Reggie Bush’s season is over

Reggie Bush opened his 2008 season by giving the New Orleans Saints all they expected and paid for. He was leading the league in scoring, finding the end zone rushing, receiving, and returning kicks. He displayed the electrifying play that earned him the Heisman Trophy at USC. But everything came to a screeching halt, as the surgically repaired knee began to flare. He required a second surgery, and returned to the field two weeks ago. And now a sprain of the medial collateral ligament against the Bears last Thursday, sidelines Bush for the remainder of the season.

The sprain doesn’t require surgery, and coach Sean Payton opted to place Bush on the injured reserve, with the Saints now eliminated from playoff contention.

Bush shelfed with possible torn meniscus

According to FOX Sports and The Associated Press, there is speculation that Reggie Bush has torn his meniscus during Sunday's loss to Carolina. Bush is scheduled to see Dr. James Andrew in Alabama and won't be making the trip to London with his Saints to face the San Diego Chargers at Wembley Stadium.

Even before today's game, there was already concern about swelling of the knee during weekly practices. It's a tough break for the former USC star who was having an outstanding season. Bush rushed for 55 yards on 9 carries, before limping from the field after a return. The loss of Bush had an immediate impact, as Coach Sean Payton said the team's offense became "one dimensional", and New Orleans was drubbed by Carolina 30-7.

As soon as there is confirmation as to the exact extent of the injury, I'll forward that information.

SHHH...Bush is the NFL leader in touchdowns

Through the first 6 weeks of the season, Reggie Bush leads the league in touchdowns. His 8 trips to the end zone have come by way of rushing (2), receiving (3), and punt returns (3). On Sunday, he tied Arizona’s Anquan Boldin for the fastest to reach 200 receptions, doing it in his first 34 games. Bush is currently 9th in the league in receiving, and 1st in receiving yards after the catch. Two weeks ago, new technology showed Reggie Bushed clocked at 22 mph on a punt return. That same technology clocked Jamaica’s Usain Bolt at 23 mph during his world record 100-meters sprint, and that’s without pads.

Last night's Monday night game featured 3 Trojans in action. Steve Smith caught 9 passes for 94 yards in the Giants' road loss to the Cleveland Browns. The ageless Willie McGinest recorded just one tackle for the Browns, but Eric Wright picked off an Eli Manning pass, squashing a late red zone drive, and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown. Wright completed his collegiate career at UNLV, but was the starting cornerback on the 2004 USC National Championship team.

Reggie Bush ties NFL record in Saints loss

The Minnesota Vikings went down to New Orleans as a team desperately in need of a win. And from the kickoff to the closing seconds, the Saints, doing the Saintly thing, assisted them in ending their misery. Minnesota capitalized on 4 Saints turnovers, including a blocked Martin Gramatica field goal attempt that was returned for a touch down. But single handedly, Reggie Bush ensured that the Saints would at least remain in striking distance, and at one point, despite all the miscues, gave New Orleans the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Vikings stormed back to tie, and the Saints put their final hopes again on the leg of Gramatica, where he went wide left. In the end, the Vikings made good on their three point try, defeating New Orleans 30-27 in an action packed ballgame.

As much as Bush haters are plentiful, critical of every run, catch, and block, there’s absolutely no denying that the Saints are getting exactly what they paid for. Bush was drafted as a game-changer. With just one touch of the ball, his skills would allow him to make the big play and bring the team from behind or give them a lead. That’s exactly what Reggie has been doing.

In Monday night’s game, sharing the stage with last year’s rookie phenom, Adrian Peterson, no star shined brighter than the Heisman Trophy winner from USC. Bush finished with 269 all-purpose yards, including an NFL record tying 2 punt returns for touchdowns. Only a slip prevented him from getting three.

Bush finished with just 29 yards rushing on 12 carries, which is where the criticism will come. But in contrast, Adrian Peterson amassed just 32 rushing yards on 21 carries, against the supposedly “soft” Saints defense. Bush’s 2.4 yards per rush led all backs in the game with at least 6 carries or more. Of course, Peterson will receive no criticism, as there is honestly none deserved. But despite Bush’s production for his team, regardless of how the yards are accumulated, people will still bring up “between the tackles” conversations. Maybe it’s just me, but I think 269 all-purpose is greater than finishing a game with just 100 yards on the ground. If anyone from that 2006 NFL draft class is being forced to earn every penny of their money, it’s Reggie Bush rushing, receiving, returning kicks, and playing the role of offensive decoy.

Bush trying to repair a BUST-ed reputation

The expectations were high for Reggie Bush in New Orleans. The Saints drafted the electrifying Heisman Trophy winner to be just that, and his rookie season showed flashes. By year two, production was decreasing and the “bust” tag was elevating. He failed to complete his sophomore NFL season, finally sidelined with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament, an injury he continued to compete with for a month before calling it quits. Still, that wasn’t good enough for the public. Injury or not, the build up had been so high that Reggie was supposed to put on his cape each weekend and take flight.

Now in his third season, Bush has found the end zone in each game played in the first three weeks, and in a variety of ways. Being on the running, receiving, and returning end of scores, he resembles that all purpose player drafted second overall by the Saints in 2006. He’s among the league leaders in receptions, and has become a focal point in the Saints offensive production. What about running between the tackles? Every back in New Orleans averages less than 4 yards per carry. That would say there is no “between” the tackles. After watching the Saints fail to push the ball into the end zone from just inches away, eventually turning the ball over on downs to the Broncos on Sunday, I’ve concluded that either the run blocking stinks in New Orleans or Payton’s ground game is too predictable. It also makes me wonder what Bush’s production would be like behind some of the greater gap creating lines in the NFL, such as the one in Dallas. My vision is Reggie Bush running wild. Hell, my vision even shows me running wild behind those men with stars on their helmets, despite the fact that the refs have a better 40-time than my own.

When you’ve performed as a superstar in college, it’s an open invitation for criticism in the NFL. Lendale White was being called a bust in his rookie season, and now all he does is sniff out the end zone. Bush was given the tag in his second season, and now plays every game with a chip on his shoulder. What I don’t understand is why that 3rd overall selection down in Tennessee was given 3 years before people started using the “B” word. Maybe they give quarterbacks more time. Who knows? But for Reggie Bush, 2008 is make or break. And so far, he's making the most of it.

Bush and Leinart sidelined

All indications out of New Orleans are that Reggie Bush will not participate in Saturday’s exhibition game against the Houston Texans. Bush missed two practices this week with swelling in his surgically repaired knee. An MRI revealed no damage, but as a precaution, the Saints will likely continue to give the knee rest rather than take chances. It’s the same knee that sidelined Bush in 2007, but up until this point had given him no problems running full speed in all practice sessions. The Saints’ other knee, Deuce McCallister, will make his preseason debut.

Sedrick Ellis is questionable for Saturday’s game, nursing a sore ankle. Coach Payton, along with Saints players have been singing praises about the rookie from USC. "He has a non-stop motor, looks like the kind of guy who'll be a good friend of the linebackers, just by making their job easier by keeping the offensive linemen occupied", said Linebacker Scott Fujita. New Orleans guard Jamar Nesbit gave his own take. "Sedrick reminds me of someone who could play the game like a Warren Sapp or a Booger McFarland, who played at LSU. Sure, the quickness is there, but I also like the way he uses his hands and the way his hips and feet work in unison. I think it helped having someone who coached in the NFL (Pete Carroll) as his college coach. He's still got plenty to learn, but the way he seems to be soaking up the mental part makes me believe that won't be a problem. I'll be surprised if he doesn't turn out to be a problem for the offense."

The Arizona Cardinals announced that Kurt Warner is the likely starter against the Chiefs on Saturday. Warner, who obviously looked upset about holding a clipboard in the first preaseason game, will have an opportunity to shine against a poor Kansas City secondary, and a team that traded their sack leader to Minnesota. Matt Leinart should have plenty of opportunities in the second half, but let's just give Warner an "A" now.

Drew Radovich suffered a separated shoulder in the Vikings preseason opener last week, and shouldn't make a return until sometime next week. Drew said he's regaining his range of motion and no longer wearing a sling.

No Side Stepping: Bush ruling leaves door open for NCAA

A San Diego Superior Court Judge has ruled against arbitration in the Reggie Bush lawsuit. The ruling will send the case to court and leave the door open for the NCAA to gather any evidence to support improper benefits received by Bush while at USC, and any knowledge of those benefits by the Trojans Athletic department. Arbitration acts as a closed door affair, which brings conclusion to a disagreement without public knowledge, where trial is submitted evidence, under oath, accessible to the general public.

A key figure in the trial will be Michael Michaels, the former business partner of Lloyd Lake. Lake brought the suit, but Michaels has remained silent. Michaels previously agreed to a $200,000 settlement with the Bush family, but unlike Lake, isn’t looking to cash in on the sudden media publicity. Appearing as the most credible witness, the NCAA will have heavy interest in anything Michaels will have to say on the stand.

The show is set to begin again later this month, and pushing into early September. Bush lawyers have the right to appeal the latest ruling, which they more likely to do.

L.A shakes, Sedrick Breaks, and Darnell aches

Everyone is pretty aware by now that the City of Los Angeles experienced a “mild” tremor. At a measurement of 5.4 on the Richter scale, that’s enough to shake you up, but not really enough to cause serious damage. All be it, the same 5.4 would cause death and destruction in some other parts of the world, because there are no requirements for construction or building standards, such as those imposed in L.A. For that, I’m thankful to my city.

What always gets me, when the shakings occur, is how much we stress preparation. You can prepare yourself for the aftermath, but honestly, any preparation for “what to do” during a quake is faulty. There really isn’t anything you can do. Doorways collapse, don’t they? You can’t go outside, because fallen power lines pose a danger. Is your dining room table really going to protect you from that falling ceiling? The only thing you can do is ride it out and hope for the best, from wherever you are. Chances are, after 2 quick steps in any direction, the quake is already over. Some items in the house may continue to sway, but trust me, the actual tremor is about 3 seconds and done.

Saint Ellis

Six days and 12 practices later, Sedrick Ellis ends his holdout and agrees to terms with the New Orleans Saints. He’s now schedule to attend his first training camp practice today.

According to sources, Ellis’ deal is worth $49 million, with $19.5 in guarantees. Ellis’ holdout marked the longest by a Saints rookie draft pick since Devery Henderson in 2004 and Deuce McAllister in 2001. Both held out for 7 days. New Orleans picked Ellis 7th overall in last April’s draft.

Jetting out of NY

The New York Jets released former Trojan Safety Darnell Bing. The Jets represented Bing’s third NFL team in his three years in the league.

Lo’Jack Locked in for 5 years

Lawrence Jackson has agreed to terms with the Seattle Seahawks on a 5 year deal. There are no specifics to the contract, as it is still being formalized. But Jackson is on the field for the Hawks, assuring the deal is in the final stages. It appears to be a deal worth $11.5 million, with half the total in guarantees. The Seahawks made Jackson their first pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

Sedrick Ellis remains the only unsigned Saints rookie. The word out of New Orleans appears to be that contract talks have stalled. If the Saints can come to an agreement with their first round pick and get him into camp, with offseason moves (including the latest acquisition of Jeremy Shockey), they can pose a serious threat in the NFC.

Sam Baker also remains unsigned by the Atlanta Falcons, but negations are ongoing, and an announcement may come soon.