It was subtle.  If you weren’t paying close attention to yesterday’s Mike Tomlin press conference you might have missed it.  But Tomlin took as pointed a shot at a former player as you will ever see him do.  When asked about the facing former wide receiver Diontae Johnson in this week’s Raven’s match up, Mike Tomlin could not have been more dismissive.

His exact quote was:

“To be honest with you I haven’t thought a lot about it.  He’s not on a lot of their video so at this stage of the week.  I don’t know that I weighed, you know, what he might mean to the matchup.  They got more significant pieces with larger roles that occupy my attention at this part of the week.”  https://x.com/the33rdteamfb/status/1856390537575534961?s=61

There’s no secret that Johnson had become a rather large pain in the ass for the Steelers head coach in 2023.  He had more than a few on the field moments that had people questioning where his head was at in his final season in Pittsburgh.  The incident in the Bengals game last season was probably the final straw.   Johnson’s lack of hustle was on full display for all to see, and it couldn’t have sat well with Tomlin.   https://youtu.be/pamzvU5_N0g?si=nBe7bAYgHBeTWKg7

There was also an occasion where he and Minkah Fitzpatrick got into a heated argument after the 13-10 loss to the Browns last November.  Fitzpatrick had had enough of Johnson’s constant complaining about the Steelers offensive coaching staff.  The two would need to be separated by TJ Watt and Cam Heyward.  The complaining apparently was a regular occurrence in wide receiver meetings during the season.  The Steelers, and Mike Tomlin feared the negativity was spreading to George Pickens as well.

So it came as no surprise the Steelers actively shopped Diontae Johnson after the season.  Is Diontae Johnson’s time in Pittsburgh almost up?  His antics had clearly worn thin with Mike Tomlin, and the organization.  Johnson was dealt on March 12th to the Carolina Panther for corner Dante Jackson.  Tomlin was now rid of his big problem child in the locker room.

When the opportunity arose for Tomlin to get in a small dig, he jumped at the chance.  There’s nothing earth shattering, or remotely untrue in what Tomlin said in the press conference.  The fact that he went out of his way to point out how inconsequential Johnson would be in the game is a bit out of character.  That wry smile when Tomlin began his response told us everything we need to know.  He’s not sorry Diontae Johnson is gone despite the struggles at wide receiver on this team.  In fact, he’s incredibly relieved the Diontae Johnson era in Pittsburgh is over.