Before you hang up your cleats for good, Calvin Johnson, one of your former teammates has a message for you.
Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson, who played alongside Johnson in Detroit from 2010-2013, recently wrote an article for NFL.com. The article mostly involves Burleson making a case for the retired Johnson to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his closing line is what’s making headlines.
“Congratulations on your retirement, man,” Burleson wrote on NFL.com. “Now, take this year off … then find a way to land with the (New England) Patriots and get a championship ring. You deserve it.”
Well, that certainly would be something.
But it’s not as simple as taking a year off and then playing for any team you want. Johnson still would be under contract with the Lions, so he would need to demand a trade or hope to be released in order to end up New England. The release route might be possible, though, considering his $15.95 million base salary for 2016, according to CBSSports.com.
A lot would need to happen for Johnson to call Foxboro, Mass., home, but it’s certainly not impossible, especially with former teammates and Mark Wahlberg stating their cases for it.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
