#2 pick Calvin Johnson signs with the Lions

Michigan

ALLEN PARK - Rookie wide receiver Calvin Johnson signed a six-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Friday, ending the No. 2 overall pick's eight-day holdout.

Johnson's signing was expected to allow him to get into camp for workouts Friday. Fellow wideout Roy Williams said a day earlier that "the rookie needs to get in here."

Johnson was regarded by some as the best player in the draft after catching 78 passes for 1,202 yards and 15 touchdowns during his All-America junior season at Georgia Tech. He won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top college receiver.

The Lions, 3-13 last season, in April made Johnson the fourth receiver taken with their first pick in the past five drafts.

"He's going to be a big part of getting us to where we want to go," Lions president Matt Millen said after Johnson was drafted.

The Lions are 24-72 and have missed the playoffs every season since Millen joined the front office in 2001. The soft-spoken Johnson figures to get ample opportunities in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's pass-happy scheme.

Stingray

Is Brady Quinn still holding out, he wants to get paid like a higher draft pick then he was!!


Did not see your other thread!!

MPeter

He's not going to make a bit of difference up there. The rest of the team sucks, the defense will be on the field the whole game and he'll be crying to get out of Detroit after the first season. I could be wrong, but I don't think I will be. Detroit will be lucky to win 3 games this year.......two against the Vikings and one against themselves during the Bye Week!

Michigan

With Matt Millen in charge it is hard to see the Lions as anything but mired in mediocrity.

stitzen

Detroit may still be a bad team, but that offense is going to potent this year. Millen still sucks (the worst GM in all of sports, barely beating out the Knicks' Thomas), and the team will never succeed with him at the helm.

dirtmonkey

<< <i>He's not going to make a bit of difference up there. The rest of the team sucks, the defense will be on the field the whole game and he'll be crying to get out of Detroit after the first season. I could be wrong, but I don't think I will be. Detroit will be lucky to win 3 games this year.......two against the Vikings and one against themselves during the Bye Week! >>



Well I wouldn't say the rest of the team sucks, but much of the team does. Their defense will again be lousy as they really didn't pick up anyone. I think their offense will be entertaining much of the time, but that depends on if they can sustain a running game with any real regularity. Some think that you don't need to run well in the Martz system, but tend to forget Faulk was a stud during much of his Martzs success with the Rams. Kitna is erratic and was forced to throw way too often because they had no running game, but 7 were dropping to cover the pass. Kitna will put up some big numbers again (including interceptions and fumbles), but would benefit greatly by some solid RB production. The line will be improved, so that shouldn't be a problem. If Calvin is a fraction of what is expected, their WR corps is improved as Mike Williams was a total bust.

So the defense wont be on the field much because they let everyone score quickly. Their offense will keep them in more games and they will win more, but I'm still only guessing 6 games at best. Johnson wont be disgruntled. He will work hard and I suspect he will improve this team. I've heard quite a few interviews with him and he is a great team-guy.