Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson still hasn’t confirm the decision to retire, but if he does he will be labeled as one of the best wide receivers of all-time. But according to Pittsburgh Steelers Hall Of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann, he doesn’t think Johnson’s career numbers are enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. Via Josh Katzenstein from Detroit News reports:
“I would think that it would be difficult for Calvin Johnson at this point to be considered a Hall of Famer,” Steelers legend Lynn Swann said. “Calvin Johnson has an extreme amount of talent and ability, but when you start to look at his team, the success of his team and did he lift that team; he made them a little bit better, but at the end of the day, I’m not quite sure.”
You really can’t blame Calvin Johnson for his team lack of success You have to look at the fact that he didn’t have a quarterback until 2009 when the Lions drafted Matthew Stafford, which Stafford didn’t play a full season until 2011 dealing with injury problems. In nine seasons, Johnson has 731 receptions, 11,619 yards and 73 touchdowns. Swann also states how Johnson not winning a playoff game hurts his chances as well.
“Hard to say he’s going to be in the Hall of Fame when his team hasn’t gotten to a Super Bowl, and they don’t get a chance to get into the playoffs,” Swann said. “And that’s for a lot of guys across the board. If he had broken every passing record, like Danny Fouts, who didn’t win the Super Bowl, then yeah, I think there’s going to be consideration.”