Reggie Bush Is Now “Running Back 1A”

Saints observers speculated throughout the offseason whether the team would add a running back to pair with Reggie Bush; Chris “Beanie” Wells and Edgerrin James received most of the attention. Coach Sean Payton decided the best candidate was already on the roster: Pierre Thomas. Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune “fully expects” Thomas to be the Saints’ lead back, with Bush serving as Running Back 1A. Drew Brees is on board with the development. “I think that Pierre is our No. 1 back and can do that job,” Brees said. “I feel like Reggie can be able to step in and do a great job . . . but certainly I think Pierre Thomas is the total package.” The plan isn’t a surprise to anyone who watched the Saints last season. Thomas was one of the league’s better backs late in the year, gaining 677 yards from scrimmage with nine scores over his last six games. Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden called him “one of the best kept secrets in the NFL.” But that won’t be true much longer. Duncan expects Thomas to get the majority of carries, like Deuce McAllister in recent years. Bush will play a complementary part -- catching passes, running between the twenties, returning punts, and trying to live up to his lofty draft status (between shirtless photo shoots). Thomas doesn’t have to worry about that. He made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2007. [Editor’s note: So does this mean that Artie Lange would call him “Lucky Pierre”?]