Coach Sean Payton expects the Saints and running back Reggie Bush to work out a new deal. "He's a guy that we feel will be part of our team," explained Payton.

Payton met with the media yesterday at the NFL league meetings being held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. Here is more on the Bush situation from Mike Triplett of the Times Picayune and nola.com.

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The New Orleans Saints are waiting until after the NFL's labor dispute clears up to start working on a new deal with tailback Reggie Bush. But Coach Sean Payton said he eventually expects the Saints and Bush to work something out.

Clearly, Bush will need to take a significant pay cut from the $11.8 million salary he is due in 2011. But Payton believes that both the Saints and Bush will be the best fit for one another once they agree on his true market value.

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/03/new_orleans_saints_coach_sean_149.html

Bush's true market value will be determined by the interest shown by other franchises. Reggie has stated numerous times that he wants to stay in New Orleans and spend his entire pro career in a Saint uniform. He's also smart enough to know his market value is not what it was in 2006 when he was drafted #2 overall out of USC.

Reggie Bush will always be a polarizing figure. One group of Saints fans love him, while others would prefer to see him go elsewhere. I have maintained that he will remain with the Saints. After hearing Sean Payton openly discuss the franchise's desire to keep Bush around should come as no surprise. He values Bush. He always has. Despite the injuries, and never living up to the hype surrounding him 5 years ago, Reggie Bush is valued by the three most important individuals in the Saints organization, Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, and Tom Benson. Look for #25 Saints jerseys with the name Bush on the back to remain a staple at the Louisiana Superdome on gameday.

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