Will the Detroit Lions be the ideal destination for him or just another place where it doesn’t seem to work out?

Johnson was the 17th overall pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2003 and was expected to complement fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Johnson had 35 catches during his first season – third most of any rookie in the league.

Unfortunately for Johnson, his teammate Anquan Boldin (who was a second-round pick) had 101 catches that year to top all rookies.

With Boldin earning the starting job, Johnson was moved to slot receiver where his opportunities were limited. He still caught at least 40 passes a season for the Cardinals over the next four years but he wanted to find a spotlight of his own.

Last year, Johnson joined the San Francisco 49ers and thought he might settle in with the high-flying passing attack of coordinator Mike Martz (who went to San Francisco after he was fired by the Lions). Martz has a complicated system and it took Bryant some time to adjust and, more importantly, the 49ers were having quarterback issues all year and Bryant’s great season never materialized. Johnson finished with 45 catches for 546 yards and three touchdowns with the 49ers.

Now that he’s in Detroit, Johnson is hoping to benefit from playing opposite of Calvin Johnson, who should move into the elite class of receivers this season. Bryant Johnson still has the speed to get downfield and all of his experience in the slot has improved his play over the middle.

Other factors that should help Bryant Johnson get more opportunities with the Lions are the addition of rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew and free agent slot receiver Dennis Northcutt – who will both put more pressure on the defense – and a greater emphasis on the running game.

In the past few years, teams didn’t respect Detroit’s running attack so they could play two-deep zones and not worry about receivers on either side of the field. If the Lions can run the ball with any effectiveness, one safety will have to drop into the box. The other safety will have to shade Calvin Johnson and now the field opens up more for Bryant Johnson.

Article via MLive, written by Tom Kowalski – http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/07/bryant_johnsons_search_for_big.html

It’s an age old question when a team selects a quarterback high in the first round of the NFL Draft. Do the Detroit Lions take it slow and give rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford the Carson Palmer treatment (sit him out a complete year and let him watch and learn from the sidline). Or due to the success that Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had a season ago, do the Lions throw Stafford into the fire and let him learn on the fly and hope for big things from him as a rookie? With Daunte Culpepper on the roster, the Lions can afford to let him sit out and learn from the sidelines, but is it the right thing to do?

Plenty of coaches and so called experts say that playing a rookie quarterback when he’s not ready can stunt his growth and ruin him and his chances of becoming a great player because the confidence they once had in themselves are shot. Peyton Manning is one of the rare exceptions to the rules. He started as a rookie and played terribly, but he was able to have a pretty nice career. Only Matthew Stafford controls when Matthew Stafford will be ready to play and if the coaching staff feels he can handle it, look for him to be the starter on opening day.

This organization is on the line of losing it’s fan base.  We’ve hung around for quite a while waiting for things to change.  But if Millen is going to stay, then we’re going to go.  Pick one or another.  We want, and need change. Make it happen or else!

And why the heck is Jon Kitna still going to start.  Why not give Josh McCown the last 2 games to see what he can do with them on this team, with these weapons.  We signed him to compete for the starting job.  Kitna should have lost it a few weeks ago.  While it’s not all his fault, it wasn’t all Bledsoes fault either and that switch worked out pretty well.

The only good thing that can come from this, is getting the first pick in the draft. And while Troy Smith is projected to be a mid-first round pick, I don’t buy it.  I think the guy is a top QB, and i’d love to have him on this team.  He could help with our offensive line problems as well with his mobility.