Lions' pitch to Reggie Bush includes starting job, according to report

The Detroit Lions are making their pitch to free-agent running back Reggie Bush as we speak. He is in town on a visit with the Lions, and their hope is that he will become a member of the team by the end of the day. With three more visits scheduled after his stop in Detroit, it's important for the Lions to close this deal before he has a chance to hear what other teams are offering.

A big reason why the Lions might actually be able to do just that is what they are offering. Aside from what's believed to be a solid contract and the chance to play in an offense with Calvin Johnson, the Lions are offering Bush their starting job at running back, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole. The belief was that the Lions were targeting Bush as a complement to Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell, but Cole makes it sound like it's actually the other way around.

The Lions have promised Bush a chance to be a full-time player, starting over Mikel Leshoure. Put Bush in a backfield with Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson outside, Brandon Pettigrew at tight end and Matt Stafford at quarterback and the Lions could quickly return to the offensive exploits they posted in 2011.

Let's not get this twisted. Even if Bush becomes the starter, Leshoure will still get plenty of touches of his own. But if the Lions were to form a one-two punch with Leshoure and Bush, it seems that Bush would be the "one" in that combination.

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