The Raiders don't have any plans for trading running back Michael Bush, and he's getting first-team reps alongside Darren McFadden, and seems to have a good chance to start.  The Raiders' situation is reminiscent of the Saints backfield; the over-hyped top-five pick Reggie Bush that is a quality role player and a factor in the passing game. Michael Bush is more like Pierre Thomas the less costly back that is more trustworthy and ultimately more valuable. Thomas is unsigned, but he will sign sooner than later... 

The Saints signed former Bears fullback  free agent Jason McKie on Sunday to add experience to the power back position. McKie, 30, 5-11, 247, started 46 games for the Bears from 2003-2009.

He was released by the Bears in March of 2010. He signed with the Eagles as undrafted free agent from Temple in 2002 and was with the Cowboys before joining the Bears.  McKie started 11 games last season for the Bears and caught 5 passes for 13 yards. 

SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: Now that Brett Favre has undergone ankle surgery and will return to the Vikings this season, Saints safety Darren Sharper  has some words for the quarterback on his Twitter: "We, y'all seen Brett had surgery on his  ankle we got after in the championship game. Come Thursday night 1st game. X. marks the spot." Sharper is hobbling on a bad knee for much of the offseason, and that even after surgery in early March, he won't be ready to be on the field until training camp. The men blocking for Favre easily could respond by looking at Sharper's knee and saying, "X marks the spot."

Buster Davis, former LSU receiver and punt returner, says he's healthy now and plans to prove to the Chargers he's not a "draft bust." There were just three pass receptions for the Chargers' No. 1 draft choice, but two months into the season, he was on injured reserve and undergoing surgery to reattach his groin muscle to the bone and repair a tendon in his abdomen. The premature end of the 2008 season was in the eyes of many the calling his status as a draft bust. Bothered by nagging injuries in his legs from the time he joined the Chargers, Davis in his first two seasons caught 24 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown.The hamstring and quad and knee pain that most often would allow him to  practice two days at a time and then have to rest during his first raining camps and kept him playing in almost half the Chargers' games ion 2007 and '08 were the effects of of his trying to play a groin injury suffered in his final game at LSU and aggravated during the pre-draft process. "We still have high expectations for him," said San Diego GM A. J. Smith.  Davis hopes he can become a preferred target for Phillip Rivers, something he hasn't been. "We have established receivers, but I have my place, too," said Davis. My place is to come in and make big plays."...

This week, the Saints veterans take the practice field for the first time since their Super Bowl victory over the Colts. The workout is the first of 12 organized team activities allowed during the offseason, with the OTA sandwiched around a full-squad minicamp on June 4-6. The Saints will be looking for a replacement for outside linebacker Scott Fujita, who signed with Cleveland. Clint Ingram, a former Jaguars starter, is the favorite to win that job, but he is still recovering from knee surgery. Youngsters Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Jonathan Casillas played well on specials teams last season and played well when filling in for Fujita last season. Veteran Troy Evans is a possibility but he stars on special teams. ..

Usuma Young will likely be at free safety until Sharper returns, but Chip Vaughn, who missed the 2009 seasons with a knee injury, will get a look. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins will get some work at safety, too. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas return at tailback with power back Lynell Hamilton will replace Mike Bell, who signed with the Eagles. Veteran Mark Brunell is still unsigned so Drew Brees will have only Chase Daniel and  seventh-round draft choice Sean Canfield  to share reps with Brees in OTAs and training camp, but the Saints likely will bring in an experienced quarterback as he backup....

Ian Thomsen of  SI.com has the Hornets picking Kansas center Cole Aldrich wth their 11th selection in the draft. Writes Thomsen: "A solid (6-11, 245) center who has limited shooting range and he isn't a leaper, but he'll provide defense and front-court dept to a franchise in desperate need of SIZE."...