"It doesn't make fiscal sense paying a wide receiver $50 million guaranteed with an annual salary-cap hit in the neighborhood of $20 million. Show me a consistently winning team in which the wide receiver is the highest-paid -- or next-highest-paid -- player on the team. It doesn't happen, because wide receiver remains the most easily interchangeable position in football.

But the Lions have no choice but caving to Calvin Johnson's demands on a contract extension this summer.

And he will demand plenty.

Johnson, with one year left on his contract, coyly demurred this week when asked about his profound negotiating leverage. He became the NFL's top receiver this season, becoming the weekly analytical subject of the network football talking heads who looked upon his achievements in awe, branding him an unstoppable force. Johnson had three 200-yard receiving games in the last four games.

There's no doubting he's an exceptional talent. But lost within the idolatry is that it's easier finding the next Calvin Johnson than it is the next Darrelle Revis."