Jones on Calvin Johnson’s retirement
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones gave his opinion on the retirement of former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson on Tuesday.
Johnson, who’s from Tyrone and played at Sandy Creek High and Georgia Tech, retired at age 30 on March 8, after eight spectacular seasons in the NFL.
“I don’t fault anyone for stepping away from the game,” Jones said. “I think he had bad knees or something. I’m not a doctor so I don’t know everything behind why he retired. But for me, speaking for myself, if I was ever to think about retiring, its just like when my game starts declining and I feel like I can’t go anymore or do the things I can usually do, that’s when you hang it up.
“Because you can only give what you’ve got. … You just want to live a life after football. You want to be able to walk around. Just the little things. If anybody is considering retirement. I’m all for it. You’ve got to live your life. I can’t live your life for you. You know what you want to do with your life and after football what you want to do.”
Jones, 27, is about to enter his sixth season in the league.
“I’m year to year,” said Jones, and then laughed. “I’m just going to keep going. Like I said, if I feel like I’ve had a decline in my game and I can’t go, or if I can’t overcome something…I’m very tough and I have a high tolerance for pain. If I feel like I can’t go, I just can’t go. If other people tell me I can’t go and I know I can still go….When I can’t go, then it’s time.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
