ALLEN PARK, Michigan (AP) ― For five years, Calvin Johnson has thrilled Detroit Lions fans, helping the city’s troubled NFL franchise recover from almost unimaginable depths to become one of the league’s most exciting young teams.
Now the Lions are rewarding the star receiver, giving “Megatron” a contract worthy of his catchy nickname.
Johnson has signed an eight-year deal worth up to $132 million, the largest contract in NFL history. He had a year remaining on a deal he signed after being drafted in 2007, but this extension starts immediately and runs through the 2019 season.
“I’m so comfortable here now,” the 26-year-old Johnson said at news conference Wednesday. “At first, not at all, but being here for five years, being around these people here in Detroit, teammates and just the city ― I’m just growing accustomed to it.”
Johnson’s agent, Bus Cook, said the contract is worth $60 million guaranteed. That figure and the total value of the deal are both NFL records.
“Calvin’s one of those guys ― we’ve said this about a few guys that we have in our building ― whatever they pay him is not enough,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’s truly a special player.”
After years of questionable drafts, the Lions finally began building a talented nucleus when they took Johnson with the No. 2 overall pick in 2007. Detroit went 0-16 in his second season but added quarterback Matthew Stafford with the top pick in 2009. The Lions then took defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with the second pick the following year.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
