Calvin Johnson Not On Practice Field Before Trade Deadline, Says 'I Want To Win Here'
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson, who has been rumored as a trade piece for weeks, was not on the practice field Tuesday during the portion open to the media.
Johnson did hurt his ankle against the Chiefs, and said on Tuesday that it's "doing all right."
Even when injured, players are usually at least on the practice field. However, they sometimes receive treatment inside.
When asked why he wasn't on the field, Johnson said, "That's all internal."
The answer certainly didn't help to dispel the rumors that Johnson was off the field because of injury concerns amidst a looming trade. The NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Lions, staring at 1-7 record past the halfway point of the season, are virtually a no-shot for the playoffs. Their best – and probably most realistic – option is to stockpile draft picks and start building for the future. Johnson is certainly one of the most attractive trade pieces on the team, although he would be a fairly significant cap hit to any team that would take him.
But in typical Megatron fashion, the soft-spoken star said he hasn't been thinking about trade potential, and he is just trying to focus on himself and the day ahead.
"Don't really hear it," he said. "Don't really pay much attention to what's going on on TV right now."
By the time it's all said and done, Johnson will go down as one of the best wide receivers to play the game. He was the NFL's leading receiver in 2012, breaking Jerry Rice's record that year for most receiving yards in a season.
But with the exception of an 11-5 season last year (that ended in a first-round playoffs loss), Johnson has never won significantly in his career. He said he doesn't regret any time he's spent with the Lions, however, and that he wants to win in Detroit.
"I don't view it as wasted," he said. "It took a lot of hard work to do the things that we've done so far. Definitely can't say it was a waste of anything because a lot of hard work went into that."
Johnson would not confirm or deny if he had a no-trade clause in his contract, and he also said he had never gotten to the point where he would go to management and ask for a trade.
"I'm fortunate to be able to play in this league," he said. "The Lions took me to where I'm at. They brought me here. … I love where I'm at right now, but definitely want to win."
