Terry Foster: The Lions Aren't Ready To Announce Calvin Johnson Retirement
By Terry Foster
@TerryFoster971
Now the full court press begins.
The Lions do not want Calvin Johnson to retire. They wanted to give him time after he told the team, including coach Jim Caldwell, 2015 would be his final season. Players are injured and in a different place after the season. They simply want to get away like a wounded animal and heal and soothe themselves. The Lions told Johnson to take his time and reflect.
That's what he's been doing these past couple of weeks. But we've known for a few weeks that Johnson might retire. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday afternoon that Johnson told the Lions and his family 2015 was his final season. The news is not new, but the report could be an indication that Johnson wants the Lions to put their cards on the table and get this out of the way.
Johnson wants to retire and this is the right time for the Lions to approach it.
We should hear a decision either way.
I spoke to my source who tipped me off and he said the news was supposed to leak after the Lions hired a general manager. Bob Quinn is in place and now the ball toward retirement is rolling. It was not supposed to leak two weeks ago, so I asked why he gave me the story so soon?
He said that he wanted to throw me a bone because he respected my work with The Detroit News. I accepted early retirement at the end of the year but he said the newspaper should have worked something out so that I remained on staff. This was his retirement present to me, and I appreciate it.
He also knew I was making phone calls on the matter and found out that Johnson spoke with current and former teammates about it. The story began as a hunch and then I got it confirmed by making phone calls and having the source reach out to me.
That is when the Lions and Johnson released statements confirming that CJ was considering retirement. I did not come out strong and say he is definitely leaving because a man can always change his mind.
Here is another stone wall. A number of people said Johnson was not retiring. He obviously did not share his thoughts with everybody. We never do. And they did not believe he would leave. But I found people that Johnson talked to and he indeed asked about what retirement is like.
Johnson softened his stance on retirement last week. But now it appears as if he is ready to make the move.
It is the pain that is driving him from the game. It is the fear of concussions. And this is something we should get used to in the NFL. Guys are leaving when they have more to give.
Oh yeah, there is one more thing. The Lions want Johnson to restructure his contract. He does not want that, believing he has already been a good soldier over the years.
I expect something to be announced after the Super Bowl. The NFL does not want distractions from its big game.
It has been a good career for Johnson, but it is time to end this and walk away from the game.
(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com)
