Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin typically goes out of his way to hype up the team’s next opponent during his weekly news conference.
He’ll make the worst team in the league sound like the 1985 Bears or point out a third-string receivers’ talents, making him sound like Jerry Rice.
But, when asked about former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson, Tomlin didn’t have anything for his ego.
“To be honest with you, I haven’t really thought a lot about it,” said Tomlin. “At this stage of the week, I don’t know that I’ve weighted what he might mean to the matchup. They got more significant pieces with larger roles that occupy my attention at this part of the week.”
Damn.
That is probably the closest thing you’ll get to a slam from Tomlin.
Now, what he did say about Johnson is true. He’s only been with Baltimore for a couple weeks after the Carolina Panthers traded him to the Ravens, along with a sixth-round pick, for a fifth-rounder.
Johnson only played five snaps for Baltimore last week with one catch for six yards, so Tomlin is right when he says there are bigger threats on the Ravens.
But, he could’ve said something about how they know about Johnson’s talents and what is he capable of (since he was the Steelers top WR threat for a couple seasons). And none of that happened.
Johnson was traded to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson. Even with a lack of depth at WR, behind George Pickens, the Steelers traded Johnson.
Many insiders speculate the team was over Johnson’s attitude.