Lions general manager Martin Mayhew was asked about the possibility of trading running back Mikel Leshoure back in March at the Annual NFL Meetings.
“I haven’t had an interest in trading Mikel,” Mayhew told beat writers over lunch. “I want to see him come in and perform and be the player he can be.”
Mayhew obviously wants to see Leshoure succeed here in Detroit and saw a a possible role for him back in March with the new offense being implemented. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has come over from New Orleans and taken a lot of elements from that offense with him.
One of things that sticks out about the Saints offense is the way they rotate running backs and have multiple backs with different roles. Four running backs had at least 53 carries in the Saints offense last year.
“Guys that make plays will get carries,” Mayhew said. “You can go back to New Orleans’ offense, which is what encouraged me about Joe (Lombardi). Pierre Thomas had a role. (Darren) Sproles had a role. Mark Ingram had a role. At one point Chris Ivory had a role when he was down there with them. They found a way to utilize guys who could make plays.”
The implication here is that Leshoure could work his way into a Saints-like RBBC. If he does, it would put a dent in the fantasy stock of Reggie Bush and Joique Bell.
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