Lions could part ways with Calvin Johnson after this season

[AU-panther]

Wait, wouldn't releasing or trading away Suh take care of the Cap hit?

I think 2015 is a voidable year for Suh. The lions will still have considerable dead money on the books for Suh even if released.

[KARASMATIC444]

It's pretty hard to imagine.

 

But then Peyton Manning is a Bronco, so...

 

But there was an injury with Manning. Not that kind of issue with Johnson. He wont leave there im sure.

[Mr. Scot]

They would eat 21 million in dead money and he will only be 30. He's still in his prime unlike those you listed. There is no possible way they would do this

 

The scenario in the OP (which comes from Florio I guess, but there's no link and I don't see it on PFT) mentions an even worse cap hit the following year if they do nothing.  Apparently that's the logic behind the speculation.  I'd like to see more, but can't find the story.

 

Regardless, I can't imagine it happening either, but these days I never say never.

 

[camycamcan]

Why is this here

[Paintballr]

Calvin will go down as probably the best receiver that has played not named Jerry Rice when he retires.....that said has anyone really looked at his contract?

He will be 30 next year making almost 20 mill a year, at 31 making 23 mill and at 32 making again 20 mill. He has already restructured once and will not make less than 17 mill untill the age of 34/35 when his contract is up. Thats alot of cap space for someone who doesnt even have the guarantee of touching the ball every play ( and assuming the salary cap will continue to grow so he doesn't take up almost 12-15% of your cap space at age 32). I can see a scenario where the lion's would try to move on from that contract especially of they have another HC turnover after caldwell

[Mr. Scot]

Calvin will go down as probably the best receiver that has played not named Jerry Rice when he retires.....that said has anyone really looked at his contract?

He will be 30 next year making almost 20 mill a year, at 31 making 23 mill and at 32 making again 20 mill. He has already restructured once and will not make less than 17 mill untill the age of 34/35 when his contract is up. Thats alot of cap space for someone who doesnt even have the guarantee of touching the ball every play ( and assuming the salary cap will continue to grow so he doesn't take up almost 12-15% of your cap space at age 32). I can see a scenario where the lion's would try to move on from that contract especially of they have another HC turnover after caldwell

 

That leads to a debate I've had before...

 

Is Johnson truly the best receiver or just the most physically gifted?

 

It's the same question that came up with Shaquille O'Neal.  Yes, he was physically dominating, but his basketball skills (especially free throws) were not what most people would call superstar quality.

[thefuzz]

The scenario in the OP (which comes from Florio I guess, but there's no link and I don't see it on PFT) mentions an even worse cap hit the following year if they do nothing.  Apparently that's the logic behind the speculation.  I'd like to see more, but can't find the story.

 

Regardless, I can't imagine it happening either, but these days I never say never.

 

IF, they are in pretty good shape cap wise, they could cut him next year as a June 1 designation and spread that 10 million over two years.

 

 

However, they would effectively lose both Suh and Megatron to make this happen.

[rmoneyg35]

I would love for us to get megatron but it's highly unlikely. We had a chance to get Desean Jackson who could of also been our return man but we didn't. If Johnson leaves the Lions I see him going to the Patriots.

[PandaPancake]

I would love for us to get megatron but it's highly unlikely. We had a chance to get Desean Jackson who could of also been our return man but we didn't. If Johnson leaves the Lions I see him going to the Patriots.

I think you forget about crazy Jon Elway

[Snake]

With our cap situation?

 

I can't see us throwing out the kind of money it'd take to go after a player like Megatron.

 

Yep I could see him ending up in Washington or Dallas who will pay him big to play there.

[Paintballr]

That leads to a debate I've had before...

Is Johnson truly the best receiver or just the most physically gifted?

It's the same question that came up with Shaquille O'Neal. Yes, he was physically dominating, but his basketball skills (especially free throws) were not what most people would call superstar quality.

Some would argue yes and no. It probably will come down to if the Lions GM and HC value that position to pay more than 20 mill a year. Last year alone (I know scheme and yards etc do always mean the same when comparing WR) but Josh Gordan, Demaryious Thomas, Antonio Brown and AJ Green all got around the same production at Calvin did (even when he is/was the offense for the Lions.) If I'm the Lions I'm looking around and seeing I can almost get the same thing while improving other areas of the team (looking at their LB, Secondary, and even O-Line) for the price of 1 Calvin Johnson.

2015

Josh Gordan 1.5 mill

Demaryious Thomas 4.7 mill

AJ Green 10 mill

Antonio Brown 9 mill

....just for shits and giggles (and to put it into retrospec)

2014

Steve Smith 2.1 mill

2015

Steve Smith 4.1 mill

[Panthers8969]

Can't afford megatron huh? Idk what his cap hit is this year but I'm sure it's around 13mil. 13mil we wasted with hardy. I'm not saying I want him bc it means someone else being sacrificed, but we could probably afford him

[Mr. Scot]

IF, they are in pretty good shape cap wise, they could cut him next year as a June 1 designation and spread that 10 million over two years.

 

However, they would effectively lose both Suh and Megatron to make this happen.

 

I've heard people question if maybe Suh is overrated.

 

My gut response would be no, but there have been whispers.

 

[Mr. Scot]

Some would argue yes and no. It probably will come down to if the Lions GM and HC value that position to pay more than 20 mill a year. Last year alone (I know scheme and yards etc do always mean the same when comparing WR) but Josh Gordan, Demaryious Thomas, Antonio Brown and AJ Green all got around the same production at Calvin did (even when he is/was the offense for the Lions.) If I'm the Lions I'm looking around and seeing I can almost get the same thing while improving other areas of the team (looking at their LB, Secondary, and even O-Line) for the price of 1 Calvin Johnson.

2015

Josh Gordan 1.5 mill

Demaryious Thomas 4.7 mill

AJ Green 10 mill

Antonio Brown 9 mill

....just for shits and giggles (and to put it into retrospec)

2014

Steve Smith 2.1 mill

2015

Steve Smith 4.1 mill

 

Discussion of the Lions GM valuing receivers makes me think of...

 

 

Hurney may have been bad, but man could it ever have been worse