Lions notes: Calvin Johnson applauds new catch rule, wants retroactive stats

• His retirement was just one of many topics Calvin Johnson talked about with the Detroit Free Press over the weekend. He also shared his thoughts on the league’s new catch rule that is being adopted this year.

“It just took them seven years to figure out what we knew on Day 1,” Johnson told the Free Press. He also joked about getting credit for his infamous “drop” that started the whole “process of the catch” conversation. “They ought to add it to my stat sheet,” he said.

• It was apparently take your daughter to work day over the weekend, and one of Matthew Stafford’s daughter was working on her pass-rushing moves:

• On Tuesday, the Lions open up mandatory minicamp, which will be open to the media for all three days. As a result, nearly every local Lions publications had a preview for the three-day event:
• Detroit Free Press: 5 things to watch
• DetroitLions.com: 5 things to watch
• The Detroit News: 5 things to watch
• MLive.com: 6 players to watch

• Marvin Jones Jr. was one of the best red zone threats in 2017, especially when in tight coverage:

• What would have happened if the Lions took Jamarcus Russell instead of Calvin Johnson in 2007? Detroit Jock City entertained this horrific thought.

• The GOAT was in the building on Monday:

• We make fun of the Chicago Bears quite a bit here, but kudos to them for this amazing gesture. Last year, Bears tight end Zach Miller suffered a gruesome injury that may very well end his football career. Regardless, Chicago signed him to a one-year, $790,000 contract, with $458,000 guaranteed whether he returns from the injury or not.

• Here’s a small update on the lawsuit against the Lions that alleged racial and age discrimination: