Reggie Bush's microfracture surgery Kool-Aid has an awful aftertaste

Long story short: The Saints' franchise back, the second player picked in the 2006 NFL draft, "could miss his third straight preseason game on Thursday night when New Orleans hosts Miami.... Bush, who has not played since straining his right calf during training camp, has only three carries for 5 yards during the entire preseason," according to today's New York Times story.

Back on January 17 of this year, after Bush underwent the totally elective microfracture procedure — which, contrary to what his surgeon no doubt told him as he handed him his drink, is still highly experimental and controversial, with some disastrous, career-ending outcomes — I lamented the fact; excerpts:

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This is no trivial joint cleanout but a major procedure with a wide range of potential outcomes, sometimes letting a player return to his previous peak but in other instances resulting in a performance fall-off and even becoming a career-ender.

I sure hope Bush comes back with every bit of the lightning-quick shiftiness and cutting ability he dazzles with when he's healthy and at his best.

The knee is one complex, tricky joint.

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Wrote John P. Lopez, after a visit to the Saints training camp, on SI.com, "Reggie Bush has looked like he's taken to heart all the criticism of being overrated, just a third-down back and not tough enough or big enough to run hard between the tackles. I've watched a lot of Saints games in recent years and, frankly, don't recall seeing him look as determined. Of course, it was a series of drills and controlled scrimmages and coaches were behind the backfield imploring Bush to cut and go. Still, instead of the usual assortment of cuts to the outside when he hits traffic, Bush has squared his shoulders and hit holes much harder.

"The problem is, he could be running like Jim Brown and it still wouldn't change the fact that Bush is coming off microfracture surgery on his knee and there are big questions about whether he will be able to stay on the field. Already in camp, Bush has missed time to ice his knee or undergo treatment. And after not missing a single game his rookie year, Bush has missed 10 games the past two seasons. That's a bad, bad sign."

What a shame it would be if the once-great, scintillating runner turned into a utility player.