DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 22: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions talks with the media after the game where he broke the NFL single season yardage record formally held by Jerry Rice against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on December 22, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. The Falcons defeated the Lions 31-18. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

By Terry Foster

@TerryFoster971

It’s a wrap.

Calvin Johnson is close to announcing that he will retire from the Detroit Lions, according to sources close to his family and friends.

The announcement could come as soon as this week. Johnson celebrated in Las Vegas recently where he told friends he’d made up his mind to officially retire.

Johnson supporters will release a tribute to Johnson on Facebook and Twitter. It shows three images of Johnson in a Lions uniform with the caption “Thank you Calvin, 81.”

Johnson is wearing a white Lions uniform in the middle image with his helmet off. He is in a blue Lions jersey in the other two illustrations as if he is playing in a game.

Johnson is willing to walk away from millions because of numerous nagging injuries to his knees, ankles and hands. This is not about the Lions being an also ran. He is not angry with the organization. He simply wants to move on with his life and Johnson can do that because he saved his money and looks forward to his next journey.

He was due to make $15.9 million next season and a $3.2 million signing bonus as part of a 7-year, $113 million deal.

Johnson finishes his career with 731 receptions for 11,169 yards and 83 touchdowns. His best season came in 2012 when he caught 122 passes for 1,964 yards and five touchdowns. Last season he led the team with 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns. However, it was a season filled with pain. Caldwell eased his work load by allowing Johnson to skip practices and heal his body.

Johnson is a big target which is both a blessing and a curse. He used his 6-foot-5, 237 pound frame to leap for balls out of a normal player’s reach. But it also allowed for defensive backs to tag him with hard licks that he could not get out of the way of. Johnson became more of a possession receiver than deep threat.

It is one of the reasons the Lions were looking to restructure his contract which would have carried a $24 million cap hit next season.

Johnson told head coach Jim Caldwell and teammates Matthew Stafford and Stephen Tulloch that 2015 would be his final season. He also talked with former teammates about adjusting to retirement.

Johnson, 30, has played nine seasons and will be up for Hall of Fame consideration in five years. Sadly this will bring to an end of a 19-year run between running back Barry Sanders and Johnson who won one playoff game between them.

A ray of hope was raised last week when former teammate and good friend Nate Burleson said he refused to close the door on Johnson retiring after an ESPN report detailed his retirement wishes. Earlier CBS Detroit reported that Johnson was considering retirement. The Lions and Johnson released a statement afterwards saying he was pondering his decision.

There is speculation that Johnson wanted to wait until after the Super Bowl to make his announcement. The NFL does not like breaking news of coaching hires or major retirements during Super Bowl week.

Burleson was also critical of new General Manager Bob Quinn for not meeting with Johnson. It is often easy to criticize the Lions but there was nothing Quinn can do to convince him to stay. His mind is made up. Lions President Rod Wood said he wanted to give Johnson more time to think and would support any decision he made.

“Right now I want him to come to his own conclusion and decide what he wants to do,” Wood told The Detroit News. “I wouldn’t want to try and convince him to play if that’s not what he wants to do, but obviously if he wants to play, we want him back. So, we’re going to give him time to kind of go through all the decision process and hopefully he can come to the conclusion that’s right for him. And whatever that is, we’ll support him.

(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@CBSRadio.com)