Was his first year – WHEN HE HAD DEUCE. Injuries (deuce) forced Reggie into the full time RB role…something he wasn’t drafted to be in the first place.

When we talk about Reggie we talk about TOUCHES not CARRIES. His carry is a swing pass or a stop and go etc.

Having two very capable RB’s to carry the load will help Reggie gain more yards in 2009 but not in the conventional way that the old codgers want him to get yard -“straight up the ’ol gut”…

That’s not what he was drafted for and it’s not his game. BUT, can he still return kicks for TD’s? YES. Can he amass 1,600 – 2,000 rushing and receiving yards in 2009? YES.

That, my friend is what Reggie is here for and why he fits perfectly in Payton’s system.

BUT…and this is a very large caveat- it all has to be predicated on RESULTS. Whichever RB gets the results- and by results I mean consistent productive runs (and some swing passes, etc ) , should get a lot of carries. If everyone is doing well, then I guess that can work, but most RBs do better when they play many downs and get a feel for the game and the offense’s flow.

Now if that person is Reggie, that’s fine. If it’s PT, Bell or even someone like Hamilton, that’s fine as well. But, our offense needs to be just as explosive as last year, but more consistent in sustaining drives, especially late in the game. If we want our defense to be all that it can be, some of it rests on the offense’s shoulders. They can help immensely in keeping the D fresh and with field position. This comes with offensive consistency and converting short yardage situations. I personally think every one of our backs is capable of getting this job done. But, we will see. And some may be better at it than others.

to predict the future for Reggie. I like him and I think he is one of a kind but, I really don’t think that he can stay healthy for the whole season. I think we will be seeing alot of him on the side line because of injuries. Atleast that is the way it has looked to me this pre season. In a perfect world though he would transform into Adrian Peterson form and rush for over 1000yds! If he can’t then we definetly have other capable running backs. Just my 2cents

The X-Back classification should be assigned to Reggie scense Reggie is not a typical RB and Not a WR. The NFL should expaned the 53 man limit to 54 to accomedate the new designation. Just idle ramblings. I’ll be quit now.:)

I think it’s clear that Reggie is the most valuable asset of that group, but somebody else has to be there to produce yards up the middle when everybody on the field knows that’s coming. I think Thomas and Bell are equally suited for that job.
All that aside, I reeeeely think putting Reggie and any of the other backs behind Brees together on a qb handoff option could be an effective toy on first and second downs. And I don’t think Bush should ever be back there alone unless it’s on a shotgun draw or PA HB option or screen.
It would be a real pity, and more importantly, sickening to fans(well, me, at least), if Payton can’t accept that Bush just cannot take the ball from the I-formation 25 times per game. He can do a lot of crazy stuff, but he can’t do that. Even if his YPC goes up, his knees won’t last the season. Also, it hurts Thomas’ chances of production if he ends up only coming in on third downs to run between tackles. That’s not exactly how it’s gone before, but on those dreaded 3rd/4th and 2’s from last year, when everybody knows the Saints are gonna try to run straight ahead, or cutback in the backfield, and Thomas gets the call, but it’s only his sixth play of the game or whatever, and everybody and their grandmother(refs included[@Denver ‘08]) believes the Saints can’t push the pile in short-yardage downs, that kills any hope of converting. You have to establish the run for it to be effective. And that will take more than Reggie.

Let’s face it. It don’t matter if we need Reggie like a bicycle needs a fish, he’s gonna play. He’s going to be forced into the offense the same way Vick is in Philly because he is the Money Man just like Vick. He’s the one that gives us a million more fans in California and everywhere else outside of Louisiana. He’s the one they want to see and whether he helps our team or not, the peeps is gonna get what they want so fat-a$$ can get what he wants.