Well after about a week of being on a evacuation vacation from Hurricane Gustav, it's great to come home and hopefully return to a normal life,whatever that may be. There's a few things pretty messed up around here but for the most part my home made out well. Which is wonderful because where I live (Westbank side of the Miss. river) was predicted to get hit hard from storm surge and also levee failure was a huge concern. The levee held and the surge never happened so thank God for that.

As for what will be happening with sports around our area, the Saints will play their first game in the Super Dome. Which is great and you can expect a very electric crowd come Sunday. I remember the re-opening of the Dome after Katrina and I have to say it was very loud. Since New Orleans and some of the surrounding area came out of this Hurricane with just power outages and some wind damage, this game will be a great time to celebrate (not that we ever need an excuse to get drunk and do that) what could have been worse than it was. So Geaux Saints,Geaux!

Baton Rouge didn't fare out as well as New Orleans and the game between LSU and Troy has been postponed until Nov. as both teams had open dates at the same time. Tiger Stadium was hit real hard and will need repairs of the field and scoreboard not to mention a few other things. LSU plans to have it ready by next weeks game against North Texas. So it's safe to say that Sat. will somewhat suck without an LSU game, but I understand why. Besides it'll give me a chance to checkout the other teams within the SEC this week. I'll probably be looking to pay special attention to the Florida and Miami game which should be a good one.

So once again let me say it's great to be home and I'm looking forward to relaxing my nerves and watching some good football games. Thanks to those who commented on Nique's blog wishing me and my fellow New Orleanians well. Also thanks to everyone who emailed me also, God Bless you wonderful people!

Enjoy your weekend and good luck to your teams.

Also to my friends here who might be from the East Coast Good luck with the Hurricane headed your way and God Bless you and your family...Stay safe!

For Saints RB Reggie Bush last years woeful season was a humbling experience. Thrust into the role of an every down back by coaches after McAllister went down early in the season, he seemed to never really get on track. Which is a far cry from the very good rookie season he had in 2006. With four games left in the regular season Bush missed them with a knee injury of his own.

 The word "bust" has been thrown around by Bush's harshest critics, who suggest his speed has been neutralized by NFL defenses and that he can't be an every-down back. But Bush said he isn't fazed by such talk, and he's not even interested in using it as motivation

"No, because I know I'm not a bust. I know I'm far from it, " said Bush, who gained 998 yards from scrimmage in 12 games last season, but did it without the highlight-reel flair that he flashed in college and as a rookie.

I tend to agree with him. Think about this, is it his fault that he's not a 6'1 230 lbs powerback? No it isn't, in fact if anyone is at fault for Reggies' less than productive second season it's the Saints coaching staff.

They should have known Reggie never was an every down back and in fact he's kind of light in the #### to be doing that. I would imagine the only time Reggie has been an every down back was playing in high school. In college at USC he had LenDale White to carry the heavy load, much like Deuce did for the 2006 season. Coach Shaun Payton gambled with Bush in that role and failed miserably. Knowing all along there was a RB on the roster named Pierre Thomas who could have shouldered that load.

Reggie knows and understands that there are high expectations for players drafted in the first round.

"Any time you're a rookie coming into this league and you're a first-round draft pick, you have a lot of pressure on your shoulders. So it's not easy. It's not an easy job, " said Bush.

I'm probably one of the few people and even Saints fans who believe Bush will still do some great things in the NFL. Far to many people are fair weather fans but I guess that's just the way it is with sports.

I remember a certain QB named Peyton Manning who is widely considerd the best in the game today throwing plenty of interceptions his first couple of seasons. I also don't remember anyone labeling him a bust either. So why should we label Bush in that way?

He's only going into his third season and anyone who thought he would be an every down back doesn't really know football. What he does well is make people miss tackles. Get him the ball in open space and he'll make just about every defensive player in the NFL look silly grabbing for air.

Besides he's still learning which is what 90% or more of the players coming from college do in their first few seasons.

 "This is a totally different level from college. You start from rock bottom once you get in the league, and some people are able to come into this league and have great careers right off the bat. Some people really have to learn. Everybody's different.

So let's give the young man a break...or not. However when he's helping the Saints get back into the playoffs just remember what you thought of him. Well that and crow may taste better in a Gumbo.