Mega Millions

Johnson's size and raw athleticism make
him the NFL's best wide receiver.

The Motor City was rocking Wednesday.

The Detroit Lions announced they have signed wideout Calvin Johnson to length and hefty contract extension.

With one year remaining on his rookie contract that he signed in 2007, Johnson inked a seven-year extension, giving him an eight-year deal worth $132 million -- $60 million guaranteed -- and making him the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history.

Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald held the previous record after he agreed to a an eight-year contract last year that could pay him up to $120 million.

If there was ever a player worth the money he received, Johnson is that player.

Since being drafted out of Georgia Tech with the No. 2 overall pick in the '07 NFL Draft, Johnson has been among the best receivers in the game.

Nicknamed by former teammate Roy Williams, 'Megatron', Johnson has caught 366 passes in his brief five-year career, complied 5,812 yards and 49 touchdowns. He just completed his best NFL season, which saw him total 1,000-plus yards for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years. In 2009, Johnson narrowly missed the 1,000-yard plateau by 16, finishing with 984.

This season Johnson made his second straight Pro Bowl and only First All-Pro team thus far. He became only the third receiver in history to catch at least 95 passes, accumulate 1,600 yards and 15 TDs, joining Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.

He had 96 reception for a league-leading 1,681 yards and 16 TDs. He also led the NFL in yards per game with 105.1, not to mention his 17.5 yard per catch were a career-high.

The 26-year-old Johnson also rushed for 11 yards last season, giving him 1,692 yards from scrimmage -- fourth in the NFL.

Following his rookie year, Johnson has totaled 5,116 yards and 45 TDs, making only the sixth receiver in history to accumulate more than 5,000 yards and 45 TDs in a four-year span, join in Rice, Moss, Lance Alworth, Marvin Harrison, and Terrell Owens.

In his five years as a Lion, with many more to come, Johnson has been through the darkness, but has seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

Johnson's second year in the league, the Lions became the first team in history to go winless in a 16-game regular season. However, this past year, Johnson and Co. made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, finishing second in the tough NFC North at 10-6.

Both Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who became the fourth player in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season, anchored the team.

Detroit wouldn't last long, losing to the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card Weekend, 45-28. But there's no question Johnson was the best player on the field.

In his playoff debut, Johnson had 12 receptions for 211 yards and two scores.

It could be a sign of many things to come, at least for the next eight years.

Tampa Bay Jacked Up

Jackson is leaving the California sun for the
beaches of Florida.

Vincent Jackson charged his way out of San Diego as fast as he could.

In the first day of NFL free agency and an abundance of transactions making headlines, Jackson was one of them, signing a five-year, $55.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It has been reported the contract contains $26 million guaranteed -- the same amount Jackson will be paid over the first two years of the deal, receiving the remaining $36 million over the final three years. The 6-foot-5 Jackson is coming off one of his best seasons.

A year after playing in a career-low five games due to a nearly season-long holdout, Jackson was smacked with the franchise tag, but showed his worth, catching 60 passes for San Diego in 2011, accumulating for 1,106 yards and tying a career-high with nine touchdowns.

It was the third time in his career he had totaled more than 1,000 yards in a season -- all coming in the last four years.

However, Jackson's best season came in 2009 when he was selected to his only Pro Bowl. That season the former Northern Colorado standout, along with his nine touchdowns, set career-highs in receptions (68), yards per game (77.8) and yards (1,167). Oddly enough that was the last time the Chargers made the postseason.

Since being drafted in the second-round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Jackson has played in 91 games for San Diego, caught over 270 passes -- 272 to be exact -- totaled 4,754 yards and 37 TDs.

But now with Jackson's departure, it leaves the Chargers with numerous holes at the wide receiver position.

If you take away Jackson's 60 receptions last season, quarterback Phillip Rivers only completed 88 of his 366 completions to a wide receiver. The other 218 came from a running back, fullback, or tight end. Rivers also threw 27 TDs. Again taking away Jackson's total from a year ago, only eight of those 27 went to a wideout -- five of them coming from Malcom Floyd.

The search now begins for Jackson's replacement.

Count Him In

Moss is coming out of retirement and
making his return to the NFL.

He's back.

Randy Moss, who abruptly retired last August, has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers following his workout with the team on Monday.

It was just hours after he had been catching passes from head coach Jim Harbaugh, that Moss decided San Francisco would become his fifth career NFL team. The 49ers became only the second team to host a tryout for Moss after he announced on his 35th birthday (Feb. 13), that he would in fact be making a return to football.

Last Tuesday, Moss showcased his talent for the New Orleans Saints, but was not offered a contract. However, multiple team sources reported he "looked like the old Randy", leaving us to believe the Niners saw the same thing.

Our last memory of Moss is a horrific 2010 season in which he started as a New England Patriot and ended as a Tennessee Titan with a return to the Minnesota Vikings sandwiched in between.

He finished the year with career-lows in games started (11), yards per game (24.6), receptions (28) and yards (393). But it was his eight games as a Titan that caused many to believe the freak show we all use to marvel had left the theater, catching just six passes and not scoring a touchdown.

Although, it wouldn't be the first time Moss has risen from the ashes.

After two dismal seasons as a member of the Oakland Raiders in which he caught 102 passes for 11 TDs, including one season with a career-low three, Moss was traded to the Patriots on Draft Day 2007 for a fourth-round pick.

In his first season with New England, Moss was a key contributor of a Patriot team that went undefeated until they lost in Super Bowl XLII, catching a league-leading and NFL-record 23 TDs. Moss also led the NFL in touchdowns in 1998 (17), 2000 (15), 2003 (17) and 2009 (13).

And now joins a team that needs him desperately.

San Francisco possessed one of the worst receiving corps in the league last year. They cut Braylon Edwards. Josh Morgan, who played in just five games after breaking his leg, and Ted Ginn Jr. are both free agents and not expected to return.

Michael Crabtree has been inconsistent and yet to emerge as the star he was at Texas Tech since being drafted with No. 10 pick in the 2009 draft.

The Niners ended an eight-year absence from the postseason after finishing the year with a 13-3 record and their 18th NFC West Division title. But after escaping against the Saints, San Francisco lost in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 20-17.

In that lost, Crabtree was the only wide receiver to catch one of quarterback Alex Smith's 12 completions. Tight end's Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker combined by five more, while running back Frank Gore led the team with six receptions.

Speaking of Smith, San Francisco is in the process of trying to re-sign their still-unproven quarterback - a process that should become easier with the signing of Moss.

Along with his six Pro Bowl selections, Moss has been a member on four All-Pro teams. His 954 receptions and 14,858 yards are ninth and fifth all-time, respectively. Moss' 153 TDs catches are tied for second all-time with Terrell Owens, and trails only Jerry Rice's 197. Twenty-nine of those 153 scores totaled at least 50 yards, also trailing only Rice's 36.

It looks like Moss will be chasing Rice's records in the uniform he help make famous.

Let the Madness Begin

Wounded Wolf

Skinning Them Alive

RG3 might just find himself a
seat in the Oval Office.

The Washington Redskins are ready to find their next franchise quarterback.

They may have completed that search on Friday.

According to FoxSports.com, the Redskins have agreed in principle to send three first-round draft picks and another second-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the No. 2 overall in April's upcoming NFL Draft.

However, nothing is official as the league's new year doesn't start until Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET, meaning the deal still needs to be signed off and processed by the league office.

Washington is expected to select either Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III. Basically taking whomever the Indianapolis Colts choose not to add with the No. 1 pick.

All signs point to the Colts drafting Luck, leaving the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner for the taking.

Griffin had a fantastic collegiate career at Baylor, but impressed many with his athletic ability and raw talent at the combine. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder ran a 4.41 40-yard dash, which is the fastest time for a quarterback since Michael Vick ran a 4.25 in 2001.

If in fact Washington does select Griffin, he will try and follow in the footsteps of another African-American Redskin quarterback.

In 1987, Doug Williams was responsible for leading the Skins to their second of three Super Bowl titles. Becoming the first African-American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, Williams was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

He routed the John Elway-led Denver Broncos, throwing a Super Bowl record four touchdowns passes in a single quarter, winning Super Bowl XXII, 42-10.

As for the Rams, they are one of the few teams in the NFL that believe they have their quarterback of the future after drafting Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. St. Louis and newly hired head coach, Jeff Fisher, are focused on winning and giving Bradford some offensive firepower and Oklahoma State's wide receiver Justin Blackmon could be just that.

The Rams last made the postseason in 2004 while Washington saw action in the 2007 playoffs. Both are hoping this deal can bring them back to the promise land.

'RG3' looks to be heading to our nation's capital and might just launch his own presidential campaign.

Season Preview: Comeback Player of the Year

Health and productivity continue to be the keys to success in a grueling 162 game regular season. Many found themselves battling both a year ago, but will look to bounce back in 2012 and return to form.

American League Comeback Player of the Year: Alex Rodriguez, NYY

The New York Yankee third baseman was plagued by injuries much of 2011, playing in a career-low 99 games since becoming a full-time starter. After dealing with a major hip procedure prior to the start of the 2009 season, Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this past July, causing him to miss 38 straight games.

Rodriguez hopes to reclaim the
magic of 2009.

Upon his return on Aug. 21, Rodriguez suffered a sprained left thumb fielding a ground ball off the bat of Minnesota's Joe Mauer. The injury effected the way he swung the bat the rest of the season, batting .191 with just three home runs and ten runs batted in.

Not to mention his forgettable American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.

Rodriguez hit .111 in the series, recording two hits in his 18 at-bats. He struck out six times, including ending the Yankees postseason for the second straight year with a punch-out.

The now 36-year-old slugger batted .276 last season, driving 16 out of the ballpark and 62 runs overall, ending Major League record of 13 consecutive seasons with 30 HRs and 100 RBIs. His 172 total bases, .461 slugging percentage and .823 on-base plus slugging were all career-lows with a minimum of 150 plate appearances.

After famously opting out during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez re-signed with the Yankees not long after, signing the a record 10-year $275 million contract.

Since that time, Rodriguez's numbers doesn't warrant him as the highest paid player in the game. He has averaged 124 games, 27 HRs and 97 RBIs a season. And while those are may be career-years for many other players throughout Major League Baseball, they are far removed from Rodriguez's '07 and third AL Most Valuable Player Award campaign.

That year Rodriguez led the majors with a record 54 HRs for a Yankee right-handed hitter, 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored.

All signs point to an aging and declining third baseman, but don't write Rodriguez off yet.

He took Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's advice in the offseason, seeking knee treatment in Germany. Bryant has found his second wind in his unbelievable 16-year career, leading the NBA in scoring.

Expect the same on the diamond from Rodriguez.

Notable Considerations: Carl Crawford, BOS & Kendrys Morales, LAA
In his first year as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Crawford was one of the team's biggest disappointments. Fresh off his 2010 season, that saw him win his first career Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, the former Tampa Bay Ray left fielder signed a seven-year $142 million contract in the offseason.

Crawford struggled to get a acclimated to his new surroundings, batting just .155 in the season's first month. He missed some time with a left hamstring injury, but finished the year with a .255 batting average and just 18 stolen bases.

It should be noted Crawford averaged 45 stolen bases during his nine years with Tampa Bay, leading the AL four different times.

However, despite Crawford undergoing offseason wrist surgery and expected to miss Opening Day after a recent setback, the 30-year-old's second year in Boston should be much better.

As for Morales, he hasn't seen big league action in nearly two years after breaking his leg in a celebration at home plate following his walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on May 29, 2010. Unlike Crawford, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are aiming towards Morales' return on Opening Day.

The Cuban defector will take most of his swings as the team's designated hitter with the signing of Albert Pujols and emergence of Mark Trumbo. If healthy those two players hold the key to Morales' future success, adding protection for the switch-hitter.

Others: Adam Dunn, CHW

National League Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Heyward, ATL
Heyward opened his career with a bang, homering in his first career at-bat on Opening Day 2010. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .277 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs and was drawing comparisons as the left-handed version of Hank Aaron.

The 22-year-old become only the second player in Major League to homer in his first career at-bat on Opening Day and then follow it up with a home run in his first at-bat the next Opening Day, joining former New York Mets infielder Kazuo Matsui.

Heyward looks to continue his
promising career in 2012.

Matsui also homered in his first at-bat on two straight Opening Days from 2004-05.

However, Heyward couldn't avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and with that came a nagging injury.

Heyward played in only 128 games last year, batting a dismal .227 with 14 HRs and just 42 RBIs. His on-base percentage dropped from .393 in his rookie season to .319.

And while a shoulder injury hampered him most of the year, Heyward's step backwards could been attributed to a lack of confidence. The smooth swinging right fielder struggled in Atlanta's '10 division series matchup with the San Francisco Giants.

He batted just .125, and those struggles could have carried over into his second year in the majors.

Sandwiched in between Dan Uggla and '11 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Freddie Freeman, Heyward has the protection he needs to succeed. Who knows, maybe we'll see a third straight Opening Day home run.

Notable Considerations: Buster Posey, SF & Jayson Werth, WAS
Posey was the one that came in a stole Heyward's '10 NL Rookie of the Year Award after batting .305, commanding an electric pitching staff and leading the Giants to an improbable NL West Division title. The San Francisco backstop would eventually help the Giants win their first World Series title since moving west.

Posey's sophomore season was cut short after a home plate collision that torn ligaments in his ankle and caused him to miss the team's final 117 games.

Prior to the injury, Posey was hitting .284 with four HRs and 21 RBIs.

And while his presence in the lineup was missed, the pitching staff missed him dearly. With his ankle processing nicely and on track to start the season with the club, Posey will return as the game's best young catcher.

In the nation's capital, Werth is coming off his first season with a new club. He shocked everyone when he signed a mega seven-year $126 million contract with the Nationals last offseason, but quickly learned what he left behind was pretty special.

Werth batted .232 for Washington, adding 20 HRs and 58 RBIs - numbers that didn't follow the ones he put up in bandbox in Philadelphia.

An All-Star and World Series champion with the Phillies, Werth played four years under Charlie Manuel, averaging 23 HRs and 75 RBIs per year. He hit .282 as a Phillie, now raising the question, was he a product of a great lineup and hitter friendly ballpark?

I don't think so.

Werth showed he can still run, stealing 19 bases after swiping just 13 the year before. He stole a career-high 20 bases in back-to-backs seasons (2008, '09) for the Phillies.

Washington continues to be one of the more spacious fields in the majors, but with the injection of youth and optimism heading into the season, Werth could actually prove his worth.

Others: Johan Santana, NYM & Adam Wainwright, STL