Reggie Bush signs with Detroit Lions
Reggie Bush scored six touchdowns in each of his two seasons with the Dolphins. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Reggie Bush received the full-court free-agent press from the Detroit Lions on Wednesday, as they brought him via limo to the team's facility where he met with, among others QB Matthew Stafford.
The pitch worked. Bush and the Lions reportedly agreed on a four-year deal that will make the 28-year-old Detroit's No. 1 option out of the backfield.
One of the top skill-position players available in free agency, Bush is the type of weapon that Detroit's backfield has long been missing -- especially since repeated concussions sidelined Jahvid Best. Bush is coming off two seasons in Miami in which he averaged 1,036 yards rushing and 294 receiving.
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But the Dolphins' and Lions' offenses are as different as night and day. Miami attempted just 504 passes last season, while Detroit aired it out a league-high 740 times, all while utilizing a heavy dose of shotgun formations.
That setup, with Stafford and Calvin Johnson keeping defenses busy, could give Bush the potential for a career year. Bush is as good a pass-catching back as there is out there, with the ability to go the distance any time he touches the football.
Detroit no doubt had to pay up to get Bush signed (we'll update once the financials are revealed), and the team's apparent promise to make Bush the full-time back, over Mikel Leshoure, could backfire -- Bush dealt with injuries throughout his five-year run with the Saints, and Leshoure showed promise at times in 2012.
There are no sure things in the NFL, though. Bush, as the running back in this potent Detroit attack, playing on Ford Field's turf, is about as close as the Lions could come.
Grade: A-minus.