Retired Johnson opens up on ‘E:60’

Former Jackets star talks painkillers, Detroit departure.

Calvin Johnson says NFL players could get painkillers like they were “candy” during the first half of his career with the Lions.

Johnson’s comments were part of a wide-ranging interview on ESPN’s news magazine “E:60.”

The record-breaking receiver from Georgia Tech retired earlier this year, leaving the Lions at the age of 30 after nine seasons. Johnson says in the interview it would have been hard to “let go” if the Lions would have been a contender. Detroit was 7-9 last year, its seventh season with a losing record with Johnson on the team.

He had 731 career receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns. Johnson broke one of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s records in 2012 with 1,964 yards receiving.

Safe route

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and pop star Ciara tied the knot in an English castle. Ciara, taking no chances, alertly looked off a Patriots DB before throwing the bridal bouquet.

New series on Rams

It didn’t take long for the newly arrived Los Angeles Rams to go Hollywood.

Fresh off its return from St. Louis, the NFL team is getting its own show on E! “Hollywood & Football” chronicles the lives of six Rams players and their families as they adjust to life in Los Angeles in six one-hour episodes debuting this fall.

The featured players are wide receivers Kenny Britt and Bradley Marquez, offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, tight end Lance Kendricks, running back Chase Reynolds and fullback Cory Harkey. The players are either married or engaged and all have young children, except for Kendricks and Marquez, whose fiancee is pregnant.

Out of bounds

Jacksonville running back Denard Robinson apparently fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a retention pond on Jacksonville’s south side. Which, come to think of it, pretty much ended like a lot of Jaguars drives do.

Neal’s training help

Falcons safety Keanu Neal, who was the 17th player selected in the NFL draft, has been working out with Seattle safety Kam Chancellor.

Neal, who’s slated to replace William Moore as the starting strong safety for the Falcons, posted a video of him and Chancellor working out on his instragram account.

Chancellor, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro, is one of the premier safeties in the league. He played for Falcons coach Dan Quinn, when he was Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2013-2014.

Chancellor, a fifth-round pick in 2010, broke into the league when Quinn was Seattle’s assistant head coach/ defensive line coach.

Neal, who played at Florida, impressed his new teammates with a strong offseason.

“He can move with the best of them,” cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “That’s what I was really impressed with. He just has to continue to grow mentally and things like that.” Information from the Associated Press, staff reports and the Seattle Times was used in compiling this report.