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As Associated Press sports writer Tim Reynolds reported, the next chapter of Reggie Bush's NFL career formally began Friday, one day after he was acquired by the Dolphins in a trade with the New Orleans Saints and agreed to a two-year contract worth nearly $10 million.

He cannot practice with the club until Aug. 4 because of NFL rules, but is in camp and already knee-deep into the process of learning everything about his new team.

Of prime interest to Fantasy Football owners?

Bush told reporters that he and the Dolphins are still figuring out how he'll be used, but noted that he'll be a running back first -- clearly his top priority.

Indeed, head coach Tony Sparano told reporters, "I have a strong belief this guy can carry the ball on first and second down."

Not surprisingly, Bush agrees.

"I've always wanted to be featured back and there's an opportunity here for that," the former Saint said.

But what of rookie Daniel Thomas? Is not Bush best-suited to handling a complementary role to the bigger, more powerful newcomer?

Bush is a dynamic kick returner and receiver out of the backfield when he is healthy. And although plagued by a series of injuries in his career, he gained 4,982 all-purpose yards for the Saints and scored 33 touchdowns.

But in five years with the Saints, Bush only carried the ball 524 times, actually gaining more yards as a receiver than a runner.

So despite his public talk about getting a shot at being the "featured back," it sounds like Bush is more realistic in private.

According to Miami Herald staffer Armando Salguero, "Bush has not been promised 25 carries a game. He doesn't want 25 carries a game. He isn't going to get 25 carries a game for 16 games."

In fact, Salguero spoke with a source close to Bush on Thursday evening, who asked: "Do you think the Dolphins can give Reggie 10-15 touches a game? That's what he's hoping for."

As Salguero suggested, the question shows, in part, no demand for more work was made.

And no promise of more work was given.

According to Salguero, the plan is to make the 228-pound Thomas the workhorse. If he averages 18 carries a game that should be perfect. That would leave maybe an average of 10 carries a game for Bush.

That would be about 288 carries for Thomas and maybe 160 for Bush -- or a whopping 448 rushes for the season going to those two.

Which sounds about right. ...

In addition to making Thomas the workhorse and sparing Bush the kind of heavy workload he's never demonstrated an ability to handle, a potent one-two punch in the running game -- with Bush adding a more dangerous home-run threat than the team has boasted in the past -- has to help the passing attack.

And that's true whether Chad Henne is under center or if newcomer Matt Moore unseats the incumbent.

(I'll go ahead and suggest the latter is a distinct possibility without getting too in depth or now; suffice it to say Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland know what they're getting in Moore. They were in Dallas when the Cowboys signed Moore as an undrafted free agent and their interest in Moore dates back to May.)

Anybody who doesn't believe Bush -- even in limited doses -- won't open things up for Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, Brian Hartline and Anthony Fasano should think again.

But as Profootballtalk.com's Gregg Rosenthal cautioned, "the Dolphins are likely to be disappointed if they try to turn Bush into something he's not. He's never run consistently between the tackles. He wears down. If Bush wasn't able to find consistent success under Sean Payton in the Saints offense, we have our doubts it can happen anywhere."

Meanwhile, Salguero couldn't stress enough how much the Dolphins love Thomas, who has prototypical size and impressive quickness.

Untested?

Sure. But Arian Foster was unproven before the season opener last year and all he did was lead the league in rushing.

So was Peyton Hills before former Cleveland offensive coordinator Brian Daboll got a hold of him.

Did I mention that Daboll is now offensive coordinator in Miami?