Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Will Reggie run a reverse?
By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
July 21, 2006
Jason Cole
Yahoo! Sports
Video Reggie Bush highlight reel
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.
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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.
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
What a greedy SOB is all I have to say about that.
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Quote:
Originally Posted by RamsFan16
What a greedy SOB is all I have to say about that.
Bush's marketing agent claims that Saints owner Tom Benson and GM Mickey Loomis told Bush that he would be treated as if he had been the first overall pick during contract negotiations. If that's the case, is it greedy to expect what you've been promised?
Regardless, there's no way Bush holds out the whole year, because there's no guarantee he goes first or second overall next year, and thus he could lose a lot of money. He'll likely hold out well into training camp until the Saints cave some more on their offerings.
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Oh No!!! We cant have the Whiners get him next year!!
Gosh Bush, Just get what you can! You know your gonna be a rich person... Just take the money that you can get and play!
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
He's not going to re-enter the draft next year, that's silly. It's all just a ploy by him and his agent to make the Saints pay up.
I really want the Saints to pay Bush so they can give us Bennett, since we obviously need him now, and there isn't much else out there. :disapointed:
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick
Bush's marketing agent claims that Saints owner Tom Benson and GM Mickey Loomis told Bush that he would be treated as if he had been the first overall pick during contract negotiations. If that's the case, is it greedy to expect what you've been promised?
Regardless, there's no way Bush holds out the whole year, because there's no guarantee he goes first or second overall next year, and thus he could lose a lot of money. He'll likely hold out well into training camp until the Saints cave some more on their offerings.
Agreed, it'd be idiotic for him to hold out the whole season because its not only hurting him, but how much money he'll be getting if he re-enters the draft. I hope for his own sake that its just a hoax to get them to pay up...although, it doesn't matter to me, its only gonna end in the Saints' and Bush's demise, if Bush pulls this crap for a longer amount of time..
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Man, as if Tom Benson weren't hated enough before......
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Quote:
Originally Posted by RamsFan16
What a greedy SOB is all I have to say about that.
It's not fair to call someone greed when the Orginizations are rarely loyal to the players. When you have a chance to make that kind of money you have to make all you can. You never know if you're going to get injured, anything can happen. Look at what Tenesee did the McNair, and he conceded and renagotiated his contract many times, to get told that he couldn't practice at the facility.
I'm down for what Bush is doing. This is business, not charity. I understand that us fans endear ourselves to these players, and a lot of us get mad when they comlain about money. But these players owe us nothing, I say go ahead Bush, I know if I was in his position I would do the same thing. At the end of the day fans are forgiving. If he produces, which he will.
Right now I say he's the best back with potential to be better than Marshall.
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjigga3000
Right now I say he's the best back with potential to be better than Marshall.
Anything is possible, but that's a very tall order to fill, especially for a guy that wasn't even an every down back in college. It will interesting to see just what he can really do at the next level.
Re: Bush might re-enter the draft! Wants pay day
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjigga3000
Right now I say he's the best back with potential to be better than Marshall.
The best back where? In the NFL, in the NFC? I would say he's possibly not even the best back on his own team behind McAllister if Deuce can stay healthy.
