It is widely believed the Pittsburgh Steelers traded extensive receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this yr partially due to causes associated to perspective and locker-room tradition.
Throughout a Monday afternoon chat with Panthers beat author Sheena Quick, Johnson addressed his fame heading into his sixth professional season.
“I really feel like folks say I’m a diva and my perspective is up and down,” Johnson mentioned. “It’s simply, typically, gamers get misunderstood.”
The Steelers made Johnson a third-round choose through the 2019 draft, and he earned a single Professional Bowl nod (2021) throughout his first 4 campaigns earlier than his relationship with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seemingly went south final season. Johnson was ripped for an absence of effort when he declined to leap towards a fumbled ball, confirmed some questionable body language on the sidelines throughout video games and loved a lengthy touchdown celebration throughout what grew to become a double-digit loss in December.
Maybe essentially the most fascinating half in regards to the Steelers jettisoning Johnson is that they clearly nonetheless have a necessity at the place. They actively pursued a commerce for San Francisco 49ers star extensive receiver Brandon Aiyuk all through the spring and summer season months however had been unable to full that transaction earlier than he signed an extension to remain put.
In the meantime, Johnson is now embracing a recent begin with the Panthers.
“I simply wish to present that I am an ideal participant,” Johnson added throughout his feedback on Monday, as shared by Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. “Nice perspective. Include good vitality daily, huge smile on my face. Serving to the fellows get higher round me.”
That final level is essential, because it’s no secret that touchdown Johnson was a part of the Panthers’ plan to assist quarterback Bryce Younger bounce again from his tough rookie season. New Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales is anticipated to have Johnson function Younger’s main goal early and sometimes, and Matt Harmon of Yahoo Sports activities defined in a video posted on Monday evening that Johnson is “precisely what Bryce Younger wanted final yr” as a result of the 28-year-old is an amazing “separator (at) all three ranges.”
If people corresponding to Harmon are appropriate, the Panthers taking a flier on Johnson might show to be one of many wiser strikes of this previous offseason. Carolina opens the upcoming marketing campaign on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
