Calvin Johnson and Peyton Manning may have just finished what the Los Angeles Rams started. It’s no secret that when the Rams bolted back out west, a significant portion of my NFL interest departed with the team. Now, two of my favorite NFL players have decided to call it quits and it’s very likely that my love affair with the most popular sport in America has come to an permanent end.
Manning and Johnson were both remarkable, all-time great talents who helped redefine the game. When it comes to raw numbers, Manning’s resume is unmatched. Manning holds the records for passing yards in both a season (5,477 in 2013) and career. He also set the standards for touchdown passes in a season (55 in 2013) and career. A few other feathers in his cap include most wins (200), most comeback wins (45), most 300+ yard games (93), most 4000-yard seasons (14), most games with a perfect passer rating (5) and a host of others.
Manning’s brilliance in terms of dissecting defenses and directing his offense was unmatched. In the game of throws, King Manning conquered the iron throne twice in his illustrious career. First, he led the Indianapolis Colts to the title in 2007 (the same year Johnson was drafted). Then, the Broncos vaunted defense led him to the title this past season as Manning played the roles of greatest game manager to ever live.
Unfortunately for Johnson, his individual excellence never translated to team success. Like Barry Sanders, Johnson put up staggering numbers in Detroit. In 2012, Megatron set the record for receiving yards in a season with 1964. That season he also had 122 catches and averaged nearly 123 receiving yards per game. Sadly, the Lions finished 4-12 that season. It was a microcosm of Johnson’s career. Like Sanders, he had tremendous individual success but was often doomed to play on crummy teams. Johnson’s Lions only reached the playoffs twice during his nine-year career.
Still the Johnson’s dominance paved the way for other big wide receivers such as Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and A.J. Green. The 6’5” Johnson shocked the league when he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine. Until then, tall wide receivers were usually either frowned upon (they were easier to jam at the line and generally slower out of breaks) or turned into tight ends. Johnson proved that big-bodied receivers could be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has seemingly made a career out of tossing up the pigskin and allowing Johnson to do his magic. He was like the NFL’s version of an unstoppable alley-oop.
It’s a shame that Manning and Johnson never got the opportunity to play together (unless you count my fantasy team, where they led me to numerous championships). Look at the numbers Thomas, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne put up with Manning at the helm. Think of what he could’ve done with Johnson, the most physically talented receiver since the GOAT, Jerry Rice.
Both players are lucky to be walking away from the game. Their bodies have taken an incredible toll. Many thought Manning’s career was over after he missed the entire 2011 season. Manning went through several neck and spinal fusion surgeries that jeopardized his career. Yes, the guy whose head the entire defense is trying to separate from his body had surgery on his neck and spine and came back to play. Manning already had a Super Bowl under his belt at the time and could’ve easily bought a house in Hawaii, ordered some Mai Tais and called it a career. But he was too busy chasing all-time greatness. For Johnson, the freak of nature eventually had to deal with the ramifications of being that big, that fast and that good. All the first downs and touchdowns the fearless receiver caught coming over the middle took their toll on Johnson. In recent years, he has suffered numerous back, ankle and knee injuries and still managed to routinely grind his way past 1000 yards nearly every season.
I have a feeling that if the Lions were Super Bowl contenders, Johnson would continue to play through the pain. But after a 7-9 finish, there was no reason for Johnson to hang around. Sure, he would’ve made a ton of money to return. However, it seems that more dismal new comes out every week about concussions and CTE, it just wasn’t worth the risk.
When it comes to the Hall of Fame, Manning is a shoe-in to be elected the first year he’s eligible. He re-wrote the record books and Tom Brady is the only person who can catch him in many categories. For Johnson, he’ll have a tougher road ahead. The Hall of Fame committee already hates wide receivers and Johnson retiring after just nine seasons means his career numbers won’t compare to many of the guys caught up in the WR traffic jam. He currently sits only 27th in career receiving yards. I think he’ll eventually get in on the merits that he was the best of his time, but it’ll probably take a while.
With Manning and Johnson off the field, cornerbacks and defensive coordinators can breathe a sigh of relief. Two of the best are walking away from the game with no regrets, except maybe that they didn’t get to play together.
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
