Detroit Lions' Fans Have To Let Go Of Calvin Johnson, Terry Foster Says

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) When a professional athlete is done with the game, fans have to find the strength to let them go, according to Terry Foster, who thinks too many Detroit fans are trying to cling to Calvin Johnson.

Eight weeks after Foster broke the news that it was impending, Johnson officially announced his retirement Tuesday.

"Johnson officially announced that in his mind and in his heart of hearts, he cannot play this season with 100 percent of what he's been," Foster said.

"Calvin Johnson was broken, and I'm not saying Calvin couldn't have come back ... but it wouldn't have been the Calvin you remember. It's time to move on."

He added that fans tend to want to hang onto players who are past their prime, but once they reach a certain point there's no going back to the glory days of their youth.

Some of the callers amazed him, Foster said, by asking what the Lions needed with $11 million freed up by Johnson's retirement.

"If you purchase something at the store and I said 'do you want 10 percent off, you say 'hell,  yes,' he said.

He added that the biggest day in Detroit sports history will be the day the Lions win the Super Bowl, but Calvin Johnson knew he couldn't be on that team. "There might 8 million people down there," Foster said, about the downtown celebration he envisions.

"Calvin Johnson was telling you I'm not that guy anymore," Foster said.

It's time to move on and let go of Megatron because he let go of you -- the fans -- awhile ago, Foster said.

Co-host Mike Valenti agreed it was time for Johnson to go.

"I didn't want to pay him $24 million," Valenti said. "I'm fine with it."