Garceau: Calvin Johnson's Final Class Act
Did you wonder if Calvin Johnson's retirement talk was just contract negotiation noise? If you did I don't blame you because we've seen that move a hundred times. But not this time, Calvin Johnson is a man of his word the retirement papers have been filed and he'll walk away from the game he so often dominated at only 30 years old.
His 9 years were sensational his teams were not. Megatron was that pair of diamond earrings on the pig named the Lions. He never sniffed a Super Bowl in fact he only played in 2 post season games and the Lions lost both. A Detroit writer described his career like this "He was like a brilliant piece of art stuck in the garage."
A 6-time Pro Bowl pick and a 3-Time First Team All-Pro, Johnson could run by defenders with his speed and leap over them with his 6-5,239 pound frame. He was the guy that every defensive coordinator targeted by seldom stopped. He started 10 games his rookie year then passed the 1,000 yard receiving mark in 7 of the next 8 seasons. He barely missed that year with 984 yards.
His 2012 season was one of the best in NFL history, 122 catches for an NFL record 1,964 yards. Four times he caught at least 12 touchdowns in a season. Despite a relatively short career his 83 touchdown catches rank 22nd all-time in the NFL.
Here's how former teammate Nate Burleson reacted to the Johnson retirement news. "You gave the game everything you had in every game you played and out worked every dollar you made. You are one of few shining examples of how I will not only teach my kids to approach sports but how to approach life."
Playing a position famous for diva's Calvin Johnson was the anti-diva. Humility and dignity may not be fashionable in the NFL these days but Megatron had a full-tank of both. He didn't bow out with a 2-hour ESPN special instead a simple good-bye statement. Here's a portion of it.
"Let me begin by apologizing for making this announcement via a statement and not in person. While I truly respect the significance of this, those who know me best will understand and not be surprised that I choose not to have a press conference for this announcement.
"After much prayer, thought and discussion with loved ones, I have made the difficult decision, I have played my last game of football. "Let me assure you that this was not an easy or hasty decision. I, along with those closest to me, have put a lot of time, deliberation and prayer into this decision and I truly am at peace with it.
"I also want you to know that I have the utmost respect and admiration for the game of football. It has provided so much for me and my family and I will be forever grateful to the game. From the bottom of my heart I thank you all for everything." No thank you Calvin Johnson, for being a Hall of Fame player and person.