Bush wants #1 money

Mr. Laz · 07-20-2006, 05:30 PM

July 20, 2006

Bush could be late for Saints camp

Agent says unsigned Heisman Trophy winner needs to be treated like No. 1 pick

By Michael Wallace

How soon New Orleans Saints top draft pick Reggie Bush reports to Jackson for training camp may depend on how quickly team officials follow through on a draft night pledge, a Bush representative said.

Mike Ornstein, Bush's marketing agent, said Wednesday that Saints owner Tom Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis told Bush that he would be treated during contract negotiations as if he were the first overall pick in the April NFL draft.

The Saints used the No. 2 pick on Bush, the Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Southern Cal, after Houston surprisingly chose defensive end Mario Williams with the top pick.

Ornstein told The Clarion-Ledger on Wednesday that it's likely Bush and the Saints won't reach a deal on a contract before training camp opens July 28 at Millsaps College.

"Do we feel like he'll be there at the start?" Ornstein said in a telephone interview from his California office. "I'm not sure where we are right now. I'd say probably not, at this stage. ... We're not trying to be the bad guys. We want the Saints to live up to what they told Reggie at the draft."

Apparently at issue is whether the Saints will offer Bush, who was widely rated the top player in the draft, a more lucrative deal than Houston gave Williams.

Williams a former North Carolina State pass rusher, has reportedly agreed to a six-year contract with Texas worth $54 million, with $26.5 million in guaranteed pay.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, through a team spokesman, declined an interview request Wednesday.

Bush said during the Saints' rookie mini-camp in May that he instructed his team of agents to do "whatever it takes" to make sure a deal was reached that would allow him to report to camp on time.

Ornstein is one of at least two representatives that handle Bush's professional matters. Ornstein said he primarily negotiates the player's endorsement deals. Joel Segal, who will negotiate Bush's NFL contract, said he will not comment on where discussions stood with the Saints.

"I don't want to get caught up in holdouts and things like that," Bush said in May after his first offseason workout with the team. "I think it's important to start off on a good foot and a good note ... not only with the team, but with the city."

The Saints have signed three of their eight 2006 draft picks in the past 10 days. But the team's top four picks remain unsigned a week before players report, which is not uncommon among NFL teams. Many deals, especially ones involving higher-round picks, get done weeks into training camp.

Ornstein's comments Wednesday came a day after the agent for quarterback Vince Young, chosen No. 3 overall by Tennessee, said he was heading to Nashville to get a deal done in time for Young to open camp with the Titans next week.

Ornstein said Bush is in Los Angeles, where he shot a commercial for Pepsi on Tuesday and has been working out at USC's campus.

Bush has already signed endorsement deals with Adidas, Subway restaurants and Hummer.

And he has already established deep ties to New Orleans, where he has purchased a downtown condo and has donated thousands of dollars to local charities through his endorsement companies.

Segal, who also represents Michael Vick, has made high-end deals since 1999, when he landed ex-Packers star Antonio Freeman what was then the biggest signing bonus ever paid to an NFL receiver.

"We're confident the Saints will live up to what they stated at the beginning, that Reggie would be treated like the top pick," Ornstein said. "He's been at every camp, at every workout, out in the community. The Saints sold 15,000 season tickets the week after he was drafted. His impact has been huge."

07-20-2006, 05:30 PM	Topic Starter
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	Bush wants #1 money July 20, 2006 Bush could be late for Saints camp Agent says unsigned Heisman Trophy winner needs to be treated like No. 1 pick By Michael Wallace How soon New Orleans Saints top draft pick Reggie Bush reports to Jackson for training camp may depend on how quickly team officials follow through on a draft night pledge, a Bush representative said. Mike Ornstein, Bush's marketing agent, said Wednesday that Saints owner Tom Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis told Bush that he would be treated during contract negotiations as if he were the first overall pick in the April NFL draft. The Saints used the No. 2 pick on Bush, the Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Southern Cal, after Houston surprisingly chose defensive end Mario Williams with the top pick. Ornstein told The Clarion-Ledger on Wednesday that it's likely Bush and the Saints won't reach a deal on a contract before training camp opens July 28 at Millsaps College. "Do we feel like he'll be there at the start?" Ornstein said in a telephone interview from his California office. "I'm not sure where we are right now. I'd say probably not, at this stage. ... We're not trying to be the bad guys. We want the Saints to live up to what they told Reggie at the draft." Apparently at issue is whether the Saints will offer Bush, who was widely rated the top player in the draft, a more lucrative deal than Houston gave Williams. Williams a former North Carolina State pass rusher, has reportedly agreed to a six-year contract with Texas worth $54 million, with $26.5 million in guaranteed pay. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, through a team spokesman, declined an interview request Wednesday. Bush said during the Saints' rookie mini-camp in May that he instructed his team of agents to do "whatever it takes" to make sure a deal was reached that would allow him to report to camp on time. Ornstein is one of at least two representatives that handle Bush's professional matters. Ornstein said he primarily negotiates the player's endorsement deals. Joel Segal, who will negotiate Bush's NFL contract, said he will not comment on where discussions stood with the Saints. "I don't want to get caught up in holdouts and things like that," Bush said in May after his first offseason workout with the team. "I think it's important to start off on a good foot and a good note ... not only with the team, but with the city." The Saints have signed three of their eight 2006 draft picks in the past 10 days. But the team's top four picks remain unsigned a week before players report, which is not uncommon among NFL teams. Many deals, especially ones involving higher-round picks, get done weeks into training camp. Ornstein's comments Wednesday came a day after the agent for quarterback Vince Young, chosen No. 3 overall by Tennessee, said he was heading to Nashville to get a deal done in time for Young to open camp with the Titans next week. Ornstein said Bush is in Los Angeles, where he shot a commercial for Pepsi on Tuesday and has been working out at USC's campus. Bush has already signed endorsement deals with Adidas, Subway restaurants and Hummer. And he has already established deep ties to New Orleans, where he has purchased a downtown condo and has donated thousands of dollars to local charities through his endorsement companies. Segal, who also represents Michael Vick, has made high-end deals since 1999, when he landed ex-Packers star Antonio Freeman what was then the biggest signing bonus ever paid to an NFL receiver. "We're confident the Saints will live up to what they stated at the beginning, that Reggie would be treated like the top pick," Ornstein said. "He's been at every camp, at every workout, out in the community. The Saints sold 15,000 season tickets the week after he was drafted. His impact has been huge."
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