Lions announce Calvin Johnson has officially retired

[Everlong]

Thought this deserved its own thread.

The Lions are outstanding at getting all-time level talent to retire early.

[Messiah]

One of the greatest NFL players I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I don't care if the career numbers aren't the best, there is no way he isn't a Hall of Famer. His peak was ridiculous.

Man, Charles Woodson, Peyton Manning, and Calvin Johnson will be up for the Hall of Fame at the same time.

[DBSoT]

Thought this deserved its own thread.

The Lions are outstanding at getting all-time level talent to retire early.

Every report that has come out about this has said that Calvin leaving has nothing to do with the Lions. He is leaving because of the toll the game takes on a persons body. This isn't a Sanders situation where he and the organization had issues. With that said, I am glad he is retiring. The Lions get cap money, Calvin gets to live a healthier life, and we finally get to see if Stafford can hack it. Let's be honest, the Lions weren't winning anything of note next year. Now they can save money and rebuild. Spend money on the O-line and defense and add pieces around Golden Tate. I am hopeful that they draft Tyler Boyd in the 2nd round of the draft, but that is only if they do well in free agency and the 1st round of the draft.

[The Legend]

Calvin Johnson at the peak of his career was the first Rob Gronkowski. The first guy that was just so blessed with physically dominating gifts that he literally was uncoverable.

[Everlong]

Calvin Johnson will be up for the Hall of Fame at the same time.

Calvin Johnson will not and should not make the hall of fame.

[DBSoT]

Calvin Johnson will be up for the Hall of Fame at the same time.

Calvin Johnson will not and should not make the hall of fame.

WHAT...THE WHAT?!! He is one of the greatest WR to ever take the field and he absolutely should get into the hall of fame.

Here is a list of his records:

- Most receiving yards in a single season: 1,964 yards (2012)

- First player with at least 2 receiving touchdowns in each of his team's first four games of a season (2011)

- Seasons with 1,600 yards receiving (2, tied with Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt)

- Most consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards (8)

- Most consecutive games with at least 10 receptions (4)

- Most 100 receiving yard games in a single season (11, tied with Michael Irvin)

- Most receiving yards in a five-game span (861 yards)

- Most receiving yards in a six-game span (962 yards)

- Fastest to 10,000 NFL receiving yards (115 games)

[Everlong]

There are many WRs with better stats, more longevity, more credentials who have not gotten in.

First player with at least 2 receiving touchdowns in each of his team's first four games of a season (2011)

- Most consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards (8)

- Most consecutive games with at least 10 receptions (4)

- Most 100 receiving yard games in a single season (11, tied with Michael Irvin)

- Most receiving yards in a five-game span (861 yards)

- Most receiving yards in a six-game span (962 yards)

- Most receiving yards in a six-game span (962 yards)

None of these are HOF-making records. They're indicators of small periods of incredible play, but HOF is about taking the career into account.

If Megatron played 3 more years he'd be a HOFer. But retiring today, he's not. At least, not if the HOF is following its own precedents regarding wide receivers. If we're saying Megatron is a HOFer, for example, then surely Sterling Sharpe would be as well--but he's not, because the HOF puts an emphasis on longevity.

It's not just enough to be far and away the best at your position for a few years. At least, not any more. If it were, Sharpe would be in, and Terrell Davis, a guy with a better HOF resume than Johnson considering 2 rings, MVP, super bowl MVP, postseason success and his place on a late 90s powerhouse, would also be in and not in perpetual limbo every year for the last 12 years or however long he's been eligible.

There are many more receivers that will and should get in before Johnson. By the time they've gotten in, the recency bias on Johnson will wear off.

[DBSoT]

^ You also have to consider the teams he played on. Calvin put up ridiculous number while having no help in the running game, no compliment WR until Tate, and a mediocre QB. He even had the issue the last couple of years of the coaching not getting him the ball consistently enough. Terrel Davis and Sterling Sharpe played on much better teams and with much better talent. Look at Terrel Davis' numbers post John Elway. Sharpe also had the benefit of Favre from 1992-1994. Also you can't claim longevity and then compare Johnson to Sharpe. Calvin played 9 season while Sharpe only played 7. Those two extra season Calvin had include a 1,000 yards season where he missed 3 games and a 1,200 yard season where the coaching staff didn't get him the ball as consistently. 9 season is more then enough time to be considered a hall of famer. It isn't like he had a couple years in the league and then left.

Sterling Sharpe:
5× Pro Bowl (1989, 1990, 1992–1994)
3× AP first-team All-Pro (1989, 1992, 1993)
3× NFL receptions leader (1989, 1992, 1993)
2× NFL receiving TDs leader (1992, 1994)

Calvin Johnson:
6× Pro Bowl (2010–2015)
3× First-team All-Pro (2011–2013)
Second-team All-Pro (2010)
2× NFL receiving yards leader (2011, 2012)
3x NFC Receiving yards leader (2011–2013)
2× NFC receiving touchdowns leader (2010, 2011)
10,000 Receiving Yards Club
NFL single-season record for most receiving yards (1,964, 2012)
One of two players in NFL history with 5,000+ receiving yards in a 3-year period (Antonio Brown)
Pro football record for most career games with 200+ receiving yards (5, tied with Lance Alworth)

[Everlong]

^ You also have to consider the teams he played on.

Eh, not really. HOF voters don't really give extra credence to great players on shitty teams. In fact, those players also tend to have a harder time getting into the hall. Great players from good to great teams will almost always have an easier time getting in than great players from bad teams.

Terrel Davis and Sterling Sharpe played on much better teams and with much better talent.

I'll give you Davis for sure, but Sharpe played on mostly mediocre Packer teams in the late 80s and early 90s, and Favre hadn't yet become a great player by the time he had his career ending injury. You can't say he had the benefit of Favre in those years--if anything, it was the other way around.

If Johnson does somehow get in, he's going to have a long wait to do it, because the standards for longevity and volume in the Hall continue to grow, especially in the passing game as the game continues to shift more toward a passing league. There is still a logjam at receiver with guys like Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Randy Moss (soon), as well as a guy like Larry Fitzgerald probably not far from retirement who absolutely should be in before Johnson.

You also have to consider guys at other positions who are currently waiting or will be in waiting at the time. There will be plenty of guys who have been waiting to get in. And at a position like wide receiver, where there was recently a huge logjam and where there's a run of a few years now where a receiver will be enshrined, if you're not a slam dunk first ballot guy, you might have to wait a while. Hell, even if you ARE a slam dunk first ballot guy you might still have to wait (TO).

[The Legend]

The logjam for receivers will certainly mean Megatron will be waiting a while to get in, but considering the recent trend of guys retiring earlier than ever before, even guys that play the game at a high level, I think the importance of extraordinary longevity for a career will be heading downwards in the future. Also, remember that the media vote for HOF players and Calvin is a pretty widely respected in that circle which will only make it easier for him to get in.

[Kreashko]

I still find this shocking. I mean, he had so much more to give in my opinion. #ForeverALion