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Detroit Lions - Team Notes

It sure seems like Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is intent on hanging up his cleats, but the team hasn't given up yet. Rapoport reported Monday that the Lions' coaches and staff are hoping to find a way to bring Johnson back at a reduced salary, much like the Arizona Cardinals did with Larry Fitzgerald a year ago. However, Rapoport also noted Johnson has personally reached out to owner Martha Ford and her daughters to "thank them for everything," so the team's efforts to bring him back may not matter. It seems the Lions would rather see Johnson retire than bring him back at his whopping $24 million cap hit in 2016, which would make it tough to sell the 30-year-old receiver on a return. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press noted on Saturday that new GM Bob Quinn still had not reached out to Johnson, and former Lions receiver Nate Burleson told Birkett that the lack of contact from Quinn is "ridiculous." It's certainly a sensitive situation, and it seems unlikely at this point that Johnson will ever suit up again. Perhaps the Lions can change that, but indications are not positive so far.

If Megatron does retire, tight end Eric Ebron will be leaned on to help pick up the slack.


Everything about Eric Ebron's stature and athleticism make him look like a matchup threat. But drops make him unreliable. Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports
However, the 2014 first-round pick has disappointed through two seasons, struggling with inconsistency and drops while posting only moderate production. Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez told Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News that Ebron has the talent to "be one of the best tight ends in the league," but noted that a different approach is needed. "I don?t know what his coach is telling him, but obviously, I would think that he needs to turn his routine around," Gonzalez told Katzenstein. "Whatever he?s doing is not helping him be the best. If he could figure out a routine that would help him get to where he should be, then he?ll be on his way. But a lot of guys don?t do that; they don?t figure it out." Those are some strong words from the man who set the gold standard at the position, and it's clear Ebron will have to do more to justify his high draft status. (It doesn't help that Odell Beckham Jr. and Aaron Donald were taken soon after Ebron in the draft.) As for Ebron's instruction, former Miami Hurricanes head man Al Golden will be his new position coach. Golden's background comes from the defensive side, and he's never coached tight ends or coached in the NFL, but perhaps he can find a way to motivate the young tight end.
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