It’s not very often that a player in any sport lives up to the hype and/or further capitalizes off of an amazing season in which they’ve cemented themselves as the best player at their position.
That has certainly been the case for Lions WR Calvin Johnson who eclipsed players like Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson as the best wide receiver in the NFL last season. Not only that though, the hype surrounding Johnson during the offseason was astronomical as he landed himself video game covers, magazine covers, photo shoots, interviews and much more.
Aside from all of those accolades, Johnson may be entering territory this upcoming season that I don’t think any elite player has gone to in their own careers. That uncharted territory is surpassing the offseason hype.
Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com examined the boundaries of Calvin Johnson this upcoming season and mentioned him in the same limelight as NBA great LeBron James.
It was the continuation of changing levels from a great receiver into something much bigger. What that is exactly, people are still trying to comprehend. Like Johnson himself, he cannot be easily labeled or deciphered. Some within the sport are saying Johnson is becoming the NFL’s version of LeBron James or Tiger Woods — though that seems a bit grandiose.
When it comes to comparing Johnson to LeBron James though there’s still some question regarding the comparison. First, is James the best player at his position and NBA? Now there isn’t or shouldn’t be any debate for Johnson, he IS the best player at his position in the NFL and quite possibly could be thee best player in the NFL.
Additionally, Johnson is totally changing the way the wide-receiver position is played and defended against in the NFL. I’m not sure the same can be said in equivalent to LeBron James in the NBA.
Freeman believes that Johnson is doing what guys like Don Hutson, Raymond Berry, Paul Warfield, Jerry Rice and Randy Moss did in their eras. And unlike the elite receivers today such as Fitzgerald, Welker and Andre Johnson, neither of those guys can match Calvin’sall-around physical potential.Likewise, former 1972 Dolphins running back Jim Klick believes that Johnson could’ve played in any era…
“I’m biased but Paul Warfield is the greatest wide receiver in history,” said former Miami runner Jim Kiick, a member of the 1972 Dolphins’ perfect team. “I don’t know how many players today could tough it out in our era, but Calvin Johnson is one of those players who could play in any era.”
Furthermore, Freeman believes Johnson is a once in a generation type of player that will set the standard for his era, again similar to what Moss, Rice (even LeBron in the NBA) and other greats of the past did. But all things considered with Johnson, not only will be set the standard for his position in his era, he will set the standard for the position all-time. Simply put, the NFL hasn’t seen anything like Calvin… ever and because of that he’s setting himself up for greatness and quite possibly the greatest of all time.
h/t: CBSSports.com