Matthew Stafford Reminds Cris Carter that Calvin Johnson Is an Elite Receiver

The Detroit Lions are 3-0 and standing as one of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has played brilliantly, hooking up with receiver Calvin Johnson for six touchdowns. On Tuesday, he decided to take a shot at former Vikings wide receiver and current ESPN NFL analyst Cris Carter, who ignorantly said in August that Calvin Johnson was not elite.

“Does anyone think 8 tds in 4 weeks will change chris carters mind about an “elite” receiver?” Stafford wrote on Twitter, per PFT.

It’s a little early in my mind for Stafford to be celebrating his team and their accomplishments given that we’re only three weeks into the season. Words like that would be more appropriate for the post-Super Bowl news conference.

But I digress.

The man known as Megatron is on a record-setting pace. Randy Moss holds the single-season record for touchdown receptions with 23 in 2007. Calvin Johnson is catching two per game, which would work out to 32. Thinking Megatron will maintain this pace is unreasonable, but the number he should shoot for is 18. If he gets that many, he will have surpassed Cris Carter’s career high of 17, which led the NFL in ’95. I think Calvin can get there.

I’ve been talking up the Stafford-Calvin tandem since last year, said they were poised for an explosive season in August, and picked Calvin Johnson to be the Offensive Player of the Year in my season preview. Only injuries and triple teams can slow Calvin. Let’s hope neither one happens.