Wide receiver 
Throughout the week, NFL Network analysts Marshall Faulk and Jim Mora sung Johnson’s praises and that carried over into the on-air discussion between Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw and Brian Billick.
Jay Glazier, who was manning the sideline for Fox, asked Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan which player he was most impressed with.
“I’d have to say I’m impressed with Calvin Johnson,” said Ryan. “How big he is, how physical he is, how fast he is at the top end, too. I’d love to have him on my sideline.”
Glazier added that, “he looks like he should be playing for the Pistons, not the Lions.”
Bradshaw then transitioned into his thoughts on the Lions as a team, stating that he sees Detroit as “a pretty hard football team to beat.”
“They may not have won a lot of football games, but I’m going to tell you, I picked them a lot to win games,” said Bradshaw.
“They lost their quarterback; (Shaun) Hill came in and played awfully well. Next year in the NFC North, (if) they get their quarterback back healthy, that’s an impressive bunch.”
Billick added that “they did what you need to do to make that kind of run – they finished well. (And) next to Haloti Ngata …
Johnson’s 6-5, 235-pound presence is more notably felt in person, and it’s clear his stature made an impression on his fellow Pro Bowlers as well as the former players and coaches who covered the game.
As for Johnson himself, the week was an opportunity to relax and mingle with some of the most talented players in the league.
“It’s been fun hanging out with these guys for the weekend,” he said. “Practice has been fun – not too intense. We’ve just covered our bases – what we’ve got to do in the game. For the most part I’ve just been having a good time with the guys.”
Considering the Pro Bowl is an all-star game, there are a lot of rules put in place. Offensively, a tight end has to be in on every play, no more than two wide receivers can line up on the same side, no players can be in motion, etc.
Those rules obviously didn’t take away from the fact that quarterbacks had to throw to wide receivers, though, so Johnson got a feel for the three NFC QBs: Ryan, Drew Brees and Michael Vick.
“The biggest difference than the style of quarterback I’m used to is obviously Vick,” said Johnson, who was a fan of Vick’s growing up in the Atlanta area. “When he gets pressure he scrambles and he still looks downfield trying to make a big play.”
Though Vick actually targeted Johnson deep on the first play of the game, Johnson’s 11-yard pass came from Ryan.
Said Johnson of the quarterbacks, “they’re just pinpoint accurate guys and they see the field real well.”
