Saints running back Reggie Bush was hyped as the next Gale Sayers.  It hasn’t happened. 

Bush, based on two NFL seasons, is a glorified third-down back who can’t run circles around defensive backs in the NFL like he did in the PAC-10.

But Bush wants to do more, and he has shown a stronger commitment in the 2008 offseason than he did a year ago.

“I definitely made it a point to be here more, be around my teammates more,” Bush said.  “There are certain things you can do around the practice facility that you can’t substitute for when you’re not here, like watching film with the coaches.  I’m just trying to find every edge possible to get better.”

Bush will go back to returning punts in 2008, but he won’t return kicks.  Last season, Bush returned only three punts for the entire year.

As a rookie, Bush caught 88 passes for 742 yards.  But he rushed for 600 yards in neither season.

Whether Bush’s renewed commitment will improve his numbers remains to be seen.  Running backs either have “it” or they don’t, and it’s usually obvious from one of the first moments they hit the field at the NFL level.

Bush, so far, hasn’t been close to the guy he was supposed to be.  He has been outplayed by a running back from his own college team (LenDale White), and by a guy from cross-town rival UCLA (Maurice Jones-Drew).