You Have Forgotten How Ridiculously Dominant Calvin Johnson Was

I don't know how many of y'all have forgotten, but there has never been a receiver in the history of the NFL who was as dominant as Calvin Johnson.

There will be receivers who will always be considered "better" because Johnson retired after his ninth season, but in terms of sheer dominance, CJ is in a world of his own. Julio Jones is the only receiver I've seen come close since Johnson retired — and has put up similar numbers over a more prolonged period of time — but I don't think even he has reached the level Johnson was at during his peak.

In 2011 and 2012, Johnson reeled in 218 catches for 3,694 yards and 21 touchdowns, and the only reason the touchdown number is that low is because he was usually double- or triple-covered in the red zone. If he hadn't dealt with the injuries he had in his career and had played for a team other than the Lions, there's no doubt in my mind he would have put up numbers which would have him generally in the discussion of the best wide receiver of all-time.

Chipper Jones was obviously everybody's favorite Atlanta athlete in the early 2000s, but Calvin Johnson at Georgia Tech and Michael Vick are the guys I remember being particularly excited to watch as a kid. In college and the NFL, there was just nothing like watching CJ make the ridiculous plays he did.

Y'all can have Jerry Rice, Randy Moss or Terrell Owens. I'll take Calvin Johnson every time.