‘Megatron’ ready to show his strength on Sunday.
Detroit Lions star wide receiver Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson has responded to Baltimore Ravens’ Matt Elam’s suggestion that he is “pretty old”.
The Ravens safety told reporters in a press conference in Baltimore on Wednesday that he believes his opponent is perhaps ageing ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
However, Johnson, 28, has hit back and insists that he is ready for the challenge as he looks to help the Lions improve on their 7-6 record and put daylight between themselves and the Chicago Bears at the top of the NFC North.
“I’m getting old,” Johnson told reporters, according to ESPN.
“It’s all good. I’ll show him what that old man’s strength [is] about, though.
“It doesn’t surprise me because he don’t have to see me on the field. So he can talk all he wants. He plays back, and I don’t see him every play unless I run past him. I’m not worried about it.”
Furthermore, Elam’s comments haven’t gone down well with his coach or some of his team-mates who feel as though Johnson didn’t require any more reason to be fired up for the game.
Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant said he was just as good as Johnson earlier this season, only for the latter to put up 329 receiving yards, the second-biggest receiving game in NFL history.
“I don’t appreciate it. It doesn’t help us,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Get a guy like Calvin Johnson all fired up, that’s not really the idea.
“I don’t think they needed that to get fired up,” he added. “But we didn’t need to give it to them either.”
While Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco came to the defence of his rookie team-mate, cornerback Jimmy Smith also insisted that it is unlikely that Johnson requires comments from a young star to give his best on the field.
Nevertheless, it is clear that ‘Megatron’ will be in a determined mood on Monday night, and the Lions will hope to silence Baltimore in the best possible way.
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