The NFL world was in disbelief last season when Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson refused to enter a game for the Ravens during a Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnson, who also spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans last season after being traded away from the Pittsburgh Steelers, is now explaining where his head was at when he refused to check in, noting that he “checked out mentally,” per Pro Football Talk.
“I wasn’t getting into like no run plays, no like passing plays,” Johnson said. “No nothing. It was cold, I’m on the sideline just standing there like just going to the heater back and forth just waiting to hear my name called.
“End of third, going into the fourth they’re like ‘Tay, we need you.’ I’m like ‘Nah, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me.’ Like I was already thinking about my legs, I don’t want to go out there and put bad stuff on film. It’s not like I didn’t want to go into the game, but leading up to this point I’d already been through so much.”
Fan reacted to Johnson’s honesty on social media.
“His whole answer was weird. Said he didn’t play because of the cold, yet he signed with the Browns, and before that, he was with the Steelers. Did he forget what the weather’s like in the AFC North,’ one fan wrote on Twitter.
“New team should probably cut him immediately. That is an absolute disgusting and entitled guy. I bet he still cashed that check he was getting from them though,” one fan added.
“You get paid to play,not to checkout when you feel like it.Todays NFL Players are wusses,” added another fan.
It’ll be interesting to see if by signing with the Cleveland Browns, Johnson can salvage his reputation and career.