Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson paid back at least $1 million to the team after he retired in 2016, according to Carlos Monarrez of Detroit Free Press.
Per the report, sources with specific knowledge of Johnson’s affairs say that he wrote a seven figure check to the Lions franchise. The amount was substantially higher than the $320,000 that the NFL Players Association has on record for Johnson, according to the story.
The $320,000 equates to nearly 1/10th of the $3.2 million Johnson received for his signing bonus. This is the amount the Lions could collect back according to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.
It is no wonder Johnson recently spoke up about how his tenure with the Lions ended. He was not a happy camper.
“I don’t even like to talk Lions too much just because the way our relationship ended. If they see me around here, we’ll see. But hey, I don’t know,” Johnson said recently. “I just didn’t feel like I was treated the way I should have been treated on the way out. That’s all. I mean, it’s all good. I’m not tripping. I don’t feel any kind of way, just hey, that’s what they did. Hey, it is what is.”
Johnson’s nine-year career with the Lions was stunning. He is currently the team’s all-time leader with 731 receptions, 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns.
The future Hall of Fame receiver retired after coming to the conclusion that football was just not fun anymore. He chose to quietly exit the game to spend time with his family rather than further risk his health. A wise decision many players under the age of 30 are making these days.
Knowing that Johnson returned a bigger portion of that signing bonus than records indicate, we can certainly see why he remains salty about his departure.