www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/calvin-johnson-wanted-to-finish-hall-of-fame-career-elsewhere-but-lions-blocked-it-they-wouldnt-let-me-go/
If it feels like the football world was robbed of more years of watching Calvin Johnson manhandle defensive backs, that's because it sort of was. The four-time All-Pro receiver hung up his cleats for good in 2016, formally announcing his retirement from the NFL that March following his ninth year in the league. It appears that wasn't his first decision, as often speculated, and his career instead followed a similar arc as another Detroit Lions legend -- Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. As it turns out, Johnson wasn't actually done playing football. After racking up 11,619 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns -- including six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and seven overall despite a very lean and discombobulated decade with the Lions -- Johnson was simply done playing football in Detroit. "We asked would they release me or let me go to another team," Johnson told WoodwardSports.com. "They wouldn't." The ending to Megatron's story is much different than that of Matthew Stafford, his former quarterback who also recently came to the conclusion it was time to move on from the Motor City. Stafford wasn't met with contention from the team's brass, however, and ultimately got his wish in a trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a blockbuster package that included Jared Goff and two first-round picks. It's something that didn't go unnoticed by Johnson, whose situation wasn't much different -- if at all. "You know what, it sucked that they didn't let me go," he said. "But they let Matthew go, but hey, you know, it is what it is." Don't misconstrue this as any type of angst toward Stafford, though. It's aimed squarely at the Lions. "I was talking to Matthew yesterday -- [he's] doing well," Johnson added. "I'm happy for him because he's happy that he's out in California. You know, him and his beautiful family, they're loving their time out there. When he's comfortable, he's good where he's at. "So you can only expect good things from him. I look forward to seeing him out there." Eventually, Sanders and the Lions buried his respective hatchet, and he has become one the team's most prominent ambassadors, but that's not happened just yet with Johnson. There's also no guarantee it'll ever happen, and it appears it's more on the team being unwilling to mend fences than it is Johnson holding a grudge. Still maintaining a good relationship with players who spend time with the Lions, there's still a very noticeable canyon between the two sides. For a team that once saw Johnson reel in 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns in an 0-16 season -- with a rotation of Dan Orlovsky, Jon Kitna and a declining Daunte Culpepper at quarterback -- he feels the least they can do is come to the table and talk. "I'm not back in the family with the Lions or anything like that," Johnson said. "It would be nice to if they try to resolve things, but that's neither here nor there." Dear Megatron, I was one of your biggest fans when you were a player. When you said you were retiring because your fingers were so mangled, that it was just too painful for you to keep trying to catch footballs, I not only believed you, but I defended you. And here we are, 6 years later, and you basically just admitted that you were completely full of shit. You didn't retire because of your injuries. You "retired" to try to force a trade to another team so you could keep playing. You see, here's the problem with the timeline you just presented, Calvin... You retired in 2015. You claim you asked the Lions to trade you in 2016. A year after you retired. By doing that, you just admitted that you actually were healthy enough to play football, and that your claims about your mangled fingers were just a lie you told the team and us Lions fans so we wouldn't question you. And then, you had the BALLS to demand the Lions pay you the signing bonus they didn't owe you, for the years you didn't play under the contract extension you signed...You painted yourself out to be this victim of the Lions greed, while the entire time, you were trying to get them to trade you, because you knew you were still healthy enough to keep playing, and heaven forbid the Lions ask you to honor the terms of your contract! And I especially take issue with the following, first, from the author: and it appears it's more on the team being unwilling to mend fences than it is Johnson holding a grudge. Horseshit. The only one holding a grudge here is Calvin Johnson. And then there is Calvin Johnson himself: "It would be nice to if they try to resolve things, but that's neither here nor there." They have, you arrogant asshole. It's you that refused to let it be resolved. The Lions have done everything they can to reach out to you, and you always respond the same way: GIMME GIMME GIMME. You were a fantastic football player, Calvin. I am glad that I got to watch you play, and I glad that the #81 has a special significance in Detroit...but at the same time, go fuck yourself, asshole. You lied. You schemed, you whined when you didn't get your way. You held, and continue to try to hold the Lions hostage with your petty bullshit, as if the team can't possibly function without being in your good graces? Fuck off. - Dave, a currently pissed off Lions fan who will probably forget all about this 10 years from now...
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