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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- From his catchy nickname to his sturdy performance on the field, Calvin Johnson often seems indestructible. So it was a bit startling when the star wide receiver was limited by injuries toward the end of last season, finally sitting out the finale after his Detroit Lions were eliminated from playoff contention. Johnson had surgery in the off-season on a knee and a finger, both of which caused problems for him in 2013. He still put up terrific numbers for the Lions, but he was held under 100 yards in the last three games he played and couldnt prevent the collapse that kept Detroit out of the post-season. On Tuesday, "Megatron" was out on the practice field, preparing for what he hopes will be a healthier, more successful season. "It feels great to be out here playing with the guys," Johnson said. "I missed a lot of practice time last year before games. You definitely feel like you need that practice time before a game, just to get on one accord with your quarterback." Johnson caught 84 passes for 1,492 yards last season -- great stats for almost any player, but his worst output in both categories since 2010. It was never entirely clear how much Johnsons knee was bothering him, but then-coach Jim Schwartz conceded in late December that the star receiver was nowhere near 100 per cent. "It was bad enough where I had to get it drained every week," Johnson said. "The finger, it was stuck at 90 degrees. Its good to have those things freed up." The Lions fired Schwartz and replaced him with Jim Caldwell in the off-season, meaning Detroit is implementing a new offence. Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be under pressure to limit the mistakes that plagued him last year -- and he should have an easier time if Johnson is back at full strength. Although Johnson missed only two games last season, he wasnt able to practice all that regularly. That time is valuable even for a veteran who will turn 29 in September. "You kind of lose your wind a little bit. You know the plays, but I feel that you have to go out there and practice to be able to play at your best," Johnson said. "Im a firm believer in that. I had experience in the offence, therefore I was able to go out there and still play, but Im a firm believer that being out there during the week definitely improves your performance on Sunday." With Nate Burleson no longer on the Lions, Johnson is now the elder statesmen of Detroit wide receivers, and hes always led by example. Its easier to do that, of course, when hes healthy enough to practice. "Its nice to have him back and working at full strength. Im so happy for him," centre Dominic Raiola said. "The guys so tough. Its hard to get him out of there. Hell play through anything. For him to be healthy right now and being out there with the team, thats big time." NOTES: Caldwell said injured CB Chris Houston has been excused from practice. Rookie WR T.J. Jones, the teams sixth-round draft pick, was also excused Tuesday. ... Caldwell joked a bit about his reputation for remaining even-keeled. "Theres no need for a whole lot of cussing, screaming, yelling and all that kind of stuff," Caldwell said. "Its a mini quiz out here. I never had any of my professors yelling in my ear when I was sitting at the desk filling out those multiple-choice questions." Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2. Wholesale Jerseys China . - Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis said Wednesday hes "nodded off" during meetings, but he said its something every player does. http://www.cheapauthenticjerseysshop.com/. 3 Ohio State. Amedeo Della Valle had 15 points, Marc Loving scored a career-high 13 and the bench provided 38 points as the Buckeyes sprinted past Nebraska 84-53 on Saturday. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year. Authentic NFL Jerseys China . Woods said Friday that his charity event, which attracts a world-class field even without being part of any tour, will move in December 2014 to Isleworth, the course where he honed his professional game from 1996 until moving away to south Florida two years ago.TORONTO - If it was up to Bobby Orr, Don Cherry would be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The former star defenceman writes in his new autobiography, "Orr: My Story," that Cherry deserves to be inducted in the builder category for his standing in the sport that goes beyond the one NHL game he played and six seasons he spent as a head coach. "His stature within the hockey community is significant and meaningful, and his importance is as great as that of any player, past or present," Orr writes as part of an entire chapter devoted to his former coach and longtime close friend. Cherry coached Orr for parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins, and the two have remained close over the years. The Hall of Famer knows its impossible for him to remain objective about Cherry but sincerely believes the "Hockey Night in Canada" personality should get his due. "Is there anyone bigger than Don Cherry in our game today? Its incredible what this man does," Orr said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "People have no idea. They think Dons this big rough, gruff guy. Hes paid to give an opinion. Like him or dislike him, when he comes on, everybody, they listen." Orr writes about Cherrys visit to his grandmothers house in Parry Sound, Ont., in which the woman in her 90s said to him: "I like you, because youre the only one who always tellls the truth.dddddddddddd" Beyond his eccentric wardrobe, Cherrys charitable contributions and his work with Canadian troops also went into Orrs argument for his Hall of Fame induction. "You have no idea how many emails that I get from Don about send something to this person, that person," he said. "He does a lot of work that people dont know anything about, and he doesnt advertise it." Cherry never won a Stanley Cup as a coach but did get a Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year. As a player he won a Memorial Cup with the Barrie Flyers in 1953 and four Calder Cups in the AHL. But more than that, the case for the Hall of Fame has to do with Cherrys controversial yet respected voice when it comes to all things hockey. The attributes for those inducted as builders include "coaching, managerial or executive ability, where applicable, or any other significant off-ice skill or role, sportsmanship, character and their contribution to their organizations and to the game of hockey in general." Orr believes Cherry fits that description. "Given his long-standing and continuing contributions to the game, both home and abroad, he is more than worthy of nomination into the Hockey Hall of Fame," Orr writes. "And I can tell you, I will most definitely be in the audience that evening when this oversight is corrected." ' ' '