Reggie Bush proved a couple things in his NFL preseason. One, he should have been drafted No. 1 overall. Two, he looked like a pretty physical player while lowering his shoulder into Titans cornerback Pacman Jones; and three, he definitely will be fined by the NFL office, who warned him not to wear his signature gold-toed adidas cleats.

"He doesn't like to tape his shoes," said Mike Ornstein, Bush's marketing guru.

Yes, Bush was supposed to cover the gold with black tape. Oh, well, what's a $5,000 or $10,000 fine to a young millionaire?

Bush, according to Ornstein, already has the best shoe deal and the best autograph deal in the NFL. His product endorsements' income is approaching $5 million for this season and he hasn't played in a regular-season game yet.

"I have never seen anything like it," Ornstein said Saturday night in Nashville. "I think his football jersey in close to being in the top five." Prior to his Monday night football debut Bush will be coming out with a 6-1-9 cologne, those famous San Diego area code numbers he wore in eye black while at USC.

The 6-1-9 is banned, of course, in the NFL.

Bush has committed a percentage of proceeds to several relief themes in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, beginning with a $50,000 donation to Holy Rosary School, a school for children with special needs. He is now working toward, with the help of the NFL and the Saints, installing a Field-turf field for the 2007 high school season. Most of the top New Orleans high schools use the same stadium, meaning there could be six to seven games a weekend there.

On his second carry of the preseason game against the Titans, Bush reversed his field, running left to right for 44 yards.

"I was a little disappointed I didn't score," Bush said. "I'd like to see a tape of that. As a team, we still have a lot of work to do if we are going to be a Super Bowl-contending team."

Take mascot's license away

New Saints quarterback Drew Brees said that the league (or somebody) has to do something about Tennessee's mascot, T-Rac, driving the sidelines in a scaled-down motorcycle with bucket seat at LP Field in Nashville.

Prior to the start of the second half, T-Rac ran into Adrian McPherson, the Saints' third-team quarterback who was scheduled to play. The Saints said that McPherson suffered a bruised leg, but that he is expected to practice this week.

"That's an issue," Brees said. "They definitely should do something about that. I mean, to get hit by a golf cart on the field by the mascot. I can't think of anything dumber than that."

Saints coach Sean Payton added: "You have to play an opponent, but to have to worry about the team's mascot. Those things are bothersome.

On a positive note, Brees said his surgically repaired throwing shoulder felt great. "I didn't think about it at all," he said.

Calling it a career?

With linebacker Junior Seau unable to find employment at age 37, look for the future Hall of Famer to announce his retirement as a San Diego Charger this week.

Holding their breath

There was a scary moment for Tennessee's rookie quarterback Vince Young in the second half when he sprained his left ankle. However, the tackle by newly signed New Orleans defensive end Javon Nanton looked initially like it may have caused a knee injury. Young did look very effective running around, but that close call should temper some of that impromptu scrambling.

Looking a little lost

Seattle's backup quarterback Seneca Wallace was sacked four times by the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Does anyone think that the Seahawks have spent so much time using Wallace as a receiver that maybe he's become lost as a quarterback?