June 12, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best (44) during mini camp at Detroit Lions training facility. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

We are all growing more and more aware of the toll concussions and head trauma associated with playing in the NFL can be. Even how your brain can deteriorate from that trauma even after you retire. But how can you talk someone into retiring who has spent their whole lives working to make it into the NFL and they haven’t accomplished their goals yet?

How can you tell someone to walk away early?

Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson has been on a tour of NFL shows. Yesterday he appeared on NFL AM and talked about why he thinks Reggie Bush should come to Detroit and how he was shocked by the Rams releasing Titus Young. Today he went on NFL Talk Live to talk about the career and future of his friend Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best.

The following comments Nate Burleson made were transcribed by NFL Evolution.

“I spoke to him last season. Jahvid could have easily been one of the best running backs to put on a Lions jersey …  He’s that type of player. The reason I’m talking in past tense is because he’s going through a different type of concussion. He didn’t have a ton of them, but the ones that he did have they were really powerful.”

“In conversing with him, he was able to tell me if he wasn’t sure he was going to decide to come back and play the game he loves so much — he’s so young — or if he’s going to decide to chalk it up.”

“And just being a guy that loves him as an individual vs. him, as a player, I just told him, ‘Honestly I’d rather see you healthy at 65 than healthy at 25,’ ” Burleson added.

“I just told him that if it was me I would shut it down. You’ve got so much more life to live, and even though I would love to have you on the field, I don’t want it to risk anything that has to do with your brain or possibly your post career.”

May 29, 2012; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receivers Nate Burleson (13) and Titus Young (16) during organized team activities at Lions training facility. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

If you don’t know the St. Louis Rams cut wide receiver Titus Young just 9 days after picking him up off waivers. This helped cement many peoples opinions of Titus Young as a trouble maker. Earlier today however Jeff Fisher said that the reason for the Rams releasing Titus Young had nothing to do with his personality or reputation.

Instead, Fisher suggested it was simply a chance to negotiate with Young before he hit the open markets. A savvy business move.

Nate Burleson went on NFL AM this morning and amongst making a pitch for Reggie Bush to come to Detroit addressed the Titus Young situation. The quotes from the show were transcribed by Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press.

“It was very shocking. I got a text message that morning from my little brother, because people in my family know how much I love Titus and how much I tried to be hands-on with him. And the text I sent back was just, ‘Wow,’ with exclamation points. I really couldn’t wrap my mind around it because in this league you’re known as what you do last. When you get cut by a team, released by a team, there’s a certain taint that you have on yourself and I just don’t want him to get that this early in the career.”

Certainly that “taint” he references is hitching it’s wagon to Titus Young. But Nate Burleson tried to shed some light on why Titus Young seemingly acted out and threw public Twitter tantrums.

“For Titus, he’s so competitive, and he wanted to be so much of playmaker, and he wanted to be ‘the guy,’ it got in the way of him being a great teammate. He’s a really good kid and, hopefully, he’ll get a chance to play, because, plain and simple, I’d rather see Titus in a jersey than sitting at home on the couch.”

Dec. 23, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (22) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions have a solid quarterback in Matt Stafford, they have a all time great at wide receiver in Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, but Nate Burleson wants them to add more weapons. This is uncharacteristic of a wide receiver, who usually are selfish drama filled players who just want the ball more themselves.

Remember Terrell Owens forming a coup in Dallas because Tony Romo threw more passes to Jason Witten?

Anyways, Nate Burleson went on NFL AM this morning and utilized the platform to make his pitch to the running back.

“I’m going to just say this, ‘Reggie Bush, you already took your talents to South Beach, come on to Detroit,’” Burleson said. “I know it’s not as sunny, and it might not be the same type of glitz and glamor, but you can do wonders for us.”

These quotes were taken from an article Dave Birkett wrote for the Detroit Free Press about the interview this morning. Birkett suggests that Javhid Best’s career might be ending prematurely due to concussion issues leaving the Lions in need of a compliment to Mikel Leshoure.

Bush has proven over his career to be a dual threat, he compiled three 5o catch seasons in his career and has rushed for over 2,000 yards in the past two seasons.

“Reggie Bush has proven that he’s still explosive, and me and (Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who also appeared on the show) talked about it off air: He still has that legend behind him,” Burleson said. “He came from USC, and everybody knows he can go out there and shake a little bit, wiggle a little bit and break that big run. And for him to put up two 1,000-yard seasons the last couple years proves that he’s still an elite running back. And if I can get Reggie Bush in a Detroit Lions uniform, ooh-wee, watch out.”