







Calvin Johnson is my favorite football player, and when all is said and done, he will go down as one of the greatest Wide Receivers in NFL History! To be quite frank, he already is! Johnson has played in seven NFL seasons to date and even broke Jerry Rice's single season record for most receiving yards. Not a bad way to start off your career. I am going to compare Johnson with other NFL Wide Receiver greats by doing a few things.



First I will display Johnson and the opposing players stats (receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns) and compare the totals and averages between the two throughout their first seven seasons. Then I will subtract the opposing players career total with the numbers they produced in their first seven seasons to get the remaining numbers they put up after those initial seven. Then I divided the totals they produced with the number amount of seasons they played after their initial first seven to see what they averaged per year in those following years.



Next I took Johnson's current total and added it with his current averages and multiplied it with the number of additional seasons the other played played. ex. 66 (number of touchdowns Johnson has currently) + 9.43 times 6 (9.43 is the average number of TD's Johnson has produced a season on average and 6 is the amount of seasons the opposing player played in after initial seven.) So it would look like 66+ (9.43*6)= 122.8 (round to nearest whole number) 123 would be the amount of touchdowns Johnson would be "projected" to have if he plays in six more seasons averaging his current averages. Finally we will add Johnson's current totals with the opposing players totals (which is essentially the number of seasons played after the opposing players initial seven with their average from those final seasons) ex. 72.83 *6 = 436.98, which is 437, the same number of receptions Harrison produced in his final six seasons. Same formula applies throughout





Calvin Johnson vs Marvin Harrison























572 receptions 665 receptions 9,328 receiving yards 8,800 receiving yards 66 touchdowns 73 touchdowns

81.71 receptions per year 95 receptions per year 1332.57 receiving yards per year 1,257.14 receiving yards per year 9.43 touchdowns per year 10.43 touchdowns per year

Harrison's career totals 1,102 receptions 14,580 receiving yards 128 touchdowns

Harrison played in six more seasons after his initial seven (total minus first seven) 1,102-665= 437 receptions 14,580-8,800= 6,050 receiving yards 128-73= 55 touchdowns



Harrison's average per year in final six seasons

72.83 receptions per year

1008.33 receiving yards per year

9.16 touchdowns per year



Johnson's current total + current averages * 6, Johnson's projected totals

572+ (81.71*6) = 1,062.26 (1,062 receptions)

9,328+ (1,332.57*6)= 17,323.4 (17,323 receiving yards)

66+ (9.43*6)= 122.58 (123 touchdowns)



Johnson's current total plus Harrison's totals from final six seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+437= 1,009 receptions

9,328+8,800= 18,128 receiving yards

66+55= 121 touchdowns









Calvin Johnson vs Steve Largent













572 receptions 399 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 6,534 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 49 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per year 57 receptions per year

1332.57 receiving yards per year 933.43 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 7 touchdowns per year





Largent's career total

819 receptions

13,089 receiving yards

100 touchdowns





Largent played in seven more seasons (subtract total with first seven to get total of final seven)

819-399= 420 receptions

13,089- 6,534= 6,555 receiving yards

100-49= 51 touchdowns





average per year in final seven seasons

60 receptions

936.43 receiving yards

7.29 touchdowns





Johnson's current total + current averages *7, Johnson's projected totals

572+ (81.71*7) = 1,143.97 (1,144 receptions)

9328 + (1332.57*7) = 18,656.99 (18,657 receiving yards)

(66 + 9.43*7)= 132.01 (132 touchdowns)









Johnson's current total + Largent's total in final seven seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+420= 992 receptions

9,328+6,555 =15,883 receiving yards

66+51= 117 touchdowns













Calvin Johnson vs James Lofton





Johnson's total and averages vs Lofton's total and averages in first seven seasons









572 receptions 397 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 7,663 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 41 touchdowns

81.71 receptions per season 56.71 receptions per season

1332.57 receiving yards per season 1094.71 yards per season

9.43 touchdowns per season 6.83 touchdowns per season









Lofton's career totals

764 receptions

14,004 receiving yards

75 touchdowns





Lofton played in 10 more seasons after his first seven

(total - first seven)

397 receptions

6,341 receiving yards

34 touchdowns





Lofton's average per year in final 10 seasons

39.7 receptions

634.1 receiving yards

3.4 touchdowns

Johnson's current total + current averages * 10, Johnson's projected total 572 +( 81.71*10) = 1,389.1 (1,389 receptions)

9,328 + (1,332.57 *10 ) = 22,653.7 (22,654 receiving yards)

66 + (9.43*10)= 160.3 (160 touchdowns

Johnson's current total + total Lofton produced in final 10 seasons, Johnson's projected total 572+367 = 939 receptions

9,328 + 6,341 = 15,669 receiving yards

66+34 = 100 touchdowns

Calvin Johnson vs Tim Brown





































































9,328 receiving yards 4,734 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 36 touchdowns





81.71 receptions 45.14 receptions

1,332.57 receiving yards 676.29 receiving yards

9.43 touchdowns 5.14 touchdowns





Brown's career totals

1,094 receptions

14, 834 receiving yards

100 touchdowns





Brown played in nine more seasons after first seven

(total - first seven)

1,094-316= 778 receptions

14,934- 4,734 = 10,200 receiving yards

100-36 = 64 touchdowns

Brown's average per year in final nine seasons

86.44 receptions

1,133.33 receiving yards

7.11 touchdowns





Johnson's current total + current averages * 9, Johnson's projected totals

572+ (81.71*9)= 1,307.39 (1,307 receptions)

9,328+ (1332.57*9)= 21,321.1 (21,321 receiving yards)

66+ (9.43*9) = 150.87 (151 touchdowns)





Johnson's current total plus Brown's total in his final nine seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+778= 1,350 receptions

9,328 + 10,200= 19,528 receiving yards

66+64= 130 touchdowns













Calvin Johnson vs Isaac Bruce





572 receptions 476 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 7,299 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 50 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per year 68 receptions per year

1332.57 receiving yards per year 1,042.71 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 7.14 touchdowns per year









Bruce's career totals

1,024 receptions

15,208 receiving yards

91 touchdowns





Bruce played in seven more seasons after his initial seven

(total - first seven)

1,024-476= 548 receptions

15,208-7,299= 8,009 receiving yards

91-50= 41 touchdowns





Bruce's averages per year in final seven seasons

78.29 receptions

1,144.14 receiving yards

5.86 touchdowns





Johnson's current total + current averages * 7

refer to comparison with Steve Largent





Johnson's current total + Bruce's total over final seven seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+ 548 = 1,120 receptions

9,328 + 8,009= 17,337 receiving yards

66+41= 107 touchdowns













Calvin Johnson vs Randy Moss

572 receptions 574 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 9,142 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 90 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per year 82 receptions per year

1332.57 receiving yards per year 1,306 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 12.86 touchdowns per year













Moss's career totals

982 receptions

15,292 receiving yards

156 touchdowns





Moss played in nine more seasons after initial seven

(total - first seven)

982-574= 408 receptions

15,292- 9,142 = 6,150 receiving yards

156-90= 66 touchdowns





Moss's average's per year in final nine seasons

45.33 receptions

683.33 receiving yards

7.33 touchdowns





Johnson's current total + current averages * 9

refer to Tim Brown comparison





Johnson's current total + Moss's total in final nine seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+408=980 receptions

9,328+9,142= 18,470 receiving yards

66+66= 132 receiving yards

















Calvin Johnson vs Terrell Owens

572 receptions 512 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 7,470 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 72 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per yer 73.14 receptions per year

1332,57 receiving yards per year 1067.14 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 10.28 touchdowns per year









Owens career totals

1,078 receptions

15,394 receiving yards

153 touchdowns

Owens played in eight more seasons after initial seven

(total - first seven)

1,078-512= 566 receptions

15,394-7470= 8,464 receiving yards

153-72= 81 touchdowns









Owens averages per year in final eight seasons

70.75 receptions per year

1,058 receiving yards per year

10.13 touchdowns per year





Johnson's current total + current averages * 8, Johnson's projected totals

572+ (81.71*8) = 1,225.68 (1,226 receptions)

9,328 + (1332.57*8) = 19988.6 (19,989 receiving yards)

66+ (9.43*8) = 141.44 (141 touchdowns)









Johnson's current total + Owens total in final eight seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+ 566 = 1,138 receptions

9,328 + 8,464= 17,792 receiving yards

66+ 81= 147 touchdowns

















Calvin Johnson vs Cris Carter

572 receptions 399 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 4,577 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 42 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per year 57 receptions per year

1,332.57 receiving yards per year 653.86 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 6 touchdowns per year





Carter's career totals

1,101 receptions

13,899 receiving yards

130 touchdowns









Carter played in nine more seasons after his initial seven

(total - first seven)

1,101-399= 702 receptions

13,899- 4,577= 9,322 receiving yards

130-42= 88 touchdowns





Carter's averages per year in final nine seasons

78 receptions per year

1035.78 receiving yards per year

9.78 touchdowns per year

Johnson's current total + current average *9

refer to Tim Brown and Randy Moss comparisons





Johnson's current total + Carter's total in final 9 seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+702= 1,274 receptions

9,328 + 9,322= 18,650 receiving yards

66+88= 154 touchdowns













Calvin Johnson vs Hines Ward

572 receptions 505 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 6,055 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 41 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per year 72.14 receptions per year

1332.57 receiving yards per year 865 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 5.86 touchdowns per year









Hines Ward career totals

1000 receptions

12,083 receiving yards

85 touchdowns





Ward played in an additional seven seasons after his first seven

(total-first seven)

1,000-505= 495 receptions

12,083-6,055= 6,028 receiving yards

85-41= 44 touchdowns





Ward's averages in his final seven seasons

70.71 receptions per year

861.14 receiving yards per year

6.29 touchdowns per year





Johnson's current total + current averages * 7

refer to Steve Largent and Issac Bruce comparisons





Johnson's current total + Ward's totals in final seven seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+495= 1,067 receptions

9,328+6,028= 15,356 receiving yards

66+44= 110 touchdowns

















Calvin Johnson vs Jerry Rice

572 receptions 526 receptions

9,328 receiving yards 9,072 receiving yards

66 touchdowns 93 touchdowns





81.71 receptions per year 75.14 receptions per year

1332.57 receiving yards per year 1,296 receiving yards per year

9.43 touchdowns per year 13.29 touchdowns per year

















Jerry Rice's career totals

1,579 receptions

22,895 receiving yards

197 touchdowns





Rice played an additional 14 seasons after his initial seven

(total-first seven seasons)

1,579-526= 1,053 receptions

22,895-9,072= 13,823 receiving yards

197-93= 104 touchdowns





Rice's averages in his final 14 seasons

75.21 receptions per year

987.36 receiving yards per year

7.43 touchdowns per year





Johnson's current total + current averages * 14, Johnson's projected totals

572+ (81.71*14)= 1,715.94 (1,716 receptions)

9,328+ (1332.57*14)= 27,983.98 (27,984 receiving yards)

66+ (9.43*14)= 198.02 (198 touchdowns)





Johnson's current totals + Rice's totals in his final 14 seasons, Johnson's projected totals

572+1,053= 1,625 receptions

9,328+13,823= 23,151 receiving yards

66+104= 170 touchdowns









Obviously these numbers are not definitive, but it does give a good insight as to how Johnson is currently measuring up to other wide receiver greats. Other unforeseeable actions could happen as well, good and bad (Johnson has another record setting year, or Johnson gets hurt). This piece was to entertain, and as a previously mentioned to see how Johnson currently measures up with other wide receiver greats!







Read more at "The domestic violence incident in Atlantic City invovling Ray Rice has been referred to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office for review. ... to ensure all appropriate charges are considered," it said in a statement.Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/downashore/Atlantic-County-Prosecutor-taking-over-Ray-Rice-assault-investigation-after-video-shows-him-dragging-limp-fiance-out-of-Revel-elevator.html#0w33rOf49CGug4DM.99

572 receptions 316 receptions