Saints watch Bush
Associated Press
Published: May 18, 2006 05:48 pm

New Orleans — The New Orleans Saints drafted Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Reggie Bush dreaming of him running the football for them.

But he’d no sooner hit town for the team’s first minicamp before they told him to slow down and take it easy.

Bush, who strained his hamstring during his first minicamp practice Saturday morning, spent the rest of the weekend mostly watching the drills.

"Obviously I'd love to be on the field and practicing, so it’s frustrating right now. But it’s still early, too,"said Bush, who participated in walkthrough sessions. “It didn’t feel worse today, but it’s just not 100 percent. So, obviously there’s no reason to push it and risk any further injury."

The decision to hold back, Bush said, was made collectively with the coaches and training staff.

"I don’t think it’s a long-term thing. And at the same time, I don’t want it to turn into one,"Saints coach Sean Payton said.

Bush, like the rest of the Saints’ rookies, will begin his involvement in the team’s offseason workout program this week. His next chance to take the field will be at the team’s full-squad minicamp from June 2-4.

Bush stayed involved mentally during his stay on the sidelines by following the play sheet.

"I was still able to follow along and learn the plays,” he said."It didn’t feel worse, but it’s just not 100 percent. There's no reason to push it and risk any further injury if it’s not 100 percent."

Coach Sean Payton said it was important that Bush learn as much as he can even when he’s not participating in drills.

"He needs to get up to speed with what we're doing," Payton said. Bush was able to run when he wanted, racing forward at the end of the last practice to haul in a kick that was falling a good 15 yards in front of where he had set up to receive it.

Bush’s exceptional speed, his ability to quickly change speeds, and his agility is what Saints fans and coaches alike are so eager to see.

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