When the Lions became infatuated with pass-catchers in the top 10 of the draft, the future of receiver Calvin Johnson instantly became cloudy. With a contract carrying cap numbers that surpasses $20 million in 2015, the Lions will have tough decisions to make about Johnson’s future in 2015 and possibly beyond.
An item exploring that point earlier this month made some Lions fans more than a little nervous.
With the team winning while Johnson isn’t playing, it becomes easier to justify putting a salary squeeze on Johnson, who could choose to take less to stay -- especially if his agent realizes that, even with the Lions paying Johnson less, it’ll still be more than what another team would pay.
Meeting this week with reporters, the man who ultimately approved the backloaded ball-and-chain contract wouldn’t address what could or will happen in the offseason.
“You’re asking me a hypothetical question,” Mayhew said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
While the specific question Mayhew was being asked didn’t appear in print, it’s not hypothetical to ask whether the Lions can justify devoting so much cap space to a player who can’t play on a consistent basis. Last year, Johnson missed three games due to a knee injury and was hampered by it in multiple others. This year, a sprained ankle has kept him from even approaching the level of play that earned his current deal.
“I don’t have any expectations,” Mayhew said regarding whether Johnson will finish his career in Detroit. “I’m just getting ready to play the Atlanta Falcons and try to get to 6-2.”
At this point, the expectation should be that, without major salary slashing in 2015 or 2016, Johnson won’t retire as a Lion. Unless it’s on a one-day contract after he plays for another team or two.