Diontae Johnson and the Pittsburgh Steelers were bound to part ways. The Steelers and Johnson’s relationship deteriorated following three bright seasons in black and gold.
There were a lot of whispers, teammate fights, and general feelings that Johnson wanted out during his final two seasons in Pittsburgh.
It was therefore not shocking when the Steelers moved Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Donte Jackson, the cornerback. Many saw the move coming. The explanations provided by the Steelers’ management for the decision were unexpected.
Regarding any turmoil involving the team and Johnson at the time of the deal, the team remained silent. Mike Tomlin dismissed such idea and provided a straightforward explanation for the move. “It was really easy, dude,” Tomlin said to the press. “We traded player for player, we had an opportunity to get [Jackson].”
Tomlin may have used this explanation to minimize the rumors and the tension in the room. Perhaps Tomlin got a little too enthused about adding another starter cornerback to the mix to go with Joey Porter Jr.
After all, the organization did scout Jackson both during his collegiate career and as a free agency. In any case, the Johnson controversy appeared to be resolved by his justification for the deal.
That problem hasn’t been resolved in months. Johnson’s problems are the reason the Steelers sent him out of town, according to several insiders.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently made an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Press Coverage program, during which he revealed some startling information about the Johnson-Jackson trade.
Fittipaldo called Johnson a “big issue” in the Steelers locker room when discussing the move. The squad was therefore glad to let go of their best receiver when the chance arose. He claimed that Johnson’s immaturity was the main factor in the move, not the team’s overall improvement.
“They traded Diontae Johnson for this reason. Fittipaldo said, “Even though he was older, he was still acting his age and not always doing what was best for that receiver room.”
Fittipaldo’s revelation is hardly shocking. The Steelers have been determined to make George Pickens a star ever since they selected him in the first round of the draft.
Conversely, Pickens was pushing Diontae Johnson, who is about to enter the final season of his current contract, further down the line.
Johnson was no longer a suitable fit for the Steelers if he wasn’t going to be a seasoned leader in the locker room. Diontae Johnson and the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a fresh start. For a while, the partnership was successful, but Johnson’s antics and problems in the locker room proved to be too much.
Now that Johnson has a chance to excel in Carolina, the Steelers are attempting to move on with a receiving room that is more developed.
