The New Orleans Saints matched the Atlanta Falcons’ offer sheet for restricted free agent safety Rafael Bush on Monday.
Bush will stay with New Orleans on a reported two-year, $4.5 million deal. The Saints had until Tuesday to match the offer sheet Bush signed last week with the Falcons.
Bush indicated that the offer had been matched by tweeting, “I’m still a saint yep.” Bush’s agent, Brian Anderson, also confirmed the Saints matched Atlanta’s offer.
Bush originally received a one-year, $1.4 million tender from the Saints on a no-compensation tender.
Acquired on waivers in 2012 from the Denver Broncos, Bush appeared in 16 games with no starts during his first season in New Orleans.
Bush, who turns 27 in May, played a significant amount of defensive snaps for the Saints in 2013 as he served as a third safety in the team’s 4-2-5 alignment. Bush tallied 42 total tackles and five pass defenses in 13 games (six starts).
