NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Brees, Bush Hope to Lead A Mini-Revival in the Bayou
The Saints lucked out when Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush fell into their laps during the draft. He will play alongside Deuce McAllister.
(By Wesley Hitt -- Getty Images)
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The Saints left New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina struck and at one point didn't know if they would be back. But after a season of going 1-7 during modified home games in New Jersey, San Antonio and Baton Rouge, the Saints return to the Superdome looking like a very different team than the one that left. And that's not a bad thing.
The Saints -- a franchise that's suffered through Danny Wuerffel, Heath Shuler and both Billy Joes (Hobert and Tolliver) -- landed its first bona fide star quarterback since the Archie Manning era when Drew Brees signed a six-year, $60 million deal.
Then the Saints had Reggie Bush fall into their lap on draft day.
Bush will play alongside veteran Deuce McAllister, a former Pro Bowl selection, in a two-back model that's helped young runners break into the league.
While the arrival of Brees and Bush bodes well for the future, several gaping holes will keep the Saints in the bottom of the division.
Wide receiver Joe Horn was hampered by a hamstring injury last season, causing a major drop-off in production from 2004, when he had a career-high 1,399 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. The Saints' No. 2 wide receiver is up for grabs in the wake of Donte Stallworth's trade to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The linebacking situation is still shaky after failing to stop the run against anybody last year. Meanwhile, losing tackle Wayne Gandy and Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley weakens the offensive line.
But the team has enough talent elsewhere to at least become respectable again.
