Tag: Calvin Johnson

The 8 best Lions not in the Hall of Fame

Not all of these 8 belong in Canton but they deserve respect for their great performances in Detroit

Inspired by my recent trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, I got to thinking about what Lions players could belong in the hallowed halls. There are currently 21 men who spent at least one season with the Lions enshrined in Canton, including Class of 2020 honoree Alex Karras.

Adding Karras crosses the biggest eligible name off the list. The most obvious Detroit standout that deserves enshrinement isn’t quite eligible yet. He’s the headliner here among the eight best retired Lions players not in the Hall of Fame.

This isn’t an argument for any of these players to get into the Hall of Fame, though a couple of them are certainly deserving. It’s honoring some Lions greats who aren’t in and likely never will get enshrinement in Canton.

Calvin Johnson

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The mega-talented Johnson will be eligible in 2021, and he likely won’t wait too long before he joins Karras and the others in Canton.

Johnson’s list of accomplishments ad wide receiver made him one of the NFL’s biggest stars despite making just two postseason games in his nine years (2007-2015):

  • 3-time first-team All-Pro
  • 6 straight Pro Bowls from 2010-2015
  • NFL record 1,964 receiving yards in 2012
  • NFL record 5,137 receiving yards in a 3-year period (2012-2014)
  • 4th in NFL history in receiving yards per game (86.1)
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame Team of the 2010s 1st-team

Johnson will get in sooner than later.

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Calvin Johnson was hoping Falcons would draft him in 2007

Speaking with former Lions teammate Glover Quin on his YouTube show “The DB Room,” Johnson, an Atlanta native, said he actually was hoping the Falcons drafted him that year.

Entering the 2007 NFL Draft, it was understood that Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson was far and away the top college prospect. Johnson was passed over by the Raiders at pick No. 1 for quarterback JaMarcus Russell (yikes), but wouldn’t have to wait long for his name to be called.

The Detroit Lions selected Johnson with pick No. 2. After nine seasons in the league, the former All-Pro WR abruptly retired after the Lions’ 2015 season with zero playoff victories.

While the man known as “Megatron” due to his freakish size and robotic personality was quiet about his retirement at the time, Johnson has since opened up about his playing career.

Speaking with former Lions teammate Glover Quin on his YouTube show “The DB Room,” Johnson, an Atlanta native, said he actually was hoping the Falcons drafted him that year.

“Leading up to the draft, I am like shoot — boy, I hope I go to Atlanta,” Johnson said. “Played my high school ball, played my college ball right here and then, playing in the NFL right here. That would be the best little thing ever.”

The Falcons chose DE Jamaal Anderson at pick No. 8, but the team would have been required to trade up to acquire Johnson. A few seasons later, though, Atlanta would make a trade for another receiver, adding All-Pro Julio Jones.

It’s safe to say it’s worked out okay. Still, it’s interesting to think what Johnson would have looked like in Falcons uniform. Watch Johnson’s full appearance on Quin’s show below:

 

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Could the Texans without DeAndre Hopkins be like the Detroit Lions without Calvin Johnson?

Without DeAndre Hopkins, the Houston Texans face doubts about their passing game. The Detroit Lions faced them in 2016 after Calvin Johnson retired.

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The Houston Texans have a huge question mark they have to answer in 2020: how will their passing game be effective without three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins?

According to the NFL Network’s Nate Burleson, the loss of Hopkins could be offset by the addition of former Los Angeles Rams receiver Brandin Cooks, who has played with Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Jared Goff over his six previous seasons.

“Maybe in a strange way, Brandin Cooks brings a little experience, maybe a little more stability, and maybe the balance of Deshaun Watson dropping back and not having to look at [Hopkins] every, single time and then go through his progressions,” Burleson said. “Now, he can kind of find that balance.”

Burleson, who played in the NFL from 2003-14 for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns, compared to the loss of Hopkins to the retirement of three-time All-Pro wideout Calvin Johnson, who had played for the Detroit Lions from 2007-15.

“It was the first time that Matt Stafford was able to distribute the ball without Calvin Johnson,” said Burleson. “We saw him almost elevate his game a little bit.”

The season after Johnson retired, the Lions’ passing game was expected to be abysmal and Detroit was expected to struggle. Stafford produced a 93.3 passer rating, 10 interceptions, tied for his lowest in a 16-game season, and the Lions qualified for the postseason as a wild-card.

Said Burleson: So, the biggest question for me is what is going to happen with the Houston Texans without D-Hop? Because this could work and everything could go fine and seamlessly. Or, it could fail because they don’t have the chemistry.”

The trading of Hopkins to help the Texans add layers of productive players is a risky move on the part of coach Bill O’Brien, now with full-time general manager duties. But if it gets the Texans into the AFC Championship Game or further, it was simple addition by subtraction.

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Calvin Johnson checks in at 16 on PFF’s All-Decade team

Pro Football Focus put together an All-Decade team and former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson landed 16th on their list.

Pro Football Focus put together an All-Decade team and former Detroit Lions all-world wide receiver Calvin Johnson landed 16th on their list.

Ranked at 16 may feel a bit too low but there are a few factors that need to be considered. PFF noted that “this list isn’t an evaluation of talent, but rather of production, efficiency and performance over a specific time period — in this case, the entire decade.”

While that alone wouldn’t negatively impact Johnson, it’s also worth noting that he only played in six of the 10 seasons and “playing time was factored into the decisions, too; somebody who played twice as much within the decade was given some level of preference over players who played only a few seasons in the 2010s.”

Here’s PFF’s reasoning for Johnson’s ranking:

Calvin Johnson walked away from the game at the height of his powers, and only that held him back from the very top of this list. He left on the back of five straight seasons with a PFF grade of 88.0 or higher, and over the six seasons he played within the decade, he never had a grade lower than 83.0. He scored a touchdown on almost 7% of targets, the third-highest rate of any receiver with 800 or more targets over the decade. Calvin Johnson was one of the most physically imposing receivers ever to play the game and was virtually unstoppable at his best. Even though he played just 60% of the decade, he was one of the best 20 players to feature in it.

On behalf of Lions Wire, congratulations to Johnson on the recognition.

5 quick facts about Steelers newest WR Chase Claypool

Quick-hitting facts about Chase Claypool to study up on Pittsburgh Steelers new wide receiver.

Here are some quick facts to know about wide receiver Chase Claypool who was selected at No. 49 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2020 NFL Draft.

  • Claypool joins defensive end Stephon Tuitt and offensive tackle Jarron Jones as Notre Dame alumni on the roster.
  • In terms of measurables, Claypool draws comparisons to former Detroit Lions Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson. Claypool is 6-4, 238 lbs., and ran a 4.42-40 (according to ESPN, it’s the second-fastest time for a player who weighs at least 230 pounds). Johnson is 6-5, 239 lbs., and ran a 4.4-40.
  • Claypool finished seventh in Notre Dame history in career receptions with 150. His 13 TDs in 2019 were the sixth most in a season.
  • Hailing from British Columbia, Canada, Claypool becomes the first Canadian to play for the Steelers since kicker Shaun Suisham.
  • Claypool wore No. 83 at Notre Dame. In Pittsburgh, the number was made famous by former tight end Heath Miller.

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Projecting Broncos’ OL depth chart before the NFL draft

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ offensive line depth chart going into the NFL draft.

With the NFL draft a little more than one week away, here’s a look at the Broncos’ projected offensive line depth chart as it stands right now:

Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle
Garett Bolles Dalton Risner Patrick Morris Graham Glasgow Ja’Wuan James
Calvin Anderson Tyler Jones Austin Schlottmann Elijah Wilkinson Jake Rodgers
Ka’John Armstrong Nico Falah Quinn Bailey

Many fans will point out that Bolles is a weak link but he has done a good job staying healthy and he still has a year left on his team-friendly contract. Denver will probably draft a tackle but the team could select a mid-round prospect to groom behind Bolles instead of drafting an early-round prospect.

The Broncos also need a longterm answer at center (or a right guard, if Glasgow ends up playing center). It wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver select another center/guard, a player similar to Glasgow.

To recap: the Broncos need help at center and left tackle on the o-line.

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Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh represent the Lions on the All-Decade Team of the 2010s

Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh represent the Lions on the All-Decade team of the 2010s

The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its All-Decade Team for the 2010s on Monday. Two players from the Detroit Lions, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh, made the first-team honors.

Johnson spent the 2010-2015 seasons with the Lions before retiring. He made the Pro Bowl every season he played during the decade and earned three 1st-team All-Pro nods (2011-2013). In 2012 Johnson set the NFL record for receiving yards with 1,964.

His ranks during the 2010-2015 seasons overall:

Receptions: 2nd

Receiving yards: 1st, by over 1,300

Receiving TDs: 1st

Suh stood out at defensive tackle for the Lions from 2010-2014. Like Johnson, he earned 1st-team All-Pro honors three times in that span. Suh has bounced around the last few years but the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft remains one of the best at his craft.

The full list of the All-Decade team is available at the Pro Football Hall of Fame website.

 

Chargers WR Keenan Allen names his top 5 wide receivers of all-time

Who are the greatest wide receivers to play? Keenan Allen answers.

You can make the argument that Keenan Allen is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL at the moment.

Who does Allen believe are the best at the position of all time?

On Wednesday, Bills’ Stefon Diggs sparked a Twitter debate after asking the general population one of the most-debated topics, to name the five best wideouts in league history.

Allen was one of the more notables that chimed in, responding with the following list:

  • Randy Moss
  • Jerry Rice
  • Terrell Owens
  • Calvin Johnson
  • Larry Fitzgerald

I would have to concur with Allen’s list completely. What do you guys think? Who are the five best wide receivers in NFL history?

Stefon Diggs sparks Twitter debate over the best NFL receivers of all time

Stefon Diggs set Twitter ablaze with this question.

Ranking the greatest ever in almost anything is almost always an exercise in futility. That’s especially the case in sports.

No one is ever going to agree on anything. It’s way too hard to compare superstars across different eras who played for different teams that played different styles where they were playing different roles.

On one hand, it’s a hard thing to do. There’s a ton of nuance and complexities that you have to sort through to do it.

On the other? What the heck. We’re all sitting at home with pretty much nothing to do. That’s why when Stefon Diggs asked Twitter to rank the best five receivers of all-time, you knew the timeline was about to get crazy.

And, boy, did it ever. The conversation got so heated that “Moss” (as in Randy Moss) and “Calvin” (as in Calvin Johnson) both ended up trending today.

Folks on Twitter were going crazy. The takes were scorching.

Even other NFL players were chiming in.

As for Diggs’ opinion himself? He kind of just sat this one out.

You’re not slick, Stefon. We see what you just did…and we applaud you for doing it. This, folks, is how you’re supposed to use Twitter.

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Luke Kuechly joins growing list of NFL greats who retired early

Walking away now means Kuechly joins a growing list of NFL superstars who decided to hang it up early.

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly announced his retirement in an emotional video released by the team last night. The news came as a shock. After all, he still had two years left on his contract and was still playing the game at a relatively high level, even if it no longer matched his high standard.

Walking away now means Kuechly joins a growing list of NFL superstars who decided to hang it up early. Here are some of the best of them.

49ers LB Patrick Willis

Patrick Willis
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: 112 games, 950 combined tackles, 60 tackles for a loss, 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, 16 forced fumbles

Awards: Defensive Rookie of the Year, seven Pro Bowls, five first-team All Pros

What happened: Willis’ career was eerily similar to Kuechly’s. For a while he was the top middle linebacker in the game. Injuries cut his career short, though. At different points, he had hand, knee, toe and Achilles injuries. Six weeks into the 2014 season, he was put on injured reserve. He never played another game and officially retired March 10, 2015.

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