Despite not having any official confirmation from either the Detroit Lions or Calvin Johnson himself, everyone continues to search for a reason into why a 30 year-old receiver would retire from the NFL.
The past and current state of the Lions would lead many to believe that it’s because he’s spent 9 miserable years in an organization that hasn’t allowed him to bloom into the once in a lifetime athlete that everyone wants to portray him as.
It’s true that he has more receiving yards and receptions than any other player at his position that hasn’t won a playoff game.
Others will point the finger at ‘Megatron’ and call him selfish for leaving the game with some tread left on the tires.
Some, like the writers at WalterFootball.com have already spilled that opinion, just to retract it when facing the heat of opinion.
Either that, or they realize just how plain stupid it looks to say that a player is selfish in making a personal decision that is only between him, his family, and the Detroit Lions — on the business side of things.
Various injuries have plagued Calvin Johnson over the years. His ankles have taken a beating. He’s played through knee and finger injuries throughout the years.
What’s made him so special isn’t just the talent that takes over ballgames. It’s his willpower to step out on the field every Sunday to give it all he’s got.
It’s a testament to his character that he’s been able to battle through injuries unbeknownst to fans week-by-week.
It’s that sacrifice that has given Calvin Johnson to the right to call it quits whenever he wants, because at the end of the day, the only person he has to answer to is himself.
He’s the only one that has to live with knowing what he’s accomplished on the field. The only one that has to live with knowing what he’s left on the field.
Not the winning moments or big catches.
The part of him that’s left on the field 10 years down the road, when he wants to live the normal life we all dream of.
The moments where that one catch could mean the difference between waking up in the morning and being able to get out of bed and trying to figure out if you can get down the stairs sideways.
Lets face the truth. Not one player is bigger than the game we love.
Not even the man that Lions fans have called ‘Megatron’ since the moment he began flooded them with remarkable play after remarkable play.
Even the worst organizations in the world can’t take the heat for a decision that can only be made by the individual who lives and dies with the regrets of playing too long or the what ifs that come naturally with hanging it up early.
As a Lions fan, it’s hard for me to type that I hope Calvin Johnson becomes a pioneer for the future of players that call professional football their day job.
Life is too complex to worry about making one more catch. It’s too short to spend time in a profession that you have nothing left in your heart to give back to.
It’s important to remember that even the greatest of the greats in the pantheon of athletics strive to live a normal life.
They hope to bring more to this world than captivating plays that capture your football hopes and imagination.
For nine seasons in Honolulu Blue, Calvin Johnson made opponents, fans, and coaches hold their breath — as they waited to see what he could do next.
For eight of those nine years, he was considered the best wide receiver in the NFL. From this point forward, he will always be in the discussion as one of the greatest of all-time.
Calvin Johnson doesn’t owe anybody a damn thing.
There’s also nobody to blame in his decision to step away from the game.
Number 81 will exit the game the same way that he entered it.
Larger than life. A trailblazer in the most grueling team sport in human history.
A Megatron, in a league of full generic robots, slaved to the game they believe will bring them greatness.
