"That's The Dumbest Question" - C.J. Gardner-Johnson Snapped At A Reporter For Asking If The Lions Were A Threat In The Playoffs

As critical as some people have been of the Lions defense this year, it is fair to say they’ve had some bad luck. I give Brad Holmes a lot of credit. He addressed the issues that the team was facing in the offseason. The problem is a lot of the guys that they got to fill that void ended up getting injured, with C.J. Gardner-Johnson being the biggest name of the bunch. It looks like he’s finally set to come back this week, and not a moment too soon. He could be on the field with the Lions as they clinch the NFC North, assuming they beat Nick Mullens and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

There’s a real quiet confidence that this Lions team has. It doesn’t feel like shtick. I’ve seen Lions teams in the past puff their chest out and show a fair amount of bravado, but their bark was usually worse than their bite. Can this Lions team win the NFC? It’s going to be tough. I have a hard time believing anybody gets by the 49ers. Do they believe that they can win the NFC? Without a doubt. 

For a guy who unfortunately hasn’t been able to stay on the field much this year, it feels like C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s influence has spread throughout the Lions locker. Even with the injury, a signing like his is the best kind of free agent signing. Not only do you bring talent and address a need, but you bring a lot of experience. This was a guy who played in the Super Bowl last year. He knows what it’s like to grind through the postseason. Even at his worst, he's also wildly entertaining. You don’t get someone like C.J. Gardner-Johnson on your team unless you’re hoping for a significant increase in swagger and shit talk. He’s had a fine career, but if there was a Hall of Fame for shit talkers, he’d be first ballot. He usually backs it up, which is the fun part. 

I usually give athletes a fair amount of leeway for what they say in press conferences and interviews, and that’s what I will do here. There’s nothing wrong with this answer. It was a silly question, and Gardner-Johnson gave a perfect answer. The dude is brimming with confidence. He probably feels like he’s the missing piece to this defense in many ways. Just don’t rock the ski mask anymore, and we’re good. Despite the silly question, it’s clear that Gardner-Johnson was just playing around. It didn’t feel like there was any ill will intended. And you know he was holding back. Hopefully he saved his best material for the game this Sunday. This is as close as the Lions have ever been to an NFC North title. Win this Sunday and celebrate in style.