Report: Saints won't cut Reggie Bush in next week

The New Orleans Saints began the process of shedding some serious contracts earlier this week when veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey was released.

The Saints have a lot of players coming out of contract and they need to get a new deal done for quarterback Drew Brees, one that could average more than $15 million per season.

With the return of a salary cap, that’s created some heavy lifting for general manager Mickey Loomis. But don’t expect the Saints to whack running back Reggie Bush in the next week. Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports it’s more likely the team will hang on to Bush for now with the hopes of restructuring his contract

It’s going to be a major restructuring if it’s done. Bush is set to earn more than $11 million in 2011, and everyone knows that won’t happen. The Saints need their running back to be propped up next season by Pierre Thomas, but Bush is a valuable weapon. How valuable? We’ll see if the Saints can get him to agree to their price. Rest assured, if they can’t whittle that number down in a major way, he’ll eventually be released.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune