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Calvin Johnson declines to confirm retirement reports

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 27: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field on December 27, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Credit: Ken Sugiura

Credit: Ken Sugiura

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 27: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field on December 27, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
By
Feb 3, 2016

Detroit Lions all-pro wide receiver and Georgia Tech great Calvin Johnson was ready to be seen out in public. But he wasn’t quite ready to address reports that he has told the Lions that he plans to retire.

As he left Tech’s basketball game Tuesday night against Duke at McCamish Pavilion, Johnson turned down an interview request, saying “Not right now.” Asked if he could confirm his plans to retire, Johnson again declined to comment, responding “Not right now.”

Johnson attended the game with his former quarterback and Yellow Jackets teammate Taylor Bennett, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. When Johnson’s image was shown on the arena video board, the sellout crowd rose in an ovation.

About the Author

Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.

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