Receiver Calvin Johnson retired in March, and the move prompted plenty of presumptions about his eventual placement in Canton. Receiver Andre Johnson retired on Monday, and hardly anyone has said that he should eventually be sitting for a bronze bust.
Between the two, Andre is more worthy than Calvin.
Both had seven 1,000-yard seasons. Both played in a pair of playoff seasons. But Andre Johnson has more longevity and, as a result, much better career numbers when it comes to receptions and yardage.
Andre currently is ninth in career catches, with 1,062. Calvin is 43rd, with 731.
Andre has 14,185 receiving yards, No. 10 on the all-time time. Calvin is 28th, with 11,619.
And while Calvin has 83 receiving touchdowns to Andre’s 77, Andre has two playoff wins. Calvin has none.
For those who don’t want to give Andre credit for eschewing early retirement and continuing to climb the ladder of career accomplishments, Andre has more average catches per game than Calvin: 5.5 to 5.4. Calvin averaged more yards per game, with 86.0 to Andre’s 73.49.
Calvin had the best two seasons of the pair, with 1,964 receiving yards in 2012 and 1,681 in 2011. Andre had 1,598, 1,575, and 1,569 -- each better than any of Calvin’s remaining years.
Then there’s a factor that shouldn’t serve as a knock on Calvin but that should work to Andre’s benefit: Calvin had Matthew Stafford for most of his career. Andre primarily had, all due respect, David Carr and Matt Schaub. How would the two receivers have fared if their roles had been reversed?
Sure, Calvin was more of a fantasy-football darling and he had the cool nickname and was on the cover of Madden. But Andre, overall, did more. Played more. Won more. And in the opinion of one person who doesn’t have a vote and never will (they won’t offer it to me and I don’t want it, so we’re even), Andre Johnson should get in before Calvin Johnson.
