Calvin Johnson Might Retire. I’m Scared.

By: Connor Lenahan

It’s only a rumor, but it’s being reported as though it has some teeth. Calvin Johnson is pretty much the best wide receiver of this generation, and has been one of the most entertaining players to watch of the last decade and a half. It’s incredible to think that we’ve gotten to see Calvin for nine years already, and he’s already 30 years old. It seems almost impossible.

Calvin holds the record for most receiving yards in a season – although Julio Jones and Antonio Brown made strong runs at it in 2015 – and is widely viewed as a cyborg. He is borderline unstoppable. The only thing that’s handicapped his performance these past two seasons is injury.

That’s likely the reason I’m writing this. Calvin apparently is at least entertaining the idea of walking away from the game on the grounds that he might not totally be committed to doing this anymore.

Frankly, I can understand where he’s coming from. While I will never know the physical toll that an NFL life puts on you, I do know the feeling of being beaten up by injuries. It can be tough to get motivated to get back to things that have hurt you. Although, in my experience those things have been minor. I’m not going to stop walking because I tripped and ended up in a leg cast. Calvin Johnson, however, might be fine with saying “Yeah, I’m all good on getting hit over the middle by linebackers.”

I really hope that isn’t the case.

Johnson hasn’t lived up to his Megatron nickname the last few years by no fault of his own. Maybe he still has it in him, but maybe he doesn’t. I just hope we get to find out on the field next year rather than guessing now in the wake of the season ending.