RB Reggie Bush

Notes: Bush Might Be Done
Damaged knee ligament a concern; Falcons try again

posted December 7, 2007 - print me!
updated December 7, 2007
neworleansprofootball.com

Reggie's PCL: The Saints are evaluating damage to Reggie Bush's left knee, according to ESPN, an injury that could force Bush out for the rest of the season.

Whether or not Bush will be put on injured reserve is not determined yet, sources told NOPF succinctly via text message: "maybe".

The Saints may choose to sit Bush for the remaining four weeks on the inactive list, with the hopes that he could contribute to a playoff run, which is technically still alive.

The suspected damage is to the PCL, the least critical of the three major ligaments that provide stability to the knee joint. ESPN reports that Bush has been playing with the injury for a month, but that it has been aggravated over time.

The distraction could be a possible explanation for Bush's subpar performance over the past month, featuring numerous dropped passes and last week's disastrous lost fumble on an exchange to a wide receiver. The trick play's demise directly led to Tampa's game-winning touchdown and all but handed the divisional title to the Bucs.

In Payton's Friday press conference, the coach address Bush right off the bat.

"As far as Reggie Bush, he practiced yesterday, he had some soreness so we had an MRI done and he has a PCL tear. What that means really is this, we held him out today and will list him as questionable for this game, he has soreness and swelling in the knee, yesterday he was able to practice on it and he will be a game time decision and we will continue to monitor where he is at in his progress with rehab but that’s the news on his injury. The MRI that was done yesterday revealed that.”

Bush has had multiple MRI's, which Payton say indicate the tear occured during the game against Tampa Bay. Payton also downplayed ESPN's report.

"Yeah I don’t know if [Bush being ruled out for the season] would be the case right now. I think that would be a little premature, I don’t know who reported it but if you just study the history of PCL tears, I know they vary with each player and I know it is an injury that you can come back from, and we will see, I am still hopeful for this weekend’s game based on how he practiced yesterday. It is going to come down to the swelling and the condition of it as it applies to him playing.”

This ostensibly means that the Saints offense will feature Aaron Stecker, especially with rookie Pierre Thomas missing the last couple games with an apparently kidney problem. Thomas did practice at full speed on Friday and is listed as probable. The Saints signed Jamaal Branch last week before the Bucs game, but waived him this past Tuesday. Each time, Jay Bellamy was Branch's counterpart on or off the roster. Branch could be back on the roster before Monday should Bush, as expected, not play.

Looking for the Right Redman: The Falcons will reportedly start former Louisville and Baltimore QB Chris Redman against the Saints on Monday Night Football, the third Falcon quarterback the Saints will have faced this season.

Both Byron Leftwich (who started) and Joey Harrington played against the Saints earlier in the season. The Saints are actually preparing for all three quarterbacks, considering the instability at the position since Michael Vick's indefinite suspension.

Payton's Michigan Interest Denied: Not like we'd hear otherwise, but Saints head coach Sean Payton denied being contacted by the University of Michigan regarding their head coaching opening, despite a report in the Detroit News that he had been contacted.

"I read something today and there really isn’t anything there," Payton said Friday. "The job I have here is fantastic and it is the job I want. We have great ownership and we have the greatest fans in the world and I think the world of that program and the Big-10, but this is the job I am interested in and this is the job that we have a lot of things still left to accomplish and there’s nothing really to comment on, there has been no contact by any officials, I read the internet report and I am just telling you I am extremely excited to be the head coach of the New Orleans Saints and I will leave it at that. I know you have heard that from other coaches in this league, but trust me this is where I want to be.”

McCarthy Remembers: In a press conference today in Green Bay, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, longtime Saints offensive coordinator in the Haslett era, was asked about coaching in cold weather. McCarthy said he did not have a positive experience with the Saints, especially recalling a cold, windy game against the Bengals when the favored Saints lost.

"They were, I want to say they were probably 2-12 at the time and we had to win one of three games to make the playoffs, and that was the first of the three," McCarthy said. "And we went up there in Cincinnati, and it was about 32 degrees and I grew up in this type of climate and I don't think I was ever so cold in my life. And I know the players were, and we didn't play very well."

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