'Everybody Has Opinions!' Browns WR Hopes to Put Sketchy Past Behind Him
'Everybody Has Opinions!' Browns WR Hopes to Put Sketchy Past Behind Him originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Cleveland Browns hope to have solved their quarterback problem this season. With two veterans and two rookies in camp this summer, they've got options for who will be throwing the ball in 2025.
Advertisement
What they don't have is a lot of options for guys catching those balls.
Cleveland has just two receivers on their summer roster who have caught at least 50 passes in a season. Jerry Jeudy and Diontae Johnson.
And Johnson is a question mark.
Johnson had a drama-filled season in 2024 and played for three different teams. He led the Panthers with 30 catches and 357 yards over the first two months of the season before being traded to Baltimore, where he lasted seven weeks and caught one pass.
He was also suspended by Baltimore for refusing to enter a game against the Eagles on Dec. 1. The Ravens waived him not long after, and he was claimed by the Texans. Houston waived him three weeks later after he became emotional about playing just 15 plays in the Wild Card game against the Chargers.
Advertisement
Now, he'll try to clear his head in Cleveland, where he spoke during minicamp for the first time about last season.
"I don't want to speak on a lot of stuff," Johnson said. "Everybody's going to have their opinions, you know what I'm saying? So at the end of the day, I'm the only one in that room that really know what's going on. They're entitled to their own opinion, so I can only go off of what I know and then try to go off what I put out there and my best effort. But like I said, last year is last year. I'm trying to change that narrative and move the right way and keep going."
The Browns took a flyer on Johnson on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum with no guaranteed money. Johnson also said Cleveland was the only team that reached out to him.
And so far, head coach Kevin Stefanski has been impressed.
Advertisement
"Diontae's doing a nice job," Stefanski said Tuesday. "Obviously, getting up to speed with terminology and those types of things, and I think we'll just continue to work. But it's good to have him out here."
In what could be his last chance in the NFL, Johnson will need to impress this upcoming season. And it wouldn't hurt if he caught about 50 passes ... from whoever is throwing the ball for the Browns.
Related: Browns Pushed to Sign 11,000-Yard Receiver in Free Agency
Related: Browns' Myles Garrett Reveals Honest Thoughts on 'Hungry' Mason Graham
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Steelers QB Skylar Thompson Has ‘Overlooked' Chip on Shoulder
PITTSBURGH — Skylar Thompson isn't Aaron Rodgers. He's not Mason Rudolph or Will Howard, either. The Pittsburgh Steelers' most inconspicuous quarterback is used to being glanced over. His current situation isn't any different. 'In the most humble way possible, I feel like I've been overlooked my whole life a little bit,' Thompson said after Wednesday's OTA practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. 'I've never really have had anything given to me, so it's not really a new situation. It's not new to me. But, I try to carry that chip on my shoulder.' Advertisement Thompson spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, playing in 10 regular-season games and starting three. He completed 58.7% of his passes for 721 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. Most notably, Thompson started Miami's 34-31 Wild Card playoff loss to Buffalo in January 2023. He went 18 for 45 for 220 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in that clash. He brings that experience to Pittsburgh, and he isn't resigning himself to holding a clipboard. Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 'I full-heartedly believe in myself,' Thompson said. 'I think that's what's been special about this offseason is, like I said, I went through some adversity last year and got challenged. I just used it to better myself this offseason and tried to have the best offseason that I've had so far in the league, and I really believe that was the case.' Advertisement Thompson said the Steelers' offense is the 'same tree, there's definitely some carryover in formations, concepts' as the Dolphins'. He feels the system 'allows the quarterback to play quarterback' and provides some pre-snap cues as to what the defense is showing. 'I'm taking every day as an opportunity to showcase what I can do,' Thompson said. 'Just be a great teammate, be a great leader, and find ways to help this team be successful and win. At the end of the day, that's all I care about is winning. … Things seem to work out one way or another when you put your best into something and that's just what I've been focused on doing.' This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers QB Skylar Thompson Has 'Overlooked' Chip on Shoulder
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cameras Catch Rory McIlroy Meltdown at Oakmont Club in US Open
Cameras Catch Rory McIlroy Meltdown at Oakmont Club in US Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Cameras in the grandstands and on broadcasting towers were rolling as Rory McIlroy reached his breaking point during the second round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Advertisement After misplacing his drive at the drivable par‑4 17th, McIlroy spun around in frustration and unleashed a powerful swing, obliterating the white tee marker with his driver. The outburst quickly went viral on social media, underscoring just how punishing Oakmont can be. He was not the only one; several others, like Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry, also lost their cool during the event. Despite that meltdown and an earlier club‑throw on the par‑5 12th, McIlroy rallied when it mattered most. After flirting with disaster through much of his round, he rolled in a clutch five‑foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to card a 72 and squeeze past the cutline at six‑over par. Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round.© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images "This should be at least a fine if not further penalty. He has played a tough Open and performed poorly before so this emotion isn't new." A fan commented. Advertisement "Was glad to see him get the slam but hard to root for a guy who behaves like this" Another said. "Good thing he won at Augusta cuz my man does not handle failure any better than a petulant child." One fan posted. "Classless behavior from Rory McIlroy. Don't judge someone's character from how they act in victory, judge it by how they act in defeat. Rory has no class." Another wrote. "My kids are happily watching the US Open and just saw Rory McIlroy destroy the tee marker. They are scarred for life, asked me to turn it off. What a terrible example he just set" A fan expressed. Advertisement "For someone who's carried the PGA Tour's banner. Rory McIlroy's recent behavior, media silence, outbursts, board drama, feels off. Not a great look. ⛳️👀" Another said. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brittney Griner Reveals Emotional Detail About Her Son Bash and Family
Brittney Griner Reveals Emotional Detail About Her Son Bash and Family originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Atlanta Dream got their seventh win of the season, beating Chicago Sky 88-70. Two of their stars made history Friday night – Rhyne Howard, who recorded the highest number of three-pointers in the franchise and Brittney Griner, who surpassed Lisa Leslie in career blocks. Advertisement When asked, 'What keeps you going? What's your why?' Griner pointed to the most important person in her life: her son. 'He's my why,' she said. 'It was starting to get to a point where I was like, what is my why? Honestly, and then he came along and yeah, he's my why." "Like everything I do is for him. I'll be proud of him once he's able to really realize yeah, no, he's my why. He's my everything. I do it for him, want to provide for him and, you know, show him the right way to do things,' Griner added. Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner watches from the bench.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images She was gifted her Olympic ring on the same night, which made the moment even more special for the center. Advertisement 'To get the ring tonight that was special to me. I mean, I've said it before with my situation. I didn't know if I would even be in the U.S. at that time, let alone represent my country again. So that meant everything to me.' she said. 'My dad represented this country overseas before and it's just a special thing for my family and for me, especially. And to do it here and have my teammates with me and family, it was really special.' Stephanie White, Indiana Fever head coach, refers to Griner as "Olympian," but fans finally got to see the heartwarming reason behind that title. She dedicates all of her success to her family and her son. Advertisement Related: Brittney Griner's Honest Admission After Making WNBA History Passing Lisa Leslie This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
