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Lions receiver Calvin Johnson might have to take a paycut if he's to stay in Detroit.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson still is a good football player. His 1,000 yards this year, which rank 15th in the league, is evidence to that.

But he's just not an elite player anymore. That, or his usage isn't elite. Either way, therein lies the problem.

Because he's paid to be elite.

Johnson currently is playing out a seven-year, $113.5 million deal that pays him more annually than any receiver has ever made in the history of the game. And next year comes the biggest salary cap hit of them all, at $24 million.

That's prompted a lot of speculation about whether the Lions should bring back the iconic Megatron, or cut him with an eye on the future. They would save about $11 million by going that route.

But there's a third option that lies somewhere in the middle: Bring him back at a reduced rate.

Johnson has said he would like to finish his career in Detroit, where he has become one of the city's beloved athletes. But does he want to return so badly he'd be willing to take a pay cut to do it?

He side-stepped the question.

"Um," he said. "We'll consider those things when or if they happen."

He's broken every major receiving record in a nine-year career, including yards in a regulation game (329), season (1,964) and career (11,405).

All but the latter is also an NFL record.

Johnson has done it in workmanlike fashion, too. He's among the earliest arriving players every day, and puts in his work without ever saying much. Then he's gone out there on game days and done things no one ever has before, at least in a Lions uniform.

"I understand that I've played a big role here," Johnson said. "There's been a lot of players that have, but I definitely took the thing on my shoulders, the coaches put it there when I first got here and they let it be known that if we're going to be competitive that I have to play well."

Johnson's production has ebbed ever since he cracked Jerry Rice's season receiving record in 2012. His yards dipped from 1,964 to 1,492 in 2013, then to 1,077 last year.

With three games to go this season, he's at 1,000 after catching just two balls the past two weeks.

All that, along with his age -- now 30 -- and cap number, makes his future the most difficult roster decision of the new general manager.

Asking him to take a pay cut could be the best way to solve the issue, if Johnson is willing to go that route. Though there is no indication yet that he is.

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