Building on a blog post from Terry Foster on 97.1 the Ticket’s website yesterday, The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett has blown the cover off this story, sending the NFL gossip queens scrambling like crazy to sound the alarm that Calvin Johnson is pondering retiring.
Mr. @TerryFoster971 wrote on this Tuesday, but people who know Calvin Johnson think he could walk away from the NFL https://t.co/hAcQUGS6uY
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 6, 2016
It’s pretty sad that a professional athlete has to issue a statement about a rumor started by a former “journalist” writing a column speculating on his future. You can find that statement below:
Full statement from Calvin and the Lions: pic.twitter.com/IjvSulYZzi
— Tori Petry (@sportstori) January 6, 2016
Calvin Johnson calling it quits would actually be a godsend for the Detroit Lions. It would allow them to skirt the public relations disaster in cutting him for salary cap reasons (which if he decides to not retire, the should cut him anyway) and would allow them to take his entire contract off the books without incurring any “dead money”, minus his bonuses.
What Calvin Johnson walking away does for the Detroit Lions:
Do you know what $24 million dollars in extra cap space could do for the Detroit Lions? It could allow them to pay Ziggy Anash before he hits the free agent market and leaves, it can allow you to lock up your quarterback (Matthew Stafford or otherwise) for a market rate. It can also allow you to go out on the free agent market and sign three or four above average players, or two star players in their prime to long term deals.
If you are a Detroit Lions fan that has a brain in-between their ears, you are publicly cheering for Calvin Johnson to retire. It is in the best interest of this Detroit Lions franchise for him to walk away. It allows them to re-sign their people and fill other holes on this roster, which there are plenty of.
If they just have to cut him, they can only save $14 million dollars off their salary cap obligations. If he retires, they will save $24 million.
Update:
The saving the whole contract might be a myth. It is being reported by “salary cap experts” that the Lions would still have a $12 million dollar “dead cap” hit in 2016, but would be able to recover some of his signing bonus. There would be no additional cap penalty in 2017 and beyond.
Can you blame Calvin Johnson?
No, no you can’t. Especially with how much money this man has made and assuming he hasn’t spent it all foolishly he doesn’t need to play football, for the Detroit Lions or another team, to continue to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
No. I talked to a couple former teammates last night and today. They all say it's about his health. https://t.co/uNUv7mLwg4
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 6, 2016
While there isn’t an officially listed head injury for Calvin Johnson that I can remember, there is still always that risk of developing a chronic brain injury by playing football. I would bet that scares him to death, like it does for many players. Calvin Johnson is likely in the unique position among football players that he doesn’t have to continue to play or end up broke. He has likely saved his massive earnings and invested them wisely.
Not to mention that Calvin Johnson’s looks and the fact that he is well spoken, he will have a future in sports television and would also get a shot at acting if he wanted to. He’s already been the spokesperson for Infinity Automobiles. He has the potential to be a well respected public figure.
Why risk all that for one more year of football that he doesn’t look excited about participating in?
Do you blame him for walking away? I sure don’t. I’m happy for him and the Detroit Lions that he is contemplating walking away.