As both a running back and receiver, he gained over 1,300 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season. He adapted well to the NFL. Among other things he used his speed, quickness and agility that helped him win the Heisman Trophy at Southern California, to help the Saints experience their best season ever.

He scored a midseason 65-yard touchdown on a punt return against Tampa Bay, a 65-yard touchdown on a screen pass at Dallas in December. In the NFC championship game, he scored on an 88-yard touchdown in Chicago during the NFC championship game, where he grabbed a short pass, outran the Bears' numerous defenders, cut across the entire width of the field.

To finish off the pass and run, he pointed back tauntingly toward Bear linebacker Brian Urlacher, and then launched into a forward somersault across the goal line.

Unfortunately, the season ended there for the New Orleans Saints. The Chicago Bears came back after Bush's run and won the game to earn the right to go to the Super Bowl in Miami.

Bush is in excellent shape after the offseason, because of a new workout regimen he began in Los Angeles last February. It's called fre flo do (pronounced FREE-flow-doe). Bush describes it as a Chinese-inspired type of training that builds strength with exercises focused on flexibility, quickness and endurance. Fre flo do also has a meditative and spiritual component.

Bush said he prefers the workout because it leverages his strengths as an athlete.

"You know, some of my plays last longer than the average play, so I'm trying to simulate that ... going beyond the average time within a workout," Bush said.

"I expect to improve on last year. I don't have a number, but I definitely expect to be a lot better than last year and help my team get to the Super Bowl."

Excerpts from the Associated Press (2007).