Draft Day Interview With Calvin Johnson
Q: Obviously you knew this was inevitable, but now that it's happened, can you sum up the emotions?
Calvin Johnson: I'm just overwhelmed with excitement right now. You know, just to be able to have the whole process over with and know where I'm going to be at in the future, I'm just excited.
Q: When did you first talk to the Lions and know that you were going to be the second pick?
Calvin Johnson: I talked to them just a few minutes before the next pick, you know, so I knew a few minutes before they picked.
Q: Had you talked to them the last couple of days?
Calvin Johnson: No, I haven't been in contact with the team. I've just been up here traveling the city and making appearances and stuff like that.
Q: Did Detroit tell you definitively that you would be a Lion and not be subject to further trades?
Calvin Johnson: From talking to the Lions, I'm going to be a Lion.
Q: Have you thought about what it will be like teaming up with Williams?
Calvin Johnson: Definitely, I've been put into a great situation being under Coach Mike Martz and being able to play with another great receiver along with the rest of the good receivers that they have up there.
Q: When they made the call that they were picking you second, did they say not to worry about any trade rumors or have you had any conversations since then?
Calvin Johnson: I have not talked to them since then because I have gone around doing little interviews and everything but, like I said, from talking to them earlier, I don't believe they are going to trade.
Q: When you were at the draft table, you did an interview with Sanders and you were talking on your cell phone; who were you talking to and what were they telling you?
CALVIN JOHNSON: Just some friends. I've probably got about 60 messages on my phone that I haven't been able to check because I've been going from interview to interview. Just a bunch of friends cheering me on.
Q: Talk about the adjustment you're going to be making even though you're going to be playing indoors, you'll be in a cold weather city.
Calvin Johnson: I don't think it will be too much of a problem especially because we are playing indoors. I wouldn't have a problem playing in the cold if that was the case.
Q: Was there a point where you thought you might be the top pick in the last few days? Is there any disappointment that you're not?
Calvin Johnson: There's no disappointment, you know, going into the situation that we're going into, I don't think anybody knew exactly what was going to happen except for the Raiders. So whatever happened is what happened, but I think this is the best thing for me.
Q: Early on in the process people thought it would be logical that Detroit could not take a receiver, did you keep them off your list for the same reason everyone else assumed?
Calvin Johnson: Not at all. After talking to Detroit, they always tell me I'm not going to fall; so I take that as two ways, either they will take me or trade. Obviously they took me so the rest speaks for itself.
Q: Have you talked to anyone about what to expect in the NFL?
Calvin Johnson: I talked to Coach Gailey and he gave me tips and everything like that.
Q: What do you think your biggest challenge will be now moving into the pros?
Calvin Johnson: Just keeping my same intensity and even more. A lot of guys get laid back after they make into it the league. They think that they have made it. You know, so I have to just keep up my intensity.
Q: Who did you call first?
Calvin Johnson: I haven't been able to call anybody. I've just been getting messages stacked up on top of messages.
Q: A lot of people were talking before the draft about how the Lions have taken three receivers in the Top-10 in the last four years and now you're the fourth receiver in the Top-10 in the last five years. Any thoughts about going to a team that keeps taking wide receivers?
Calvin Johnson: I mean, a wide receiver is going to be the best choice for them and they are going to take them. The last few years it may not have worked out but I'm sure my situation will.
Q: Can you talk about your motivation and just how you were driven this year?
Calvin Johnson: Being known as the best player, it's an honor, so it just encouraged me to keep working hard out there so I can keep that tight.
Q: How do you live up to that title and go to a team that's lost so much and there will be so much expected of you on the field and off the field? How do you live up to that?
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