<span style=""> <span style="">In the weeks leading up to the start of the New Orleans Saints' 2009 training camp, NewOrleansSaints.com will take an inside look at some interesting facts and figures of various high-profile players on the Saints' roster. This is part two in the series.</span>
<span style="">RUNNING BACK/PUNT RETURNER REGGIE BUSH</span>
<span style="">Height:</span> 6-0
Weight: 203
NFL Experience in 2009: 4th Season
Years with Saints: 4th Season
College: Southern California
SAINTSATIONAL NOTES:
- RB/PR Reggie Bush has needed little time to establish himself as one of the NFL's most versatile and exciting players. In his career, the second pick overall in the 2006 NFL Draft has posted 3,647 all-purpose yards (1,550 rushing, 1,599 receiving and 498 on punt returns). Bush has also found the end zone 24 times over the course of three seasons, with 12 of the scores coming via rushing touchdowns; eight on receptions and four on punt returns.
- In 2008, Bush played an important role in the Saints offense with 106 rushes for 404 yards and two touchdowns, 52 receptions for 440 yards and four touchdowns, which tied for the third highest total of scoring by a running back, despite playing in only 10 games. Bush also had 20 punt returns for 270 yards, ranking second in the NFL in punt return average (13.5 per return) and three touchdowns.
- Despite missing six games and half of another with a knee injury, Bush ranked among the NFL leaders in several categories, including touchdowns, receptions and first downs, as well as all punt return categories.
- REGGIE BUSH SINGLE-GAME SUPERLATIVES
- Rushing Attempts: 21, vs. Carolina (10/7/2007)
- Rushing Yardage: 126, at NY Giants (12/24/2006)
- Longest Rush: 43, vs. Atlanta (12/7/2008)
- Longest Touchdown Run: 23, at Denver (9/21/2008)
- Rushing TDs: 3, vs. San Francisco (12/3/2006)
- Receptions: 12, at Houston (11/18/2007)
- Receiving Yards: 74, vs. San Francisco (12/3/2006)
- Long Reception: 61, at Dallas (12/10/2006)
- Receiving TDs: 1 (8 times), last vs. Atlanta (12/7/2008)
- Yards from Scrimmage: 168, vs. San Francisco (12/3/2006)
- Punt Returns: 5, vs. Minnesota (10/6/2008)
- Longest Punt Return: 71t, vs. Minnesota (10/6/2008)
- Punt Return TDs: 2, vs. Minnesota (10/6/2008)
- Scoring: 24 points, vs. San Francisco (12/3/2006)
- Total Touchdowns: 4, vs. San Francisco (12/3/2006)
REGGIE BUSH ... BY THE NUMBERS
213 ... Receptions in his first 38 NFL regular season games. Since the start of the 2006, no other running back has as many receptions.
24 ... Touchdowns for Bush in his career, tied for 11th in the team's all-time record books.
1,599 ... Yards receiving by Bush in his career through 38 games. It marks the second-highest total among running backs over that span, trailing only Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, who has 1,787 since the start of the 2006 season.
1,700 ... Yards of offense for Bush in the 18 games since taking over as the full-time starter at running back in 2007.
13 .. Bush ranks 13th in club history in rushing with 1,550 yards on 418 carries, with 12 touchdowns. Next on the list is RB Craig "Ironhead" Heyward (1988-1992), who has 1,813 yards on 432 carries.
131 ... Receiving yards against San Francisco in his rookie season (12/3/2006), the most by a running back in franchise history.
12 ... Bush became just the 12th player in NFL history to return two punts for touchdowns in the same game when he returned a pair against the Minnesota Vikings (10/6/2008).
176 ... Punt return yardage against the Minnesota Vikings (10/6/2008), setting a club-record as he averaged 35.2 yards on five returns.
4 ... Touchdowns for Bush against San Francisco (12/3/2006), tying a club single-game record for touchdowns in a contest. Bush also had three touchdown rushes against the 49ers – also tying a club-record – and a scoring catch.
10 ... Bush is currently ranked 10th all-time in receptions in club history, having recorded 213 career grabs in only 38 games. Bush trails teammate Marques Colston (9th all-time with 215 receptions).
DID YOU KNOW? In 13 games where Bush has combined rushing and receiving totals of over 100 yards, the Saints own a 9-4 record.TOTAL RUSH REC. OPP. DATE 168 37 (10) 131 (9) vs. SF (W) 12/3/06 163 51 (14) 112 (8) vs. TB (W) 9/7/08 162 37 (6) 125 (6) at DAL (W) 12/10/06 149 126 (20) 23 (2) at NYG (W) 12/24/06 148 73 (18) 75 (11) at DEN (L) 9/21/08 141 97 (19) 44 (6) at SEA (W) 10/14/07 119 67 (21) 52 (9) vs. CAR (L) 10/7/07 119 67 (15) 52 (7) at CLE (W) 9/10/06 115 72 (17) 43 (7) vs. JAX (W) 11/4/07 113 64 (10) 49 (7) at SF (W) 10/28/07 109 51 (13) 58 (8) vs. CIN (L) 11/19/08 106 80 (10) 26 (3) vs. ATL (W) 12/7/08 104 34 (15) 70 (12) at HOU (L) 11/18/07
REGGIE BUSH … 2008 HIGHLIGHTS
October 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings – On the primetime stage of Monday Night Football, Bush became just the 12th player in NFL history to return two punts for touchdowns in the same game with runbacks of 71 and 64 yards. His 176 punt return yards set a franchise record.
September 21: at Denver Broncos – Bush ran his consecutive scoring streak to three games, notching his fourth career multiple touchdown game as he led the team with 73 yards on 18 carries with a 23-yard touchdown jaunt while also scoring on a six-yard reception among his team-high 11 catches for 75 yards.
September 14: at Washington Redskins – Bush fielded a punt from Durant Brooks at his own 45-yard line and took a step to the right before backtracking to the left sideline and racing 55 yards to the end zone untouched for his second career punt return touchdown.
September 7: vs. Tampa Bay - Starting his first season as the Saints' primary runner, Bush capped the 24-20 Opening Day victory with an electrifying 42-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. He caught a swing pass in the flat from Drew Brees and sprinted through the Tampa Bay defense, diving for the pylon in the corner of the end zone. His 112-yard, eight-reception performance accented his 51 rushing yards, including a career-long 26-yard dash.
