Thursday, May 11, 2006
Saints' decision to draft fellow tailback Reggie Bush
Michael Bennett can't second-guess the Saints' decision to draft fellow tailback Reggie Bush last Saturday.
And Bennett won't let himself regret his choice to sign in New Orleans as a free agent six weeks earlier.
"I can't be upset about it," said Bennett, whose career has been hit with some bad breaks and bad timing since his breakout Pro Bowl season in 2002. "Yeah, I thought I was brought here for a reason, but things happen. I can't be bitter. I have a job. I could see if I was out on the street, but I have a job, and I'm going to make the best of whatever opportunity comes available."
Bennett, 27, is trying to stay positive. But he can't help but notice the obvious -- the kind of attributes that made Bush famous in college are the same traits Bennett brings to the field.
Bennett (5 feet 9, 209 pounds) has sprinter's speed, can get to the outside and is a home-run threat. The Saints pursued him in free agency specifically to offer a complementary style to starting tailback Deuce McAllister.
Now McAllister and Bush figure to provide that 1-2 punch, and Bennett figures to be used sparingly as a No. 3 running back.
"I think having that 1-2 mix, that change-up, it's great. I thought I was brought here for that, but when you've got a guy sitting there like (Bush), you can't overlook him," Bennett said. "I mean, he's probably the most electrifying player I've seen in college football for a long time, and he's sitting right there at No. 2. I mean, what can you do? And you have to kind of wonder, what were the Texans thinking (when they passed on Bush with the No. 1 pick)?
"He's an electrifying player, great attitude, great kid. And I'm looking forward to seeing how things are going to work out."
The Saints now have three first-round draft picks in their backfield. Bennett was picked No. 27 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001, four spots behind McAllister.
And Bennett won't let himself regret his choice to sign in New Orleans as a free agent six weeks earlier.
"I can't be upset about it," said Bennett, whose career has been hit with some bad breaks and bad timing since his breakout Pro Bowl season in 2002. "Yeah, I thought I was brought here for a reason, but things happen. I can't be bitter. I have a job. I could see if I was out on the street, but I have a job, and I'm going to make the best of whatever opportunity comes available."
Bennett, 27, is trying to stay positive. But he can't help but notice the obvious -- the kind of attributes that made Bush famous in college are the same traits Bennett brings to the field.
Bennett (5 feet 9, 209 pounds) has sprinter's speed, can get to the outside and is a home-run threat. The Saints pursued him in free agency specifically to offer a complementary style to starting tailback Deuce McAllister.
Now McAllister and Bush figure to provide that 1-2 punch, and Bennett figures to be used sparingly as a No. 3 running back.
"I think having that 1-2 mix, that change-up, it's great. I thought I was brought here for that, but when you've got a guy sitting there like (Bush), you can't overlook him," Bennett said. "I mean, he's probably the most electrifying player I've seen in college football for a long time, and he's sitting right there at No. 2. I mean, what can you do? And you have to kind of wonder, what were the Texans thinking (when they passed on Bush with the No. 1 pick)?
"He's an electrifying player, great attitude, great kid. And I'm looking forward to seeing how things are going to work out."
The Saints now have three first-round draft picks in their backfield. Bennett was picked No. 27 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001, four spots behind McAllister.
# posted by neworleanssaints @ 9:12 PM 
