Everyone wants to return to the Detroit Lions. As several important players face uncertainty in their futures due to high or expiring contracts, everyone is giving their best sales pitch as to why they deserve to be back with the team coming off a controversial loss to the Dallas Cowboys. As money remains the biggest issue, players like Reggie Bush and Nick Fairley are hoping they are not overlooked.
Bush has every intention of returning to the Lions in 2015. The running back's stalled with injuries as he was off the field more times than on it. He played in just 11 games putting up a disappointing 297 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 253 yards receiving. Bush dealt with ankle problems for most of the year and hopes that will not be an issue come 2015.
"I haven't thought about that," Bush said, via ESPN.com. "I still have two years on my contract so until somebody tells me otherwise, I'm planning on being back here. It's tough because I was injured and I haven't been injured like this in a while, where I missed a good majority of the season. So that's tough to not be out there. Coming back and getting re-injured, coming back and getting re-injured, that was pretty tough to go through mentally. I don't plan to get injured. Hopefully next season I'll be able to play injury-free."
The issue for Bush is that Detroit got a look at life without him and they were still successful. Joique Bell emerged as a solid running back finishing the year with 860 yards. It also helps that he is a cheaper player to keep around. As the Lions deal with salary cap issues, if there is a player that could be on the outside looking in, it is Bush.
There are rumblings that the same could be said for Calvin Johnson. Now, the likelihood that Detroit moves Johnson this offseason are slim to absolutely never happening. He is still a top wide receiver in this league regardless of his numbers dipping in 2014. However, Johnson comes with a heavy price tag, one that the Lions cannot afford. According to the Detroit Free Press, Johnson could be asked to restructure his deal or take a pay cut and his response to that will dictate his future. The rise of Golden Tate certainly does not help him.
Most of the salary cap issues are being highlighted because the Lions are trying to figure out a way to retain Ndamukong Suh for the long-term as he seeks to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Suh has made it clear that he will go to the team that offers the most money as the New York Post reports that he favors a team like the New York Jets or Giants who are in a large market area and will help increase his marketing efforts.