Calvin Johnson Kirthmon F. Dozier via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Calvin Johnson won't forgive Lions until they pay him

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 9/15/21

Calvin Johnson might be the Detroit Lions' all-time franchise leader in receptions, but there sure hasn't been much love between the two parties in a very long time.

The All-Pro wide receiver opened up to Graham Bensinger about the fractured relationship he has with the only franchise he ever played for, saying their feud won't end until Detroit pays him the $1.6 million they've owed him since his retirement in 2015.

"I'm not gonna close a chapter, but I'm not gonna bend over backward to try and do anything, because I didn't do anything. I did my job," Johnson told Bensinger, via CBS Sports.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported back in August that Johnson was forced to repay the team $1.6 million of his signing bonus back in 2015 when he chose to retire due to consistent injury issues.

According to Birkett, the Lions attempted a reconciliation by offering to pay a disgruntled Johnson $500,000 annually for three years to make up for the money -- but he would be obligated to make appearances for the team at VIP and sponsored events and at Lions training camp.

Johnson declined the offer, saying Detroit's plan to make him work for them showed they were "not serious" about paying him back.

"I'm not saying they gotta repay me the $1.6 (million) all upfront, but they need to figure out a way to do it and not have me work for it," he said. "Because I already did the work for it."

Johnson recorded 731 receptions for 11,619 yards over his nine-year NFL tenure with the Lions, in which he garnered six Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro selections. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this year in his first year of eligibility.

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