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Tag: Calvin Johnson

  • Detroit Lions Lose Again, Possibly Out Of The Playoffs

    As any fan of the NFL knows, the Detroit Lions have struggled a lot as a team. They seem to have finally rebounded, and are continuing to improve with the help of their star players, but it does not seem to be enough to help them.

    The Lions were in charge of the NFC North earlier in this season, and if there was ever a year for them to win the division it would be this year.

    The rest of the division has been disappointing all year, and while the Vikings have been out of the mix for much of the season, the Bears have been without Jay Cutler, and the Packers have been without Aaron Rodgers.

    The Detroit Lions will often have control of a game, and then seem to find a way to turn the ball over multiple times, and let their opponents back in the game.

    The team that embarrassed the Lions most recently was the Baltimore Ravens, who defeated them last night on the big stage during a huge game of Monday Night Football for both teams.

    Last week, they fell victim to the Eagles, who somehow found a way to score 34 points and win even during a huge snowstorm.

    Matthew Stafford, who threw two interceptions on 3rd and short, and a total of 3 in the game, admitted the obvious when saying “I didn’t play my best game by any means.”

    Both teams needed the win in order to remain active in the hunt for the playoffs, although the Lions have been slipping in the rankings more than anyone recently.

    The Lions had a record of 6-3 going into games against the Bucaneers and Steelers, which were two of the worst teams at the time, and lost both games. They have also lost four of their last five games since having the 5-3 record, and are now 7-7, with their hopes of making the playoffs falling apart, and no longer have the opportunity to control their own destiny.

    The Detroit Lions are led by two of the top players in the league in Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, but for whatever reason, they simply are not able to win on the big stage, and when the pressure is mounting. T

    They had a chance to prove themselves last night against the Ravens, and while their defense came up big, not allowing any touchdowns, the Ravens capitalized with their kicker, using six field goals to win the game 18-15.

    In their last two remaining games of the season, the Lions play the Giants and the Vikings. These should be easy games to win if they play like they did against some teams, but while they no longer control their own destiny, they need the Bears and Packers to lose as well.

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    Images via Facebook and Facebook

  • LeSean McCoy Plows His Way Through Snowy Philly, Sets Rushing Record

    LeSean McCoy was by the far the most impressive performer in yesterday’s game between the Eagles and the Lions. In a game that started in a complete snowstorm, it was hard for either team to see what was going on for much of the first half, not to mention score.

    The Lions led the game with a score of 8-0 at halftime, which seemed as if it may have been enough with the way the first half played out.

    The Lions went up 14-0, and seemed to take control of the game, however, LeSean McCoy had other plans for how the game would play out. The game ended with a final score of 34-20 in favor of the Eagles.

    LeSean McCoy put his best performance, and more than most players, when he rushed for 217 yards and lifted the Eagles to victory. Despite the snowy conditions, he was the one who was able to outshine everyone else and somehow find a way for the Eagles to win in the Philadelphia snowstorm.

    McCoy broke the record for most rushing yards in a game that was previously held by Hall Of Famer Steven Van Buren in 1949, which was 205 yards. The Eagles rushed for 299 yards in total, while the Lions came into the game allowing the third-fewest yards rushing per game in the league.

    To get an idea of just how hard it would be to run in the snowy conditions, check this out.

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    He also became only the third member of the Eagles to rush for 200 yards in a single game in the the team’s history, with the other being Duce Staley in 2000. He is on pace for over 1,600 rushing yards, and would likely be in the hunt for MVP if it were not for all-star quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.

    In contrast to McCoy’s record-setting performance, the Lions were hardly able to run at all, and it was revealed later in the day that the reason fans were not able to see Reggie Bush on the field throughout the game was because he injured himself before the game started when slipping on the snow.

    While completing his incredible performance through the snow, McCoy admitted how difficult it was to run when saying “It was tough, to be honest. But the guys were giving me so much room. I actually like to run in between the tackles.” It was certainly an impressive performance for the running back, and gave the Eagles their 8th win of the season.

    The game was very important for both the Lions and the Eagles, and with LeSean McCoy’s performance leading the Eagles to victory, it is an important statement for the team going into week 15.

    In his outstanding performance as a runner, McCoy had more yards than Matthew Stafford, Nick Foles or Calvin Johnson, who was held to only 49 receiving yards. Fortunately, Johnson only needed 40 yards to break the all-time record for receiving yards as a Detroit Lion.

    Imagesvia Facebook and SB Nation

  • Eagles-Lions Game Starts In A Snowstorm, Eagles Find A Way To Win

    For anyone who just finished watching that epic game between the Eagles and Lions, many people are probably still wondering how the first half and the second half played out with such different performances.

    The game started during a huge snowstorm, and throughout the first half especially, it was hard to see what was going on for players, referees, as well as the fans watching in Philadelphia and at home. As a result, neither team was able to score in the first half for the most part, and the first quarter ended with both teams unable to score.

    Several games this week opened with severe weather conditions, but none as bad as the one that took place in Philadelphia with the field covered in snow, reaching a height of 8 inches at one point according to one reporter who was on the field.

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    Somehow things calmed down a bit in the second half, allowing both offenses to explode, however it was the running game of the Eagles that truly took off, with LeSean McCoy setting an Eagles record for most rushing yards in a game, and destroying the Lions defensive ground game.

    The Eagles finished with 299 yards rushing against a defense that didn’t allow a TD on the ground in the previous eight games and came in allowing the third-fewest yards rushing per game. McCoy was responsible for 217 rushing yards in the game, breaking the previous record of 205 that was held by Hall of Famer Steven Van Buren in 1949.

    While the game completely lacked offense in the first half, and neither team was even able to kick a field goal or extra point throughout the game, there were a lot more points than expected at the start of the game. It became a back and forth scoring rout for a while, but eventually the Eagles took control, and dominated the 4th quarter.

    The Lions led the game 8-0 at halftime, before taking a 14 point lead and appearing to take over the game. However, the Eagles quickly came back and under the running skills of LeSean McCoy, it became too hard for the Lions to come back. The snowy conditions were simply too much for the Lions to overcome, and fumbled on multiple occasions, twice during runs.

    While it did not prove to be too big of a deal in this game, Calvin Johnson is one of the top receivers in the league, and the Eagles were fearing going up against him. Johnson, as one of the top receivers only needed 40 yards to break the all-time receiving yards franchise record, and did that in the first quarter, however, he was not very effective during the rest of the game.

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    Despite the very snowy environment, both teams somehow managed to find ways to score, and the Eagles pulled away with the victory. The final score was 34-20, giving the Eagles a record of 8-5, and dropping the Lions to 7-6. It was an important for both teams trying to secure spots in the playoffs, and the Eagles made a big statement with the win.

    Images via SB Nation, SB Nation and Facebook

  • Calvin Johnson Is Set To Break Another Lions Record

    Throughout his outstanding career, Calvin Johnson has performed on another level than that of other receivers. He has already broken several franchise records, and is now on course to break another one quite easily in their next game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

    After seven season in the NFL, Calvin Johnson is ready to break the record for receiving yards, and only needs 40 more in order to break the record.

    The current record is 9,174 yards, and is held by the former wide receiver, Herman Moore. Earlier this season, in week 10 against the Bears, Johnson broke another record of Moore’s in touchdown receptions, surpassing his record of 62. Johnson now has 66.

    In addition to Moore’s touchdown record that was recently broken, Calvin Johnson already holds franchise record for receiving yards in a season (1,964), receiving touchdowns in a season (16) and receiving yards in a game (329).

    Moore played for the Detroit Lions from 1991 to 2001, and Johnson has a lot of respect for the man, who he has been able to get to know better over the past year. Talking about the former receiver, he said “I’ve really gotten to know Herman more this year than in the past because he’s been around a lot. I’ve been outside the facility just hanging out with him. (He’s a) cool guy, much respect for him and everything he’s done here.”

    The Lions are currently ranked No.1 in the NFC North with a record of 7-5, and look to improve on that with their game against the Eagles on Sunday. As a receiver that gets over 100 yards and a couple of touchdowns in most of the games that he plays, it seems that it will be almost impossible for the Eagles to stop Calvin Johnson from breaking the record for receiving yards as a Lions wide receiver.

    Arguably the best receiver currently playing the sport of football, Calvin Johnson has 9,135 yards, and ranks 50th among receivers in the history of the NFL in terms of receiving yards. Earning himself the nickname of “Megatron,” the star player continues to make catches that seem almost inhuman.

    He is widely respected by other players and fans around the league, and his fellow receivers especially look up to him. Nate Burleson, an older receiver on the team, spoke of the star player when saying “There’s nobody more deserving than Calvin. Herman can see it the same way. If you want somebody to break the record, having Calvin Johnson do it, in the most humble fashion a superstar can do it, he’s the right guy to break it.”

    Calvin Johnson has 1,299 yards going into Sunday’s game against an Eagles team that is on a four-game winning streak. It is also an important game for the team to win in order to stay at the top of their division.

    Image via Facebook

  • Dez Bryant is Ready for Megatron on Sunday

    Sundays in the fall have become something more than just a day of rest (like the Lord said) for many. Now, millions of people sit in front of their TVs, laptops, smartphones, or tablets to watch their favorite NFL teams and pay attention to the points players earn their fantasy teams.

    Dez Bryant is planning on getting many points for whomever was lucky enough to draft him into their fantasy teams.

    This Sunday, Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys will take on Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and the Detroit Lions. And after a conversation Bryant had with 103.3 FM ESPN Dallas, the comparisons between Bryant and Megatron are now endless (or at least until Sunday’s game is over).

    Bryant told ESPN Dallas, “Truth be told, I don’t compare myself to nobody. I think Calvin’s the best at what he [does]. I think I’m the best at what I do.”

    It was when Bryant was asked what Johnson could do that he couldn’t that has caused quite the frenzy, “I believe I can do whatever he can do. I think it’s just a pride thing. When it comes to football, just being on the field, it’s a mindset and having a mentality. I honestly believe when I’m there, I’ll be feeling like there’s nothing I can’t do. Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’m going to do it I always feel like there’s more. I think that’s just a mindset you’re supposed to have.”

    Looks like Bryant realized maybe he needs to choose his words more wisely next time.

    It seems Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn’t completely agree with Bryant. On Tuesday Jones told KRLD-FM, “I think that Johnson at Detroit has got to be the best receiver or best end target, if you want to put it like that, the best guy to go to right now in the league. Dez can aspire to be that and has a chance to be that.”

    Do you mean that Jerry, or are you just trying to give your employee a little more incentive to play exceptionally on Sunday?

    Of course, once these quotes hit the internet, everyone started buzzing with their own opinions on what Bryant had to say.

    With all the media frenzy, Bryant quickly tried to clear the air. He told the Detroit media during a conference call, “I wasn’t comparing myself at all. I think a lot of people took it the wrong way. Clearly, I said there’s no comparison. That’s something that I do not do. I don’t compare myself with anybody.” He continued to explain his comments from earlier in the week, “It’s just a pride thing, like I said. Calvin Johnson set the standard, set that bar high for every wide receiver in the league. I think it’s the respect, it’s really respect to him that he makes receivers like us go out there.”

    Looks like many people got what Bryant was saying without any clarification.

    So, who do you think will reign supreme on Sunday? Bryant or Johnson? You can see for yourself on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on FOX.

    Image via Bryant’s official Twitter.

  • ESPN Throws Eggs At Megatron

    ESPN Throws Eggs At Megatron

    ESPN uploaded a video to YouTube today in which star Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (known to many as “Megatron”) tries to catch eggs as Sportscenter’s Lindsay Czarniak throws them to (at?) him. He’s better at catching footballs, but he does feel he has also earned the nickname “Eggatron”.

  • Madden NFL 13 Hits Stores, Cover Man Calvin Johnson Says Gameplay Is “Ridiculous”

    Madden NFL 13 came out today at stores throughout North America. According to makers EA, it’s a big one for the Madden legacy.

    “Madden NFL 13 is the biggest game-changer in the history of the franchise,” said Cam Weber, GM of American Football at EA SPORTS. “Madden NFL 13 will deliver to our consumers the most realistic gameplay ever, and innovations like the Infinity Engine will completely redefine how fans will play Madden NFL. With deep new gameplay innovation, social integration, and an overhaul of the audio and visual presentation, Madden NFL 13 stands as a benchmark entry for the franchise.”

    According to Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (also known as “Megatron”) who graces the cover, the gameplay is “ridiculous”.

    The game is powered by the new Infinity Engine, and delivers what EA calls “physics you can feel on every play.”

    “Core gameplay innovations such as total control passing, ball hawk and read and react defensive AI, combine to create the most realistic Madden NFL game ever,” the company says.

    There’s also a new “Connected Careers” mode, which lets players play with up to 32 friends in a league. “Weekly, seasonal and milestone goals set the benchmarks for progress, and fans can not only choose to make history as a created or real life player or coach, but also relive the legendary careers of all-time greats including Walter Payton, Michael Irvin, Steve Young and more,” EA says.

    Of course, there’s a social media element, with a virtual Twitter feed, and social integration/team management from PCs, tablets and smartphones.

    Other new features include a new “Ultimate Team Edition,” with new trading cards and a new card management system, Kinect integration for the Xbox version, a 3-D powered broadcast booth with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms and various bonus content.

    The game retails for $59.99 on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, $49.99 on the Nintendo Wii, and $39.99 on PlayStation Vita.

    Now let’s just hope that Calvin can avoid the dreaded Madden curse.

  • Calvin Johnson’s Madden 13 Cover Hits The Webs

    I don’t whether to be happy for Detroit Lions fans or if I should start sending them sympathy. The reason for this confusion has to do with perhaps the most popular player on the “we no longer suck” football team and his appearance on the cover of Madden 13, something that has been a blessing and a curse.

    The blessing is fans get to see popular players, and it also comes with the realization that anyone who plays with the Lions knows Calvin Johnson is going to be buffed out a little bit, and no, this is not in relation to Johnson’s physique. No, the “buff” refers to the video game lingo where characters receive status boosts that make them a little bit better than the others. While this is beneficial to Lions fans looking to house other players with Calvin Johnson, it also brings up the issue of the Madden curse.

    Does this mean that Johnson is going to get hurt when the 2012-13 season kicks off? While that remains to be seen, it’s a safe bet every Lions fan out there will cringe every time Johnson goes up for the ball.

    The cover in question, courtesy of Shutdown Corner:

    Calvin Johnson Madden 13

    Who knows? Maybe Terrell Suggs’ appearance on the Eastbay circular, combined with his subsequent hamstring tear, caused the injury curse to jump ship, moving to another property and releasing EA from its sentence. I know there are some Lions fans who are actively hoping that’s the case.

    Of course, if fans are eager to avoid such a potential reoccurrence, perhaps they shouldn’t vote for their favorite player. Keep in mind that, starting with last year’s edition, fan voting determines who the cover athlete will be. If Lions fans don’t want their superstud receiver getting hurt, perhaps they shouldn’t have voted for him. Just ask Green Bay Packers fans.

  • Calvin Johnson Signs Mega Contract With Detroit Lions

    The best wide receiver in the NFL–sorry Larry Fitzgerald and whoever else you might want to name; the answer is Megatron–just signed a contract extension worthy of such athletically-talented freak of a football player. In fact, Johnson’s contract was so large, some are (jokingly) suggesting that Johnson might be the richest person in all of Detroit now, making more than the rest of the population, combined.

    According to various sources, Johnson’s new contract is worth $132 million, with $60 million guaranteed. In the immortal words of Super Troopers‘ Officer Ramathorn, “that’s a lot of hooch!” For those who may be wondering if any professional athlete is worth that much money, allow Pro Football Talk to weigh in:

    …as staggering as the numbers look, Johnson is worth it. He’s only 26 years old and coming off a phenomenal season in which he caught 96 passes for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns, then turned in a brilliant performance in the playoff loss to the Saints. And Johnson is known as a consummate professional, hard worker and good teammate who doesn’t get in trouble off the field.

    And then there’s the concept of how much money Johnson generates for his team (a lot) and for the city as a whole (a little harder to quantify, but considering the stadium attendance numbers, it’s safe to assume Lions fans who can’t go to Ford Field are going to bars and restaurants to enjoy the games). All things considered, perhaps Detroit underpaid for Johnson’s services.

    Naturally, Twitter is a’twitter with reaction to Johnson’s signing. Considering the popularity of sports conversation on Twitter, is this a surprise anymore? Before the reaction, however, here’s an example of just how incredibly talented Johnson really is:

    As for Twitter, the reaction was positive, if not obsessed with the amount of Johnson’s contract extension:

    (image)@hardy985
    Hardy     Calvin Johnson is now making more than virtually every person in the city of Detroit – combined.(image) 44 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@KSTiLLS4
    Kenny Stills    Wow CALVIN JOHNSON is PAID!!!!!(image) 47 minutes ago via Echofon ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@kicksonfire
    KicksOnFire.com    #Megatron just hit BANK. lol(image) 42 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Th3Warehouse
    Jared Ware    Calvin Johnson deserves every penny i wouldnt be surprised if he grabs 20 tds next year w/Stafford getting better with experience #Megatron(image) 44 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Naturally, someone always shows up to throw some hate on the festivities in an effort to either sound edgy or prophetic:

    (image)@PulledOut2Late
    John Blaze     watch #megatron get injured this year….big contract gonna either produce an All Star season or a busted season(image) 39 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    But overall, there’s a lot of love for Johnson and his goldmine-striking contract:

    (image)@mortreport
    Chris Mortensen    Calvin Johnson not only talented but often described as hardest working player on team, along with QB Mat Stafford. $60 mill guaranteed.(image) 46 minutes ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Ybatoba
    Yves Batoba    Calvin Johnson just received the biggest deal in NFL history. They realize that #Megatron is the best thing they’ve had since @BarrySanders(image) 48 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Here’s another example of Johnson’s God-like football talents, courtesy of a video simply called “The Catch.” It was taken when Johnson was still in college at Georgia Tech:


    And a music video to celebrate all that new money:


    Calvin Johnson: King of Detroit.