I think it’s fair to say that an already disappointing 2nd professional season for Saints tailback Reggie Bush turned downright awful in the past several days. Not only did Bush giftwrap a Tampa Bay victory on Sunday, but he couldn’t even be bothered to suck for a full 60 minutes, if we’re to believe the Sun-Herald’s Larry Holder.

Dejected after his errant pitch to Devery Henderson on a reverse ended up costing the Saints a likely victory over the NFC South leaders, Bush started making his way to the locker room with six seconds left in the game.

The rest of the Saints offense prepared to take the field, and Sean Payton couldn’t find Bush. He walked briskly down the sideline and used some choice words to inform Bush to step back on the field.

Bush caught a 13-yard pass and ran out of bounds with three seconds remaining. Drew Brees couldn’t attempt the Hail Mary pass as he was sacked and fumbled the ball.

Bush was the first to jog off the field and the last to hit the showers. He sat silently still in uniform in his locker, almost moping. His teammates fielded all the questions as to what happened on the fateful play and if they agreed with Payton’s play call.

The $62-million tailback wanted no part of the media following Sunday’s loss and never made his way into the locker room Monday during the time media can conduct interviews, which has become a normal practice.

It would be unfair to blame all of the Saints ’07 underachievement on Bush. Certainly the Heisman winner cannot be held accountable for Deuce McAllister going down in Week 3, nor can he be faulted for New Orleans’ defense being unable to stop the legendary Luke McCown.