The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... Bush has emerged as one of the Lions’ top targets in a free-agent period that for all intents and purposes begins at midnight. For the next three days, teams can negotiate with other teams’ unrestricted free agents, but contracts can’t be signed and personal contact can’t happen between players and teams until 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Diehards Line:The Lions need a running back to replace Jahvid Best, and if they manage to convince Bush to come to Detroit, one of Bush’s former teammates said they’ll do themselves one better. “I’m going to say this and I don’t mean this disrespectful to Jahvid at all,” NFL Network analyst Heath Evans said. “But they’ll forget Jahvid’s name if they’re able to sign Reggie Bush. People just don’t know. Until you see Reggie, even if you were at the Coliseum in his college days, you don’t have a true appreciation for how quick and explosive this kid is. ...” Lions GM Martin Mayhew said after the season his biggest failure last year was not finding a suitable replacement for Best. Bush, 28, is coming off the two most productive rushing seasons of his seven-year career — he followed up his first 1,000-yard season in 2011 with 986 yards last year — and few doubt his ability to impact a game plan as a perimeter runner and receiver. He also has played in 31 of a possible 32 games the last two seasons with Miami after playing in only eight in 2010, his final season in New Orleans. Evans and Bush played two seasons together with the Saints, won a Super Bowl in 2009 and still train together occasionally. Evans said Bush, whose rumored suitors also include the Falcons and Bengals (and Evans hopes the Patriots), wouldn’t be opposed to playing in Detroit. ... Stay tuned.