Former Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson could reconcile with the organization in the not too distant future.
After the Pro Football Hall of Famer decided to end his NFL career, the Lions made a controversial decision.
The organization's former regime successfully recouped $1.6 million of his signing bonus, and he has expressed for the past several years that he would not want to be affiliated with an organization that treated it's players that way.
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It is very uncommon for a team to recoup monies from a player of Johnson's caliber.
Recall, he played through numerous injuries until he could no longer tolerate the physical punishment he was enduring on a weekly basis.
“We’re trending up. We’re trying to come together and make something happen,” Johnson said, via the New York Post. “Obviously I’d love to be around the team and do more things there and help the guys out. It’s good that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Since the disagreement began, the team has often stated their desire to reconcile with Johnson.
The 37-year-old has regularly stated what he needed in order to let go of the frustrations he has felt toward the team's upper management.
"It’s the principle. It’s the principle of it," Johnson previously explained. "You cannot have me back unless you put that money back in my pocket. I’m not working for it.”
Simmering tensions between the fans and ownership regarding Johnson's treatment were on full display in 2021 at Ford Field.
The fans decided to loudly boo principal owner Sheila Hamp last September during a celebration intended to honor the talented wideout.
When asked if the monies were in the process of being returned, Johnson expressed, "like I said, we’re in the process.”
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