Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson wants to attend Detroit Lions training camp

While Detroit Lions fans wait to see if Calvin Johnson accepts the team’s invitation to training camp, another former NFL receiver named Johnson is hoping to get an invite. Former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson took to Twitter on Monday night and said he wants to be at Detroit Lions training camp this year:

Johnson, 39, has been out of the NFL since 2012, when his last chance with the Miami Dolphins was cut short following an arrest for a domestic violence incident. The Dolphins released him shortly thereafter in a moment that was caught by “Hard Knocks” cameras.

Since out of the league, Johnson has continued to keep football in his life. He spent two years with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL and even played a game in a Mexican league earlier this year.

Johnson’s desire to show up at Lions camp isn’t just a random team choice. As ESPN’s Michael Rothstein points out, Johnson will already be in the Detroit area during camp:

Johnson's daughter, Cha'iel, will be competing in the Junior Olympics in Detroit next week during the first week of Lions training camp. So Johnson will be in town anyway, and it seems like he wants to stop by camp.

Of course, it’s hard to take much of what Johnson says seriously at this point. Just a few days ago, Johnson said he wants to take over for Sean Spicer as the president’s press secretary. Last month, he said he wants to be part of the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor undercard. While I’m sure Johnson would love to take the field at Allen Park, I doubt he would be seriously ready for a full training camp regimen.

Still, it will be interesting to see if the Lions offer him an invite, not as a player, but simply as a guest. Johnson would be an entertaining presence on the sidelines and could provide some insight to Detroit’s young receivers, but the Lions have to wonder if he’d be too big of a distraction.