If Calvin Johnson wanted to return to the NFL and dismiss the Detroit Lions, a move to the Oakland Raiders might be easier than he once thought.
During the first week of OTAs Calvin Johnson made an appearance at the request of new Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Johnson made an immediate impact as soon as he stepped on the practice field, wearing cleats shorts and a Raiders polo.
Having achieved the previously unthinkable in signing Marshawn Lynch fresh out of retirement. Many have wondered just what exactly would need to happen to get Johnson out of Detroit and to play alongside Derek Carr.
Johnson would simply need to be reinstated by the NFL. His contract would then become valid again and count against the Detroit Lions salary cap. According to Over the Cap, the Lions have a mere $5,754,102 of available cap space. A lesser known fact is the Lions don’t have cuttable players to make room for Johnson’s massive contract to suddenly reappear on the books.
As reported by CBS local-Detroit, A look at Calvin Johnson’s current contract future cap hits.
"Johnson’s remaining cap hits would count for a staggering $21.35M in 2017, $17M in 2018, and $18.25M in 2019."
A hefty sum of money for a team actively negotiating with Matthew Stafford for a mega deal to make him the NFL’s highest paid player. The Lions currently have all eight of their 2017 draft picks under contract with just days until rookies and veterans are scheduled to report to training camp.
Having to restructure and/or cut players in order to make enough room for a veteran receiver coming out of retirement who will be 32 years old in the first month of the season would not be a wise move for the continuity of the franchise.
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But where did all of this Johnson buzz come from?
While in Italy for the Italian Bowl YouTube channel FIDAFTV, the Italian media caught up with Johnson. During a Q&A session, it was revealed that Johnson had some hard feelings about the losing culture in Detroit. Much like Barry Sanders before him, after nearly 10 years of superhuman production and efforts, the Lions were no closer to winning a Super Bowl than when either of their careers began.
Being stuck in Detroit for nine years with no way out and taking the beating his body endured it was an easy decision for Johnson to retire. But at about the 14-minute mark of the interview, it was mentioned he wished he could have played with Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and a quarterback he recently met. Some guy named Carr.
Of course being the recent media darlings and favored a team on the rise instant “fan-demonium” erupted again. What if this, what if that? Could this actually happen? The answer is a resounding yes, it could happen — but it’s doubtful that it does.
A key factor to consider in comparing Johnson to the recently un-retired Lynch is that Johnson has given no inkling that he wants to play. In fact, quite the opposite. Johnson is on a mission to acquire his four-year college degree. As a Georgia Tech alumni and student, it was required that Johnson take his remaining classes in person and not online.
A move back home to Georgia is in his future and he admitted to never having felt homesick before. One could speculate at this time of the NFL calendar over the nine of the last 10 years, his focus was devoted to getting the Lions over the hump. Banging your head against the wall and feeling like your best efforts are futile can break a man. Johnson isn’t the only Hall of Fame career the city has chewed up and spit out, nor will he be the last.
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The stars don’t quite have to line up for Johnson to get out of his deal in Detroit. If playing was what he really wanted to do, rather than tour the country and offer his expertise to young receivers, he could. Between Downing and Carr lobbying for him, if Johnson should make the decision to apply for reinstatement and becomes available, I wholeheartedly believe he will be the Raider he always should have been.
As for now, though, don’t expect him on an NFL roster at all.