Where will Reggie Bush play next season: Saints, Seahawks, 49ers, Lions?
By Josh Sanchez
New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush is coming off of a season in which he added a Super Bowl championship to his resume. The former USC Trojan is due to make $8 million next season and he is owed arouind $20 million over the next two seasons.
There has been talk around league circles that Bush will be asked to restructure his deal and if he declines the team will explore other options.
One option would be to move Bush, who would surely have a market. While he is not a number one running back, Bush brings a home-run threat to special teams and he can provide a spark to the offense. Many offensive coordinators around the league would love to have a weapon like the former Heisman Trophy winner.
The Seattle Seahawks have been mentioned as a team that could be looking to add Bush to the offense. With his college coach Pete Carroll running the show in Seattle, the move makes sense. The Seahawks have also been exploring the running back position in the upcoming draft — Clemson speedster C.J. Spiller has been mentioned often.
Another possibility for Bush is the San Francisco 49ers. Bush could return to his home state and the 49ers have been looking for a solid back-up to current starter Frank Gore.
Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has also pointed to Bush as a player of interest for the Detroit Lions this offseason. Kevin Smith, the team’s starting tailback, tallied 747 yards through 13 games this season before suffering an injury.
Smith has undergone surgery this offseason and there is concern that he will be unavailable for the start of the 2010 season. It is widely expected that he will be placed on the PUP list throughout training camp, and that will leave the Lions without a serious threat at the position.
So while Bush’s future with New Orleans is uncertain there is a market for him out there and with Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell on the roster, the Saints do not need to hang on to Bush. If he refuses to restructure his deal, the franchise can ship the former No. 2 pick off any of the interested teams.