The New Orleans Saints will open up their regular season today at noon when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Louisiana Superdome.

The Saints look to begin their season with a win as they are faced with a crucial NFC South divisional tilt immediately. The Saints come into the opener following a preseason that concluded with a 2-2 record.

The landfall of Hurricane Gustav forced the Saints to move their base of operations from their Metairie practice facility to Indianapolis for the week. The club prepped for one of their most heated rivals at the newly constructed Lucas Oil Stadium and returned to New Orleans on Friday evening in anticipation of the opener.

Today’s game marks the second time that the Saints and Buccaneers clash in a season-opener, but the first time New Orleans starts their season against Tampa Bay in the Superdome. The Saints hold a 13-28 mark in season openers and lead the Buccaneers in the series with a 19-13 edge. After the Saints swept Tampa Bay in the 2006 season series, a key to winning the NFC South, the Bucs defeated the Saints on both occasions in 2007 to capture their second division crown in three seasons.

In his third season as head coach, Sean Payton and the Saints have made the changes to improve on their 7-9 finish in 2007 and return to the form that advanced them to the NFC Championship the prior season. After a month of training camp, four preseason games and establishing a routine in the meeting room, on the practice field and in the weight room, the Saints are ready to take the field for the first time in the regular season.

QB Drew Brees again leads an offense that was ranked fourth in the NFL and features weapons such as RB Reggie Bush, WR Marques Colston and newly acquired TE Jeremy Shockey. Brees, who passed for a club-record 4,423 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2007, will work behind an offensive line that returns four of five starters and surrendered a league-low 16 sacks.

Although 11 starters return to the defense, several additions have enhanced competition for starting positions in training camp. DE Will Smith, who led the club with seven sacks, returns to anchor the line after signing a six-year extension. Smith will be joined on the interior by rookie DT Sedrick Ellis, the seventh- pick in the NFL Draft.

LB Scott Fujita, who led the club with 119 tackles in 2007 is joined by Jonathan Vilma, who was acquired from the New York Jets to add competition in the middle.

Free agent addition Randall Gay and second round draft pick Tracy Porter join CB Mike McKenzie and several other key contributors in the Saints secondary.

IN THE NFC SOUTH: Atlanta hosts the Detroit Lions and Carolina opens their season at the San Diego Chargers.

#25 REGGIE BUSH
Running Back
3rd Season
University of Southern California

NFL CAREER – Entering his third season, the elusive running back has needed little time to establish himself as one of the NFL’s most versatile and exciting players. In his brief career, the multitalented Bush has posted 2,533 total yards – 1,146 rushing, 1,159 receiving and 228 on punt returns. Of his 15 touchdowns, he has rushed for 10, caught four and returned a punt for another. He has also added three two-point conversions. Despite being forced to miss the final four games of 2007 with a knee injury, in NFL history only teammate Marques Colston has caught more passes in his first two seasons than Bush’s 161 (73 last season, 88 as a rookie). He led New Orleans in rushing last year with 581 yards and accounted for 56 first downs (32 rushing, 24 receiving). Before suffering the knee injury last season, Bush had 848 yards of offense in the nine games where he was the full-time starter at running back. Since arriving in New Orleans, he has set an NFL record for catches by a rookie running back (88) and set an NFL postseason record for the longest play from scrimmage with an 88-yard touchdown catch-and-run vs. Chicago in the 2006 NFC Championship Game. Bush has also set or equaled club single-game records for touchdowns (four, tied), rushing TDs (three, tied) and receiving yards by a running back (131). Drafted second overall in 2006, he was the only player in the NFL in his first season to score touchdowns running, receiving and on a punt return.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed a six-year contract, 8/1/06; Drafted in the first round (second overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.

HONORS – 2006: Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie Team; NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (December); NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 13); NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week Five), NFL Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week (Week 1).

2007 – Played in 12 games with 10 starts, inactive for the final four games with a knee injury…Rushed for a team-high 581 yards on 157 carries (3.7 avg.) and four TDs and finished second on the club with 73 catches for 417 yards (5.7 avg.) and two touchdowns…Also returned three punts for 12 yards, with a long of 10…Split time at running back in opener at Indianapolis, Sept. 6, recording 38 yards on 12 carries and catching four passes for seven yards…Started at Tampa Bay, Sept. 16, and had six catches for 43 yards and 27 yards on 10 carries…Turned in second multi-TD game of his career with a pair of one-yard rushing touchdowns vs. Tennessee, Sept. 24. Notched seven rushes for 15 yards and added six catches for 20 yards. An 11-yard reception in the third quarter was the 100^th of his career in his 19^th game, making him the second-fastest to 100 behind Arizona WR Anquan Boldin…In first start as team’s featured back following season-ending injury to Deuce McAllister the week before, set career-high for attempts with 21 for 67 yards and added nine catches for 52 yards vs. Carolina, Oct. 7…At Seattle, Oct. 14, Rushed for season-high 97 yards on 19 carries (5.1 avg.) – including a season-long 22-yard burst – and caught six passes for 44 yards in Saints’ first victory of the season…Oct. 21 vs. Atlanta had 54 yards on 17 carries and added 19 yards on five catches. Scored the go-ahead touchdown by powering through a Falcons defender after hauling in a four-yard screen pass and followed moments later by going around the end for the two-point conversion…At San Francisco, Oct. 28, rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries and caught seven passes for 49 yards…Posted third multi-TD game of his career vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 4, rushing for 72 yards on 17 attempts with a one-yard TD and catching seven passes for 43 yards and a two-yard touchdown in victory…Had seven carries for 17 yards – including a seven-yard touchdown burst – and five catches for 27 yards vs. St. Louis, Nov. 11. Set a club record and tied an NFL record with a pair of two-point conversions, both on runs in the fourth quarter…At Houston, Nov. 18, set a career-high with 12 catches for 70 yards and added 15 carries for 34 yards. In addition, his 12 grabs were the second-most in team history by a running back (FB Tony Galbreath, 14 at Green Bay, 9/10/78).….Saw limited action at Carolina, Nov. 25 due to bruised shin, gaining 32 yards on nine carries and adding 30 yards on three catches…Gained 64 yards on 13 attempts and caught three passes for 13 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 2…Inactive for final four contests with knee injury. 2006 – Played in all 16 games, starting eight, including one at wide receiver where he opened in the slot…Ranked 10th in NFL with a team-high 88 receptions – leading all rookies and second overall among running backs – for 742 yards and two touchdowns…Yardage total was second among running backs and second to teammate WR Marques Colston (1,038) among rookies…88 catches set NFL record for catches by a rookie running back (breaking mark of 83, FB Earl Cooper, San Francisco, 1980)…Led NFL with 33 receptions on third down, for 297 yards and a TD…742 receiving yards rank third in league history for a rookie running back, trailing Miami RB Terry Kirby (874, 1993) and Washington RB Charley Taylor (814, 1964) – Taylor would move to WR later in his career…Ranked seventh among rookies in rushing with 565 yards on 155 carries (3.6 avg.) and six touchdowns…Added a team-leading 28 punt returns for 216 yards (7.7 avg.) and a 65-yard TD…Second on team with nine touchdowns, highest total for a Saints rookie since RB George Rogers had 13 in 1981…Nine total TDs ranked second in NFL among rookies, trailing Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew (16)…Only player in NFL to record TDs rushing, receiving and on a punt return…Had 59 first downs (27 rushing, 32 receiving), tied for 24th in league and third among rookies…Tied club TD record with four (three rushing, one receiving) vs. San Francisco, Dec. 3 and had a pair of 100-yard receiving days and reached triple digits in rushing once…Named NFL Rookie of the Month for December and claimed NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 13 and NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 5…In NFC Championship Game at Chicago, 1/21/07, had a game-high 132 yards on seven catches, including an 88-yard touchdown reception that was the longest play in NFC Championship Game history. All but two of his catches came in the second half…In the NFC Divisional Playoffs vs. Philadelphia, recorded 52 yards on 12 attempts and had a four-yard TD in the second quarter. Also had three catches for 22 yards and returned a trio of punts for 21 yards…In NFL debut at Cleveland, Sept. 10, recorded 15 carries for 67 yards, added seven receptions for 52 yards and three punt returns for 22 yards…Started first NFL contest at RB at Green Bay, Sept. 17, and had eight receptions for 68 yards and four punt returns for 36 yards…Saw action at RB vs. Atlanta, Sept. 25 and posted 13 carries for 53 yards and four catches for 19 yards…At Carolina, Oct. 1, hauled in four passes for 48 yards, including 32-yard grab…Had 11 receptions for 63 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 8, but contest is remembered for game-winning, 65-yard punt return for a touchdown with 4:17 remaining for 24-21 victory. TD came on the 100th “touch” of his young career (54 rushing attempts, 34 catches, 12th punt return). Earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors…Had 11 carries for 25 yards and four catches for 35 yards vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 15. Added three punt returns for 29 yards…Bottled up Oct. 29 vs. Baltimore, recording five rushes for 15 yards, four receptions for five yards and tossing an interception…At Pittsburgh, Nov. 12, had 10 carries for 49 yards, including a 15-yard TD for the first offensive touchdown of his career. Score came on a double reverse, punctuated by a diving flip over a defender into the end zone…Started Nov. 19 vs. Cincinnati and posted 13 carries for 51 yards, eight receptions for 58 and a pair of punt returns for eight yards. Broke club record for receptions by a rookie (former mark: 54, shared by FB Tony Galbreath in 1976 and TE Cam Cleeland in 1998)…Dec. 3 vs. San Francisco started at RB and tied a club record (WR Joe Horn, vs. NY Giants, 12/14/03, all receiving) with four TDs. Scored three rushing (of one-, eight- and 10 yards) TDs and added a five-yard touchdown catch. Recorded nine grabs for 131 yards, including a 74-yard burst through a handful of defenders off a screen pass. Also tied a club record for rushing TDs in a game and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week…At Dallas, Dec. 10, started at RB and had six carries for 37 yards, six catches for 125 yards, including a weaving 61-yard touchdown. Posted 25 rushing yards on three carries in third quarter…Had five grabs for 19 yards vs. Washington, Dec. 17, giving him 84 on year to break the NFL receptions record for a rookie running back in a season (San Francisco FB Earl Cooper, 83, 1980)…At NY Giants, Dec. 24, notched first 100-yard rushing day with 126 yards on 20 attempts, including one-yard TD. Recorded 80 yards rushing in second quarter as Saints took the lead for good. Also had a pair of receptions for 23 yards. Bush and RB Deuce McAllister (108) combined to be the third Saints duo to go over 100 yards in the same game. Bush earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors….Started and played briefly vs. Carolina, Dec. 31, posting 20 yards on three carries – capping the opening drive with a one-yard TD. Added a pair of catches for 13 yards. Named NFL Rookie of the Month for December, a stretch where he had 24 catches for 311 yards and 46 carries for 234 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

COLLEGE – The 2005 Heisman Trophy winner played in 39 games at Southern California with only 15 starts, but finished 10th in NCAA Division I-A history with 6,551 all-purpose yards, a school career record. That mark was also third in Pac-10 history…Set school and conference season-record with 2,890 all-purpose yards in 2005, the third-best season total in Division I-A history…Gained 2,330 all-purpose yards in 2004, becoming 12th player in NCAA history to gain over 2,000 all-purpose yards twice… Finished career with 3,169 yards (seventh in school history) and 25 TDs on 433 carries (7.3 avg.) and 1,301 yards with 13 TDs on 95 catches (13.7 avg.) Also posted 559 yards and three TDs on 44 punt returns (12.7 avg.)…In 2005, was named the Associated Press Player of the Year, and added Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, as well as the Doak Walker Award…Earned first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press, Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Walter Camp, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated…Just the fifth player to ever be named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year twice (second consecutive and the first non-QB to achieve the feat in 20 seasons)…Fifth in 2004 Heisman Trophy vote and a near-unanimous All-America selection...Set a school record for freshmen with 1,330 all-purpose yards.

PERSONAL – Became heavily involved in the community immediately after being selected by New Orleans in the NFL Draft. Donated $86,000 to resurface the field at Tad Gormley Stadium so high school football could be played again at a stadium. He also donated 12 Hummer vehicles to New Orleans, state and government agencies, became a regional spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and his corporate sponsorships all include charitable components for programs in the New Orleans region…Political Science major at USC…Attended Helix (La Mesa, Calif.) HS where he was a 2002 Parade Magazine All-American and USA Today All-USA selection... During his prep career, rushed for 4,995 yards (12.0 avg.) and scored 450 points…Ran for 1,691 yards on 140 carries (12.1 avg.) with 27 TDs in 2002, despite missing four games with a broken wrist…Placed third in the 2002 California 100-meters final…High school teammate of San Francisco QB Alex Smith, the first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

RED HOT IN THE RED ZONE
The Saints were ranked first in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage in 2007. In 50 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, the Saints scored 36 touchdowns for a 72.0 percent effectiveness rating.

QB Drew Brees had an NFL-best 116.8 passer rating in the red zone, completing 60-of-84 passes (71.4 percent) for 314 yards, 23 TD passes, zero sacks taken and zero interceptions.

During his career inside the 20, Brees has completed 212-of-360 passes for 1,387 yards and 84 TD passes with a 92.9 rating. a sack on six occasions in 2007, including a period of four consecutive contests.

INJURY REPORT
New Orleans Saints
Out: DT Hollis Thomas (triceps)

Questionable: CB Mike McKenzie (knee), RB Deuce McAllister (knee), RB Aaron Stecker (knee), DT Brian Young (foot), LB Mark Simoneau (back)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Out: G Davin Joseph (foot)

Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), WR Antonio Bryant (knee), Michael Clayton (chest), Joey Galloway (chest), DT Jovan Haye (groin), LB Matt McCoy (groin), S Sabby Piscitelli (knee), DT Ryan Sims (thigh)

Probable: QB Jeff Garcia (right hand/calf), CB Aqib Talib (illness), TE Ben Troupe (foot)