Shortly after the regular season ended, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson released a statement amid reports that he was considering retiring from the NFL.
Johnson said he was “currently evaluating options for my future” and that he expected to make a decision about which option he plans to pursue “in the not-too-distant future.” That’s not the most specific timeline and it doesn’t look like Johnson plans to set a date to make the call.
Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press spoke to Johnson’s agent Bus Cook at the Senior Bowl and Cook told him that there’s no timetable for Johnson to decide on his 2016 plans. Cook gained some experience with extended deliberations -- not always positive -- about possible retirements as Brett Favre’s agent.
There’s no sign that this will drag on into the summer and there’s little chance the Lions would carry Johnson’s $24 million cap hit to that point without an idea about his plans for the season. The Lions have said they won’t push for a quick answer, although their need to know something will likely increase the closer the calendar moves to the start of free agency.
