Kenny Golladay reveals he has never spoken with Calvin Johnson

Kenny Golladay is poised to become the Detroit Lions’ No. 1 receiver in 2019. Heck, he may have already assumed that role after leading the team with 70 receptions and 1,063 yards. Unfortunately for Golladay, he hasn’t had the mentoring of the Lions’ best No. 1 receiver of all time to help him throughout this process.

On this week’s episode of the “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” Golladay revealed that he has never spoken with Calvin Johnson before.

“I wouldn’t say we’re not going to communicate, we just haven’t done it yet,” Golladay told Schefter.

Obviously, that isn’t all that surprising considering Johnson has not had any ties with the organization since his retirement in 2015. Johnson says he doesn’t feel the organization treated him fairly after they asked him to return at least $1 million of his signing bonus following his retirement. Earlier this offseason, Johnson made it very clear that he’d return to the team’s good graces with a simple solution.

“The only way they’re going to get me back is they put that money back in my pocket,” Johnson told the Detroit Free Press.

But while Johnson waits, Golladay must assume a leadership role without his guidance. He now finds himself surrounded by younger receivers in the locker room—Travis Fulgham, Brandon Powell, Chris Lacy—that could use some of the knowledge he has gained over the past two years.

“Those young guys are going to start looking at me, Marv, Kearse, Danny just for help and advice,” Golladay said. “I’ve got to step into that role and accept it.”

It’s a shame he’ll have to do it without the help of the greatest wide receiver in Lions history, but hopefully he’ll get that opportunity sometime soon. Lions president Rod Wood said back in May that reaching out to Johnson is high on his priority list this year.