Ticker: Ex-Packer says Megatron has to do more with less

Really, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman meant it to be a compliment for Calvin Johnson.

The rest of the Lions' offense, not so much.

"I think he's still an elite receiver," said Freeman, who now works for Comcast SportsNet Washington (via Washington Post).

"I think he's still in the top three, if not the best. The amount of problems that he causes. ... And they never had a legitimate running game. He still gets double-teamed. He doesn't have a great offensive line. His size, his strength — to me, he's still the No. 1 receiver in the game.

"Take nothing away from Matthew Stafford. But he's not Tom Brady. He's not Peyton Manning. He's not Drew Brees. (Johnson) has to do it with less. He's on the low end of the totem pole when it comes to that. Can you imagine what he would do if he had a running game where you had to respect the play-action, where you had to think twice about double-teaming him?"

Press clipping

■Paul Newberry, Associated Press: "Enough already. After the latest tragedy in IndyCar — Justin Wilson's death from being struck on the top of the head by a piece of flying debris during a race at Pocono — it's time to shut down this ridiculously dangerous form of racing.

"IndyCar is already on its last legs, plagued by poor attendance and minuscule television ratings. But forget economics. This is about doing what's right to prevent anyone else from meeting an untimely end.

"Pray that everyone survives today's season-ending race at Sonoma, then pull the plug."

Agree? Disagree?

Quick hits

■Really, no offense intended. In an effort apologize to referring to Utah as a "cupcake" on Michigan's schedule, Popular Mechanics has sent the Utes some actual cupcakes. They looked tasty, too, judging from the Utes' Instagram post about it.

The magazine included a note wishing Utah luck in this Thursday's season opener against the Wolverines and blaming the faux pas on "the rabid Michigan fan who writes the monthly calendar."

■Headline at sportspickle.com: "NFLPA pushing for 0-game season to cut down on injuries."

■This year's edition of "Inside Michigan Football" debuts at 10:30 this morning on WXYZ-TV (Channel 7 in Detroit; there's a repeat at 5 p.m. Monday on Fox Sports Detroit).

Contact Steve Schrader: sschrader@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @schradz.