What do the Lions have to do to earn respect in the NFL?

It remains a big question.

Cris Carter disrespected Calvin Johnson during the season saying he wasn’t one of the top five wide receivers in the NFL.

Now Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, an NFL Network analyst, is dumping on Matthew Stafford’s achievement of passing for 5,038 yards last season. He is in elite company, one of only four quarterbacks to reach the 5,000-yard mark— Drew Brees (twice), Tom Brady and Dan Marino.

Yet Faulk is not impressed.

“Throwing for 5,000 yards in the NFL right now is nothing,” Faulk said per Mlive.com. “I don’t want to take anything away from it. As much as people throw the football now, you better have 5,000 if you have Calvin Johnson.”

Johnson, who proved Carter wrong, led the league with 1,681 receiving yards and was second in touchdown catches. He was elected to the Pro Bowl.

Stafford was forced to pass more often because the Lions’ running game was a problem area. That didn’t make it easy, it made it tougher and still he succeeded and was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Get Lions news delivered directly to your phone by texting the keyword "Lions" to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.)