After the Saints drafted running back Mark Ingram in the 1st round of the 2011 draft, a lot of people were quick to call Reggie Bush’s time in New Orleans over. I wasn’t one of those and suggested several times that the Saints offense had room for both Bush and Ingram, as well as Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory, but some recent events are changing my mind.

Let’s review what has happened in the last couple of weeks. Immediately after the Saints drafted Mark Ingram, coach Sean Payton said that he still believed Reggie Bush had a future with the team. Quarterback Drew Brees, who is possibly more of a leader to the team than the coach, also contacted Reggie Bush to give him some words of reassurance and public comments from Brees suggested that he wanted to see Bush back with the Saints. This might not mean much but Drew Brees has a lot of pull with the Saints organization.

Last week, over 40 Saints players gathered for a private workout organized by Drew Brees at Tulane University. Brees paid for almost the entire workout from his own pocket including the use of the Tulane facilities, coaching staff, lodging for players, etc. With workouts continuing this week, Brees could be shelling out over $100,000 for this. The Saints also have had the largest turn out for player led workouts of any team thus far, their NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons had about 22 players turn out for theirs. Even players without a current contract such as fullback Heath Evans, safety Roman Harper and tackle Jermon Bushrod showed up. One player who was not at the workouts? Reggie Bush. Instead, Bush is sending out twitter messages saying he is enjoying be able to relax during the lockout instead of working out in the Louisiana heat.

My question, does Reggie Bush realize his teammates, including his quarterback who quickly jumped to his defense only two weeks ago are working out in the bad Louisiana heat? No player has made a public comment about Bush not being at the workouts but you know it has been noticed. It is starting to seem more and more like Bush, despite the Saints trying to make a place for him, might want out of New Orleans. If Bush is released from New Orleans, Seattle has been mentioned as a possible landing spot and you have to wonder if Bush is looking for a fresh start with his old college coach after an injury plagued career in New Orleans never quite blossomed like it should have for a player taken 2nd overall in the 2006 draft.

Reggie Bush has done some wonderful things for New Orleans. When he is healthy, he is a threat to break a home run every time he touches the ball. He was a key contributor in the 2006 season when the Saints, recovering from Hurricane Katriana, made an improbable run to the NFC Championship and he played a vital role in the Saints 2009 Superbowl Championship. His production though just doesn’t equal what the Saints invested in him with the 2nd overall pick and in terms of money. Pierre Thomas, an undrafted free agent who was making a minimum salary his first few years, has been far more productive.

It might be time for the Saints to cut ties with Reggie Bush. How are his teammates who have been sweating it out in player organized workouts going to welcome him back into the locker room once the lockout ends?  The team has a good stable of young running backs in Ingram, Thomas and Ivory as well as Lynell Hamilton and P. J. Hill who will be returning from injuries last preseason. It is unlikely the Saints will be able to trade Bush given his high salary so releasing him may be the only option. I said before that Bush would only stay in New Orleans if he renegotiated his contract for a pay cut. It doesn’t seem likely now that either side will be very willing to do that. If Bush is released, the Saints may look to add a running back with a similar skill set in free agency. Darren Sproles could be a possibility as could undrafted free agent Noel Devine from West Virginia.

We’ll see what happens once the lockout ends.