Reggie Bush. Over and out?

The Detroit Lions have cut Reggie Bush. It's really no great surprise. Bush is 30 years old, which is pushing the age limit when it comes to NFL running backs.

Yes, the Lions saved $1.7 million on his salary, but in today's world of insane professional athlete contracts, that's pretty much chump change. So it wasn't about the money.

Though Bush had been hyped as all this and all that since college, it could fairly be said he has been underwhelming in a couple different ways. In other words, between assets and liabilities, he turned out to be about average.

Sure, at USC he was the Big Man On Campus, even winning the Heisman Trophy. But it was later revealed Bush and his family had accepted "improper benefits" while he was a Trojan. Good grief, when he rolled up to the Heisman award ceremony in a limo, did he really think nobody would notice? On that note, years later, as the evidence became overwhelming, Bush would eventually give his Heisman trophy back.

So after the NCAA spooks were done turning over the rocks, USC got smacked with some serious sanctions, which would haunt them for years. But like his head coach Pete Carroll, Bush bailed and was off to the NFL.

Indeed, he would be the second overall pick in the draft, taken by the New Orleans Saints. While in the Big Easy, Bush would even win a Super Bowl. Yet his stats were never eye-popping. He would have his flashes of brilliance here and there, usually against bad teams, but he would also have his fair share of "thud" games when he would be completely stifled. For every great performance he seemed to have a dud. For every touchdown, a fumble. Roughly 4 yards per carry? Again, about average. Yes, he could catch short passes out of the backfield, but any running back who cannot won't be around very long.

But Bush had a problem over the years. Staying healthy. He incurred a variety of injuries and, in the meat market of the NFL, front offices and head coaches aren't overly fond of players making big bucks and taking up a roster spot while being on "sick leave" over and over again.

The Saints eventually wearied of Bush and shipped him off to the Miami Dolphins for a reserve safety.

After a short time in Miami, even the lowly Dolphins were willing to cut him loose.

On to Detroit where he was heralded by Lions' fans and their media as only they can do. Bush was going to put some pop into their running game. The sky's the limit.

But to no objective person's surprise, Reggie was still the same Reggie, only older. In the last couple years in Detroit, he did what he always did. A nice running play here or there, short catches out of the backfield, an occasional fumble, and more time on sick leave for various injuries.

Let's remember this was the Detroit Lions. While QB Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson continue to put up mega-passing stats every year, one of their weaknesses was/is a viable running game. The Lions currently only have three running backs under contract and all of them could be considered average at best. So for them to release Reggie Bush says volumes. If he couldn't stick with THAT team as a running back, even given his "smallish" salary, then who WILL have him?

Here's wishing Reggie Bush the best in wherever the future takes him, but yours truly surmises it might well be into retirement.

A 30 year old running back that couldn't even stick with the Lions and has a long history of being injury prone?

Two words.

Good luck.