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Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders, a guy who knows how devastating an early retirement can be to the Lions, says Calvin Johnson's retirement would be very harmful to the team.
Sanders thinks Johnson's retirement after nine seasons would devastate the Lions, Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News writes. Sanders retired after the 1998 season, his 10th.
“I feel like I’m stunned a little bit like most people,” Sanders said Saturday before the NFL Honors at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the News reports.. “I feel like around June, we’ll give him until June or so, and then we should start knocking on his door.”
“It would certainly be difficult,” Sanders said. “He’s given a lot to our organization and our team and such a great player and one of those guys you just love having in your organization. Hey, it would be devastating, no question about it.”
Sanders retired in July 1999 at age 31, and he said he got plenty of knocks on the door and calls when he made the announcement.
Lions president Rod Wood said he’s spoken with Johnson since the season ended and the team is giving him time to reach a decision, according to The News.
