LOS ANGELES — New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted gifts, money and other benefits worth more than $100,000 from two marketing agents while the Heisman Trophy winner was still playing at Southern California, according to a report posted Thursday on Yahoo.com.
After practice Friday, Bush responded to questions about the report much the same as he did when the allegations of improper benefits first were reported earlier this year.
"I'm not worried about any of these allegations or anything like that," he said. "Because I know what the truth is, like I said from day one. Once the smoke clears, everybody's going to see we did nothing wrong."
The report says Michael Michaels, a marketing agency investor who wanted to represent the football star, and current Bush marketing agent Mike Ornstein lavished Bush and his family with gifts while he was still at USC, each hoping to entice him to sign with them once he left school.
Bush eventually chose Ornstein, which caused a falling out between Michaels and Bush's family.
Speculation over whether Bush and his family received money arose earlier this year in reports that his mother and stepfather didn't pay $54,000 in rent during the year they lived in a house owned by Michaels, who later said the family promised to repay him once Bush went pro.
The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and their families from receiving extra benefits from agents or their representatives. Any improper benefits could lead to NCAA sanctions against USC and retroactively cost Bush his college eligibility and Heisman Trophy.
"Obviously it does affect you just because it is out there," Bush said. "But at the same time I know there's nothing to worry about."
JAGS RETURN: Linebacker Mike Peterson and defensive linemen Paul Spicer and Marcus Stroud returned to practice Friday and were expected to play against Pittsburgh on Monday night. They remained questionable on the team's injury report but showed signs of improvement after missing practice Thursday. Guard Chris Naeole, though, was added to the injury report with a knee injury. He was listed as questionable.
DRIVER FOUND GUILTY: A motorist was found guilty of manslaughter Friday in the death of a Super Bowl reveler who was struck when the man drove his car through a crowd celebrating the New England Patriots' 2004 championship. Stanley Filoma was charged with killing one man and injuring four others when his sport utility vehicle struck them Feb. 1, 2004. Jurors began deliberating Thursday. Prosecutors contended Filoma was drunk and fleeing police. Filoma said he panicked when two groups attacked his car.