REPORT: Pittsburgh Steelers HC Criticized Diontae Johnson For Being Emotional During Bengals Game
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin criticized wide receiver Diontae Johnson for his emotions affecting him during their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson appeared to take a play off following a pass he dropped that would have been a touchdown.
Johnson gave a lackluster effort during a running play and walked away from Jaylen Warren’s fumble that a Bengals defender recovered. Fans criticized Johnson for his performance during the fumble and subsequent recovery.
According to Brooke Pryor with ESPN, Tomlin said Johnson needed to calm his emotions so previous plays don’t affect future players. Tomlin criticized Johnson for letting his feelings of missing out on a touchdown cloud the next play, which negated any chance the Steelers had to score on the drive:
“Diontae can’t let the emotions of the previous down affect his next down, but I’ll give him an opportunity to address that with you guys. I’ll give him an opportunity to address that with his teammates. I’m not going to add any additional color. I think plays like that are best described and outlined by those involved and less so by guys like me.”
Tomlin wanted to give Johnson a chance to respond. Johnson chose not to accept the blame.
“I just, I didn’t see it,” Johnson said Sunday. “I was just doing whatever I do at that time, blocking or whatever it is.”
Lesson not learned, evidently. The Steelers have had an interesting season with their wide receivers. A locker room with Johnson and George Pickens can’t be easy for the Steelers coaching staff to handle.
