OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson intends to use his "old man strength" to teach Ravens free safety Matt Elam a lesson about showing respect to his elders.
Elam said Wednesday that Johnson "is pretty old" and that Baltimore would try to get physical against the talented star to "make him uncomfortable."
Elam is only six years younger than the 28-year-old Johnson, who responded to the rookie's comments during a conference call with Baltimore media Thursday. After calling the Ravens' safeties "young," Johnson said, "I'm getting old, man. I'll show him what that old man strength is about, though."
He added, "Anything that comes at me throughout the week, you just take it and put it in that box over there and use it as motivation."
Johnson leads the NFL with 12 touchdown catches and 1,348 yards receiving.
Of Elam, Johnson said, "He plays back. I don't see him every play unless I run past him."
Speaking after practice Thursday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh explained, "I think everybody's old to Matt Elam. Matt's pretty young, and hopefully he learns from his opportunity to speak to the media this week."
Asked if Elam's comments angered him, Harbaugh answered, "I don't appreciate it. It doesn't help us. You get a guy like Calvin Johnson all fired up, that's really not the idea.
"I mean, it's Monday night football. They've deemed it a playoff game for them. ... I don't think they needed that to get fired up, but we didn't need to give it to them, either."
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Also see Jerry Coleman's Report: "Megatron Drills Elam"
Lions WR Johnson Poised To Show 'Old Man Strength' After Elam's Comments
/ CBS Baltimore
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson intends to use his "old man strength" to teach Ravens free safety Matt Elam a lesson about showing respect to his elders.
Elam said Wednesday that Johnson "is pretty old" and that Baltimore would try to get physical against the talented star to "make him uncomfortable."
Elam is only six years younger than the 28-year-old Johnson, who responded to the rookie's comments during a conference call with Baltimore media Thursday. After calling the Ravens' safeties "young," Johnson said, "I'm getting old, man. I'll show him what that old man strength is about, though."
He added, "Anything that comes at me throughout the week, you just take it and put it in that box over there and use it as motivation."
Johnson leads the NFL with 12 touchdown catches and 1,348 yards receiving.
Of Elam, Johnson said, "He plays back. I don't see him every play unless I run past him."
Speaking after practice Thursday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh explained, "I think everybody's old to Matt Elam. Matt's pretty young, and hopefully he learns from his opportunity to speak to the media this week."
Asked if Elam's comments angered him, Harbaugh answered, "I don't appreciate it. It doesn't help us. You get a guy like Calvin Johnson all fired up, that's really not the idea.
"I mean, it's Monday night football. They've deemed it a playoff game for them. ... I don't think they needed that to get fired up, but we didn't need to give it to them, either."
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Also see Jerry Coleman's Report: "Megatron Drills Elam"
In:- NFL
- Calvin Johnson
Featured Local Savings
More from CBS News
Baltimore Police, community search for answers from shooting of 7-year-old at Mondawmin Mall
Baltimore Ravens have holes to fill in NFL Draft, especially on the offensive line
Man found guilty of murder in shooting of former Morgan State basketball player
Arrest reportedly made in 2017 killing of off-duty D.C. officer in Baltimore