CLEVELAND, Ohio — Diontae Johnson’s admission that he’s “humbled” by his current NFL circumstances isn’t just a feel-good narrative — it’s an absolute requirement for his career survival. The latest episode of Orange & Brown Talk podcast pulls no punches in analyzing whether Johnson’s newfound humility is genuine or merely lip service as he attempts to resurrect his once-promising career.
“My headline basically was, he finally admits that he’s humbled, and that better be true. The fact that he’s humbled, that’s got to be true, because that’s the marching orders for Diontae Johnson,” Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot emphasized on the podcast, setting the tone for a raw examination of Johnson’s turbulent past year.
What makes Johnson’s situation so precarious? A pattern of behavior that would make any team hesitant. After being traded from Pittsburgh to Carolina, Johnson’s frustration with targets and playing time led to requesting trades and releases. Even more damning was his stint with Baltimore, where he refused a coach’s instruction to enter a game, showing a level of insubordination rarely seen in professional sports.
“Can you imagine a coach telling you to go get out on the field and go into the football game and you just refuse to do it? That takes a lot of guts,” Cabot noted, highlighting the severity of Johnson’s actions. “The Baltimore Ravens are an excellent organization. Lamar Jackson, great quarterback. That’s just not something that you do to John Harbaugh or the Baltimore Ravens.”
Johnson’s pattern continued in Houston, where after minimal involvement in a playoff game, he “pitched a fit in the locker room.” This behavior left him without a team for four months — a sobering reality for a former Pro Bowl receiver with 28 career touchdown catches.
The Browns’ expectations couldn’t be clearer. As Cabot bluntly stated on the podcast: “He has to come in here and he has to really take the coaching. He has to be a good teammate. He can’t be complaining that Cedric Tillman is ahead of him ...Just don’t be a jerk. That’s the assignment. Do not be a jerk.”
Johnson’s $1.17 million veteran minimum contract with zero guaranteed money speaks volumes about his current market value. For context, this is a player who once recorded 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in a Pro Bowl season, now facing what could be his final opportunity in the NFL.
Even his decision to skip voluntary OTAs raised eyebrows. “I would have camped out. I would have slept in a sleeping bag to get to OTAs,” Cabot remarked, pointing out the missed opportunity to demonstrate the commitment his situation demanded.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Johnson. If he fails to genuinely embrace this humbled mindset and reverts to his problematic behavior patterns, particularly if the Browns struggle or he doesn’t receive the playing time he believes he deserves, the consequences could be career-ending.
“If that happens and he does not handle it well, there’s a good chance that he will be out of ball forever, or at least for a long time until somebody dusts him off somewhere down the road,” Cabot warned.
For Johnson, this isn’t just about reclaiming his on-field production — it’s about fundamentally changing his approach to professional football. The Browns are offering something precious that 31 other teams weren’t willing to give: one final chance.
Want to hear the full, unfiltered breakdown of Diontae Johnson’s situation and what it means for the Browns? Listen to the complete Orange & Brown Talk podcast episode for more insider insights and candid analysis on Johnson’s make-or-break opportunity in Cleveland.
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