Lions source says Calvin Johnson did not break his fingers

News has been circulating that Calvin Johnson admitted to playing with broken fingers last season, but a source with the Lions is confirming that is inaccurate.

While Johnson did admit to suffering finger injuries, he did not specifically state that he did suffer a break.

“Had a couple things here and there,” he said regarding his fingers. “Pretty much just getting them back straight and trying to straighten those things out.”

Johnson was reluctant to say the injuries affected his play, stating that “it’s nothing that’s going to prohibit me from doing what I’ve got to do … I mean, the thing is with a lot of football players, you have injuries. Unless you know about it, you just think it’s something that’s hurting and you just keep on playing.”

When asked when the injuries occurred, Johnson said the season was such a blur, he couldn’t pinpoint an exact date and time.

“I don’t blame anything on it,” he said. “I don’t blame any drops or anything like that on it. It’s just part of the game. Had a heck of a season with it and I’m just fortunate to be in that position.”

ESPN Stats and Info and “The Calvin Johnson effect”

I had a chance to sit down with new running backs coach/run game coordinator Curtis Modkins and new tight ends coach Bobby Johnson last week and both coaches said they were amazed at the looks they’ve been seeing from opposing defenses as they watched last season’s cut-ups.

“There are looks on film watching the cut-ups from last season that I haven’t seen in many years,” Johnson said of what he and Modkins are seeing on how defenses played the Lions this year.

“You’re seeing many looks, especially from a run-game standpoint; when you draw the diagram and install the play you draw the most basic, cleanest look (from the defense) and (the Lions) got that look quite a bit because people were worried about Calvin and Matthew and the pass game.

“As we say in the business, there’s some very juicy looks right there.”

ESPN NFC North writer Kevin Seifert did some terrific research with the help of the ESPN Stats and Information department that lends credence to what Johnson and Modkins are seeing in the cut-ups.

In 2012, the Lions ran more plays (855 of a possible 1,160) against defenses with six or fewer defenders in the box than any other team, according to Seifert. They also faced, by far, the fewest number of “stacked” boxes — eight or more defenders within two yards of the tackle and five yards deep. That happened on only 1.6 percent of their plays (19 of 1,160).

Give the Lions credit for trying to run the football against such looks. In 231 attempts, they rushed for an average of 4.48 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns. But they managed a first down on only 18.6 percent of those runs, tied for No. 21 in the NFL, Seifert wrote.

“With Calvin (Johnson) and the receivers we have in place, the quarterback and what they’ve done in the passing game here, it does allow you to have some boxes that are conducive to having a good running game,” Modkins said. “I’m excited to see what we can do with that. It’s a little different than what I’ve seen the last three years.”

It just goes to show how incredible Calvin Johnson’s 2012 season was. With six or fewer defenders in the box, and five or more in coverage, Johnson caught 91 of his 122 passes for 1,428 of his 1,964 yards and all five of his touchdowns.

Seifert’s article was appropriately titled: “The Calvin Johnson effect”

Calvin Johnson goes from Megatron to EGGatron?

Detroit Lions All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson (@bigplaycj) made the trip to ESPN’s set in Bristol, Conn., to shoot a ‘This is SportCenter’ commercial.

While we can’t give away the final product, Johnson did have some fun with ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak (@lindsayczarniak) as he transitioned from Megatron to EGGatron.

Take a look:

Julio Jones better than Calvin Johnson?

Gil Brandt stirred up some controversy with Detroit Lions fans earlier this month when he said via Twitter and on Sirius NFL Radio that Falcons receiver Julio Jones was a better receiver than Calvin Johnson.

Brandt wasn’t backing off that claim down at New Orleans for the Super Bowl.

“I think Calvin Johnson is a great player but if I drafted right now I would take Julio Jones,” Brandt said. “I just think he’s a better football player. I think he has great hands.”

Jones had a nice season with 79 receptions for 1,193 yards this season and 10 touchdowns, helping lead the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game.

Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s single-season record for receiving yards in a season with 1,964 yards on 122 catches. He had half as many touchdowns as Jones (5), but did get tackled inside the 2-yard line six times.

Jones’ second season in the league is very comparable to Johnson’s. In 2008, Johnson had 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“If you sit at this table and there’s 10 guys at this table and you ask the two names, Johnson would probably be about a 6-to-4 favorite. I just like Julio Jones a little better.”

It was Jones who replaced Johnson in the Pro Bowl earlier this month when Johnson decided not to play due to injury.

Calvin Johnson named Bobby Layne Offensive MVP

When it came time for Lions players to sit down and cast their votes for team awards, there may not have been an easier decision to make than choosing the Bobby Lane Offensive MVP.

Receiver Calvin Johnson was an absolute no brainer to be the recipient after the year he had in 2012.

Johnson produced one of the most historic seasons among receivers in NFL history, finishing with 122 receptions for an NFL record 1,964 yards and five touchdowns.

“Well, nothing that he does ceases to amaze me,” Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “He’s always taken it up another notch every year. He’s taken it up maybe a couple this year. He’s had to pick up the slack too for some guys missing, but gladly does it. It’s so impressive what he does, but it’s more impressive the way he goes about his business and that’s what kind of sets him apart from a lot of other guys.”

Johnson’s 122.8 yards per game average was the third-most in NFL history (minimum 12 games) and his 122 receptions made him the second player in team history and just the sixth player in NFL history (eight times) to register 120 receptions in a season.

He did all that while dealing with knee, foot, finger and neck injuries throughout the course of the season, the same injuries that will keep him out of the Pro Bowl later this month.

Johnson earned his second-straight All Pro selection and is widely considered the best receiver in the game today.

The Bobby Layne Award is given in memory of quarterback Bobby Layne who sparked the Lions to three NFL Championships and four Western Division titles during the 1950s, including back-to-back world championships in 1952 and ‘53. He established virtually every career passing record, including attempts (2,193), completions (1,074), yardage (15,710), and touchdown passes (118). Layne was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Calvin Johnson will not play in 2013 Pro Bowl

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson has opted not to play in the 2013 Pro Bowl due to injury.

Johnson, who broke Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving yards record (1,964 yards), dealt with knee and finger injuries over the course of the 2012 season.

Said Johnson on being elected to the Pro Bowl for the third-straight year, “These guys – the guys you go up against every day, it’s means a lot when they vote for you because you have to see them on the field for 60 minutes and they know what you’re about because they see it on film. They watch film just as much as you do, so to be elected by your peers, it’s respect.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reported that wide receiver Vincent Jackson will take Johnson’s place.

Calvin Johnson named to PFW/PFWA All-NFL team

Pro Football Weekly, along with the Professional Football Writers of America have released their annual All-NFL team and surprise, surprise, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson made the cut.

It no surprise, really. Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s 17-year old record for most receiving yards in a season this year, finishing with 1,964. Johnson also led the NFL in receptions (122) and 100-yard games (11).

Below, you’ll find the entire team, which was voted on by PFWA members and Pro Football Weekly editors.

I agree with most of list, except maybe for the MVP award.

I think Peyton Manning deserves the MVP. The Broncos are legitimate Super Bowl contenders because of Manning. What Adrian Peterson did getting the Vikings to the playoffs was incredible, but Manning took the Broncos to a whole other level. They’ve become elite.

Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America 2012 All-NFL Team:

Offense

QB Peyton Manning / Broncos

RB Adrian Peterson / Vikings

RB Marshawn Lynch / Seahawks

WR Calvin Johnson / Lions

WR Brandon Marshall / Bears

TE Rob Gronkowski / Patriots

C John Sullivan / Vikings

OG Mike Iupati / 49ers

OG Marshal Yanda / Ravens

OT Duane Brown / Texans

OT Ryan Clady / Broncos

Defense

DE J.J. Watt / Texans

DE Cameron Wake / Dolphins

DT Geno Atkins / Bengals

DT Vince Wilfork / Patriots

OLB Von Miller / Broncos

OLB Aldon Smith / 49ers

MLB Patrick Willis / 49ers

CB Richard Sherman / Seahawks

CB Charles Tillman / Bears

S Earl Thomas / Seahawks

S Eric Weddle / Chargers

Specialists

PK Blair Walsh / Vikings

P Andy Lee / 49ers

KR Jacoby Jones / Ravens

PR Leodis McKelvin / Bills

ST Matthew Slater / Patriots

Awards

MVP/Offensive MVP — Vikings RB Adrian Peterson

Defensive MVP— Texans DE J.J. Watt

Coach of the Year — Colts offensive coordinator/interim head coach Bruce Arians

Comeback Player of the Year — Adrian Peterson

Rookie of the Year/Offensive Rookie — Redskins QB Robert Griffin III

Defensive Rookie of the Year — Panthers LB Luke Kuechly

Most Improved Player — Cowboys WR Dez Bryant

Executive of the Year — Colts GM Ryan Grigson

Assistant Coach of the Year — Bruce Arians

Golden Toe (Best Placekicker or Punter)  — Vikings PK Blair Walsh

Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America 2012 All-Rookie Team:

Offense

QB Robert Griffin III / Redskins

RB Alfred Morris / Redskins

RB Doug Martin / Buccaneers

WR T.Y. Hilton / Colts

WR Justin Blackmon / Jaguars

TE Dwayne Allen / Colts

C NONE

OG Kevin Zeitler / Bengals

OG Amini Silatolu / Panthers

OT Matt Kalil / Vikings

OT Mitchell Schwartz / Browns

Defense

DL Fletcher Cox / Eagles

DL Chandler Jones / Patriots

DL Bruce Irvin / Seahawks

DL Michael Brockers / Rams

LB Bobby Wagner / Seahawks

LB Luke Kuechly / Panthers

LB Lavonte David / Buccaneers

CB Casey Hayward / Packers

CB Janoris Jenkins / Rams

S Harrison Smith / Vikings

S Mark Barron / Buccaneers

Specialists

PK Blair Walsh / Vikings

P Bryan Anger / Jaguars

KR David Wilson / Giants

PR T.Y. Hilton / Colts

ST Johnson Bademosi / Browns

Calvin Johnson’s record-breaking year in photos: Week 1 vs. St. Louis

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson began the season with his first of 11 100-plus-yard games.

In a 27-23 comeback win over the St. Louis Rams, Johnson had six catches for 111 yards, including receptions of 51, 20 and 18.

This game marked the first of six times he was tackled inside the 2-yard line. He was brought down at the one on a 10-yard pass in the second quarter; Joique Bell scored two plays later.

Despite coming away without a touchdown, Johnson’s 20- and 18-yard catches came on the offense’s game-winning drive, which was capped off by a 5-yard touchdown by Kevin Smith with 10 seconds remaining.

Nate Burleson talks the Lions’ 4-12 season, Titus Young, Jim Schwartz and more

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Lions receiver Nate Burleson appeared live in-studio this morning on NFL Network’s NFL AM. Burleson has been busy appearing on a number of media outlets in recent weeks, preparing for a possible post-football television career.

During his appearance Tuesday, he talked about the Lions’ 4-12 season, Titus Young, Jim Schwartz and more.

On finishing the season 4-12 after making the playoffs in 2011:

“There are so many things you can point to. I’m a guy that doesn’t make excuses; as one of the leaders on the team, I’m going to say it’s on us. It’s our responsibility to make sure that we perform at the same level we did in 2011, and we just didn’t. The type of games that we won so often in 2011 we couldn’t do this year; in the third and fourth quarters, it always seemed there was one play that just shut us down and we couldn’t overcome.

“We have to come back this offseason as leaders and figure out what it is; how to bring that fight back, that dog back, that tenacity and enthusiasm that we played with. I remember in 2011, we felt like we were backed into a corner every game, and in 2012 we just didn’t have that. As leaders, we have to figure that out.”

On if there was a sense of complacency after making the playoffs in 2011:

“From the outside looking in, a lot of people thought that. That might have been the perspective that ‘maybe they feel like they’ve arrived’. That’s not the case. We’re still as hungry, we’re still as passionate and we didn’t become complacent in where we were. It’s just that we didn’t finish, and that’s a big deal in this league. Every game is going to be decided by the seven or three points, and this year we just couldn’t overcome that. That’s what falls on the shoulders of the players.”

On if he was surprised that Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was not fired:

“No, I wasn’t surprised just because he has brought so much to this organization and he has created a different type of attitude. For so long, the Detroit Lions were somewhat of the armpit of the NFL, and nobody cared. Now, people are starting to take notice. This year was a huge step back; 4-12 is not where we wanted to be.

“I was surprised that we fired our receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. He’s a big-time coach, a great asset, a guy that can come in every day and motivate the best player in the game in Calvin Johnson. I was surprised in that but the team has to make moves and you just have to go with the punches.”

On wide receiver Titus Young:

“Titus is like a little brother to me. He’s a guy that I’ve given a lot of energy to over the last couple of years. For a lot of the reasons that people might misunderstand what he does, I appreciate Titus. He’s young, he’s passionate. Guys come into the NFL and they’re complacent in where they are; they got it, they’re drafted, they have the money, now they relax. Titus, he doesn’t want to relax. He wants to be the best, he wants to be the guy, and sometimes that gets in the way of his role on the team.

“I have to talk to him and say, ‘We’re with Calvin, so for so many reasons we have to be the background dancers; we have to go do our thing, we have to be Tito, he’s [Michael Jackson] so let him do his thing and we’ll back him up when he needs us.’ He has a clear understanding of that now. Being exiled, some suspensions, he’s going to get back to where he needs to be because he’s a great asset. He’s one of the great route runners I’ve seen and he’s only a couple of years into the league. He has tremendous hands, so if we can get him on the same page he can help us quite a bit.”

On what element might be missing from Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford’s game:

“I wish I could pinpoint that. Being a receiver, I never claim to be a quarterback coach. I hear everything that everybody says about the way he throws, his mechanics, his footwork, but I could tell you this that there are throws that he makes that nobody else can make. That’s why he’s in the position that he is. Just like every other athlete in the offseason, you go back to the drawing board, you work on the little things; you build on the strengths and you work on the weaknesses. So for Matt, I believe he’s going to do that regardless of whatever it is. He needs to take that next step.

“In my eyes, he’s a really good quarterback; I’m waiting for him to take that elite step and he has the capability of doing that. I’m excited for next year because he’s young. Just because he got thrown into the fire, they expect so much of him and he’s overachieved a lot since he’s come back from his early injuries. Almost two 5,000-yard seasons is hard to do. He’s come back and proved he can be that guy. I want him to be elite though and a lot people do. There is a lot of pressure on him but that’s why you get paid the big bucks.”

On who is the league’s MVP:

“That’s Calvin Johnson. If we were winning – say we got to the playoffs – he would definitely be in the conversation. Now, Peyton Manning – unbelievable coming back from the neck, going to Denver and doing more for that city almost than [Tim] Tebow did and Tebow caused hysteria out there. Adrian Peterson coming back from the ACL, I had an ACL in 2008 so I know how difficult that is. But the things that Calvin does, he’s in the same boat as AP: everybody knows he’s going to get the ball but he still gets the ball regardless. He’s out there getting viced in the slot like he’s about to cover a punt, so he creates coverages that I haven’t seen since playing with Randy Moss.”

On whether Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford should be setting records for pass attempts:

“It is a lot but I believe that he should. When you have a guy like Calvin [Johnson], you have no choice but to put the ball up there as many times as you need to … Now, you’re not going to hit every one, but when you get that big catch in fishing it makes it worthwhile. When you go out there and you have that big game, that highlight catch that Calvin creates, it’s worthwhile all of those attempts.”

On how he is recovering him his broken leg:

“It’s good. I have a little hardware in there. I’m early in the rehab stages but I’m ahead of schedule, which is a good thing. I’m trying to get back. I’m 31, have a couple more years on my contract. Trying to get back to where I was and get the team back to where we were.”

Calvin Johnson’s record-setting performance voted Week 16 GMC Moment of the Week

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has been voted the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week for his Week 16 record-setting performance against the Atlanta Falcons.

Needing 182 yards to surpass the all-time single-season leader Jerry Rice, Johnson finished the game with 11 catches for 225 yards.

Said NFL.com, “Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice set a number of records many figured would never be broken. However, with a game to spare, Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson managed to surpass one of Rice’s most amazing records.

“With 225 yards receiving against the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson set a new single-season receiving yardage record of 1,892 yards, topping Rice’s mark of 1,848 yards set in 1995.”

With one game remaining, Johnson is now shooting to become the first player to record 2,000 receiving yards in a season.