Stafford: Johnson’s Retirement Talk is “Serious”

It looks set to be another offseason of change for the luckless Detroit Lions, but perhaps no personnel decision will be greater than the one circling superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson. A couple of weeks ago, Johnson floated the possibility of retirement, citing multiple injuries in his past two seasons as the primary factor.

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford was on local radio Thursday to discuss the issue. “I think any time Calvin says something, it’s not for show. It’s something serious,” he confirmed. “I think [the Detroit media has] covered him long enough to know that he’s a pretty measured person, and everything he says to the public is a thought-out thing. So in that regard, I’m sure it’s thought-out.”

Only a couple of seasons ago, the man they call “Megatron” was considered the consensus top wideout in the league. He was the total package: huge frame, excellent hands, crisp route running and elusiveness after the catch made him Stafford’s most trusted weapon, which led to a highlight reel of impossible catches in coverage.

Nine years into a stellar career, Johnson is feeling the effects of the game, having missed time due to knee, ankle and finger injuries in recent seasons. At 30, his pending retirement could follow in the footsteps of another Lions great, running back Barry Sanders, who retired before running the risk of hitting the proverbial “brick wall” and putting his future health in jeopardy.

Johnson isn’t exactly experiencing a massive downswing in production, though. His 88 receptions in 2015 were the most since his breakout 122-catch season in 2012, which earnt him the then-richest contract in football.

The possibility of retirement, then, appears to be more focused on the wear and tear of his body. Unlike smaller, shiftier receivers like Antonio Brown – who rely on their dominance in the non-contact portions of the game – Johnson’s style of play was not sustainable.

That he may be asked to take a pay cut in exchange for remaining a Lion in 2016 will either expedite the process, or land him on another team willing to get the most out of his slowly decaying skillset.