The stories behind Diontae Johnson’s unpredictable 2024 season, including his midseason suspension with the Baltimore Ravens, finally came to light, and at least one former player believes the problem goes back to Pittsburgh, when he first “started talking too much.”
Ex-Bengals WR Says Diontae Johnson ‘Started Talking Too Much’
Former Cincinnati Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh joined former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller on a recent episode of the “Night Cap” podcast, where the two discussed Johnson’s career path and recent troubles. Houshmandzadeh made sure to emphasize Johnson’s talent, at least to start.
“He’s balling,” he said of Johnson’s time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But then, he says, Johnson “kind of started talking too much, fell out of favor, they sent him to Carolina.”
“Go to Carolina, perfect situation, they ain’t got nobody, you gonna be the lead dog. Start talking too much, get your a** up out of here,” Houshmandzadeh added.
Houshmandzadeh was pointing out what he sees as a pattern — one that seems rooted in discipline and mindset, as he and Waller discuss in the clip. When Waller brought up Johnson’s Ravens suspension and the infamous “too cold” excuse, he seemed stunned. “And that’s real?”
Of course, Houshmandzadeh might have summed it up best by saying, “Bro, it was 41 degrees.” Johnson might struggle with being a backup or playing in less-than-ideal situations. Whether that mindset improves in Cleveland remains to be seen.
Johnson Checks Out of Baltimore
Now with the Browns, Johnson recently reflected on his short-lived Ravens stint during an appearance on “Sport and Suits,” where he admitted to mentally checking out before things even got going.
“Baltimore, that was a tough situation for me. I love the players, I love the organization, but it wasn’t for me. Going in, I checked out mentally. I just felt like I wasn’t getting used, I don’t wanna say used as being selfish, just feeling a part of the team. I just checked out,” Johnson admitted.
While his time in Pittsburgh wasn’t without issues, Johnson was consistently one of the team’s top targets. He did express frustration about a lack of looks, but he never seemed fully disengaged, like he described in Baltimore.
Nevertheless, Johnson has failed to make any sort of impact since leaving Pittsburgh. He started just one game for Baltimore, recording only one reception for six yards. In their Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson openly chose not to play.
When asked why, he said, “I wasn’t getting into no run plays, no pass plays, no nothing. It was cold, so I’m on the sideline, just standing there, going to the heater, back and forth, waiting to hear my name called. End of the third [quarter], going into the fourth, they’re like, ‘Tae, we need you.’”
The former Pro Bowler wasn’t having it, “To me, I’m thinking, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea for me.’ I was thinking about my legs. I don’t want to go out there and put bad things on film.”
That decision, and the mindset behind it, has drawn criticism from fans and former players alike. Now with Cleveland, Johnson will have to prove that he’s not only physically ready but mentally bought in if he hopes to turn his career around.
