Five great players whose careers have been killed by the Detroit Lions

2. Calvin Johnson

If Calvin Johnson does decide to indeed hang it up as a player in the NFL, then it was quite the career for the wide receiver. He set several Detroit Lions wide receiver records and quickly became one of the best wide receivers in the game.

He also set NFL records, by breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season record for yards in a season. He also had the second-most yards in a game ever, when he had 329 receiving yards. He did big things throughout his career and even had a rule named after him.

The problem is that while he was doing big things, the Detroit Lions were not and waddled through the muck of being one of the worst in the league. He’s gone to just two playoff games in his career and both times the Lions were eliminated in the first round.

He was part of a team that went 0-16 and became the worst in NFL history. Despite the worst season in the history of the league, Johnson was a lone bright spot for the team with 1,331 receiving yards. No matter how bad the Lions ever were, they could always look to Johnson to step it up and make the play.

Players like that have been very rare in Lions history. He has always been loyal to the franchise and has given them everything that they have asked and more.

If he does decide that it is time to call it quits, there should be no regrets on his end for his performances as a wide receiver. The only regrets should be on the other end for the Lions, who wasted another fine career from a great player.

Next: 1. Barry Sanders