as if these players don't realize the honor of making a professional team. I'm sure everyone on this board would love to have even 3 hours a week to enjoy throwing the football around away from our jobs. If this is true about Bush I hope he has a terrible career.
Chalkie Gerzowski Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Saints would be the last team I would want to be drafted by.
silvermike Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Time to pick up Deuce McAllister in fantasy football. Bush could !@#$ himself over pretty badly here - say he doesn't sign until the day before the season starts. Now he's a backup. Too late to learn the system, McAllister has a couple of good games, and he's on the bench for the season.
Thailog80 Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 I can see the signs in NO now......Another Bush screws NO. or Reggie blows harder than Katrina
ieatcrayonz Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 We could trade them JP Losman for Bush's rights and Drew Brees. That would help both teams. Losman played down there and is popular. He would drive up season ticket sales. The last time we had a short QB with no arm he stunk but he was popular. Bush would be like a bonus. We have all the leverage with Losman having played at Tulane. Brees played for Purdue.
inkman Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 We could trade them JP Losman for Bush's rights and Drew Brees. That would help both teams. Losman played down there and is popular. He would drive up season ticket sales. The last time we had a short QB with no arm he stunk but he was popular. Bush would be like a bonus. We have all the leverage with Losman having played at Tulane. Brees played for Purdue. 727145[/snapback] It's nice to see you again crayonz.
The Tomcat Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 I can see the signs in NO now......Another Bush screws NO. or Reggie blows harder than Katrina 727141[/snapback] Nice!
stuckincincy Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 He can't just sit out and re-enter the draft though...the Saints had the #2 pick and if he doesn't want to sign they just lose out on that pick? I don't think that's going to happen. What a greedy bastard Bush is....what is he wanting? 100 million????!!! As the #2 pick he should get at least 40 mill...that isn't enough? The more I hear about Bush the less I respect him. 727121[/snapback] Perhaps N.O. retains the rights to him, and can trade that right, like HOU did with Drew Henson? Dunno...
Thailog80 Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Perhaps N.O. retains the rights to him, and can trade that right, like HOU did with Drew Henson? Dunno... 727164[/snapback] What would be funny is if NO was in position to draft him again in '07
stuckincincy Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 What would be funny is if NO was in position to draft him again in '07 727166[/snapback] Hmm..then would they be entitled to a high compensatory pick for losing Bush to themselves?
Thailog80 Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Hmm..then would they be entitled to a high compensatory pick for losing Bush to themselves? 727174[/snapback] Didnt this kid promise the Saints he'd be signed and in camp? That it was his number one priority? Maybe that Mario Williams selection by the Texans was okay after all.
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Didnt this kid promise the Saints he'd be signed and in camp? That it was his number one priority? Maybe that Mario Williams selection by the Texans was okay after all. 727182[/snapback] Texans sure do look smart for insisting that whoever they draft had to sign before draft day.
LevysEraII Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Not gonna happen. He'll sign by week 4 at the latest.
buffaloboyinATL Posted July 22, 2006 Posted July 22, 2006 Didnt this kid promise the Saints he'd be signed and in camp? That it was his number one priority? Maybe that Mario Williams selection by the Texans was okay after all. 727182[/snapback] He sure did. I remember him in press conferences saying he would sign before camp. So much for that...
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