(h/t dbqp)
Is this the real life?
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson announced his intention to retire from football, ending the career of probably the most physically imposing wide receiver in NFL history. Apex Megatron will probably go down in history alongside Apex Randy Moss as the scariest receiver in football.
Johnson was the 2nd overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft and the 6'5, 240 lbs receiver with 4.4 speed went on to have a borderline NFL Hall of Fame career. Johnson was named 1st team All Pro in three consecutive years from 2011-13, averaging 101 receptions for 1,712 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over that span. He set an NFL record with 1,964 receiving yards in 2012.
He suffered through the Lions ignominious 0-16 2008 season. He was a key player in ending the Lions 12 season playoff drought in 2011.
Calvin Johnson has retired at the age of 30. For now.
Former teammate Nate Burleson, who spent four seasons with Johnson from 2010-13, wrote an open letter to express his feelings about one of the most talented receivers in football history.
"Calvin is so versatile, anything but one-dimensional," Burleson writes. "Guys who are that size (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) typically don't run routes in the slot. Calvin's ability to condense his size and run routes like Julian Edelman, then go on the outside and run routes like Randy Moss, made him unstoppable, with his speed."
It's interesting that Burleson evokes the names of two Patriots receivers when discussing Johnson's ability to be a complete freak of nature on the field.
And it's even more interesting what Burleson tells Megatron to do next.
"Congratulations on your retirement, man," Burleson continues. "Now, take this year off ... then find a way to land with the Patriots and get a championship ring. You deserve it."
Yes. Yes. Yes. A million times YES. Make this happen, some how, some way. Megatron needs to join RoboGronk and Minitron in New England to defeat all opponents that come in their path.
Oh, and then this never has to happen again: