Reggie Bush, the Detroit Lions and a Bust

June 11, 2013; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush (21) during mini camp at Lions training facility. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

When Reggie Bush was shopping for teams to most likely end his football career with he only had one criteria, a team that could win the Super Bowl. So he picks the Detroit Lions? Doesn’t he know his NFL history? To the casual fan it might look like Bush is going to end his career a bust by joining the perennial league doormats. Far from it. But I do think Reggie Bush has a bust in mind – a Hall of Fame bust.

At this point in his career, if you asked any football fan if Bush has a chance to make the Hall of Fame, they probably couldn’t say no fast enough. I think this was in the back of his mind when he signed with the Lions and thought that the best chance he has to get there was to be the catalyst, the guy who got the Detroit Lions to the Super Bowl. If he’s the one who turned the tables for the Lions and made them into Super Bowl champs, that would make him one of the NFL’s greatest stories in it’s history. The title of “The guy who got the Detroit Lions to the Super Bowl” alone should get him in the Hall by itself.

The crazy thing is, he might be able to do it. With Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndumakong Suh, the Lions have won what? That’s right, nothing. Even without Bush, I totally expected the Lions to have a bounce back year from that horrid 4-12 record last year. Bush is going to make that bounce back up go higher, but how high? Bush showed how high by saying “We have the guys here to be able to win a Super Bowl.” While the rest of the Lions are mumbling about respect and keeping their eyes low, trying not to step on each other. Bush has head held high and speaks strongly, for he can see the horizon. That’s the definition of a leader.

Words are great but without production they mean nothing. How is Bush going to pull this off? Think Marshall Faulk. What made the Rams the “Greatest Show on Turf” was the versatility of Faulk. Running up the gut and catching flair passes all over the place. I think the Detroit Lions envision the exact same role for Bush.

The Lions actually have the tools to match that great offense of yesteryear. They already have the best receiver on the planet and Stafford looks like he’s ready to atone for his lackluster performance last year. I don’t know who is going to be the number 2 receiver but I think Ryan Broyles is going to have a breakout year. He could be the next great slot receiver in the league. Everybody is worried about the offensive line not pass blocking as well this year. We’ll see about that, what they really need to do is run the ball better.

It’s all there for Bush. The talent surrounding him and being in the right place at the right time. If he can reel off four or five Faulk like years and be the one carrying the torch when the Lions reach the mountaintop? How can that NOT get you in the Hall of Fame.