Calvin Johnson’s relationship with the Detroit Lions—the only NFL team that ever employed him—has been almost completely nonexistent since his sudden retirement following the 2015 season. A money dispute over his signing bonus caused a fracture with the franchise that has yet to be mended.
Fans have been stuck in the middle of it all, torn between their love of the team they believed was only acting with the best franchise intentions and the admiration for one of the best players to ever don the Honolulu Blue. They could only watch in horror as Johnson traveled to other teams’ training camp to use his incredible experience to help coach up their players.