Former Detroit Lions All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson wasn't happy with the way he was treated on his way out the door, telling Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, "I just didn't feel like I was treated the way I should have been treated on the way out."
When asked about whether he thinks the Lions will retire his #81 jersey, Johnson told Birkett,
"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. 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."
Part of the reason Calvin Johnson probably feels slighted by the Lions is the fact that they forced him to pay back $320,000 when he retired after the 2015 season, 1/10th of the $3.2 million signing bonus proration the Lions would've been entitled to under the league's collective bargaining agreement.
As for the rest of his retired life, Calvin, still just 31 years old, seems completely content with his decision to walk away from the game.
"Retired life’s good, man," Johnson said. "My schedule is freed up. It’s not entirely free because I’m doing a little work here and there independently, but it’s been good. I can’t complain. I’m spending time with my family, I’m going to move home soon, so it’s been good."
