I know we live in a hyper-competitive society that yearns for morsels of drama and pettiness the same way a humble dog begs for dry, probably tasteless kibble when dinner is approximately two minutes late, but let’s not turn Mike Tomlin’s recent comments about former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson into something they’re not.
Let’s be better than that.
On Tuesday, with the Steelers set to host the rival Baltimore Ravens in a battle for AFC North supremacy this Sunday, Tomlin was asked for his thoughts about game-planning for Johnson now that he plays in Baltimore.
Tomlin answered the question very matter-of-factly. He’s not thinking much about Johnson, if at all. Why? First of all, he’s not trying to roast the veteran because he used to coach him. It’s just that the Ravens have two MVP candidates (reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and superstar running back Derrick Henry) along with explosive receiver Zay Flowers, among others.
Johnson has caught one pass for six yards in two games since getting traded to the Ravens at midseason. Why on Earth would Tomlin devote any notable energy to him right now with arguably the greatest backfield in NFL history awaiting the Pittsburgh defense?
#Steelers Mike Tomlin on Diontae Johnson w Ravens
‘Haven’t thought a lot about him’ pic.twitter.com/iwzpZxVhTw— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) November 12, 2024
Asking Tomlin whether he’s worried about the Ravens’ seventh-best playmaker is the equivalent of asking an opposing head coach if they’re worried about the New England Patriots’ third-string tight end with prime Tom Brady and Randy Moss coming to town. It’s like asking someone if they’re thinking about the Chicago Bulls’ 10th man in their rotation as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen bear down on them.
And of course everyone immediately reads into Tomlin dismissing Johnson’s skill-set as some matter of petty disrespect only because he used to play for him. What? C’mon now. The man is simply being honest.
You (a royal you) should know better than that.