One of the biggest parts of the NFL Combine is what goes on when the cameras are off.
Backroom deals, private hotel meetings, late-night dinners at hole-in-the-wall joints, it sounds like fantasy but it all happens in Indianapolis.
And following the week that was, the Pittsburgh Steelers leave as rumored to be in the market for multiple players, both as buyers and sellers, even if one of their own denies it:
Dionate Johnson Shoots Down Trade Rumor Via Twitter/X
Diontae Johnson:
"People just be talkin ..🥱"#Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/BWQ4huJS1B— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) March 4, 2024
Steelers Pro Bowl WR Diontae Johnson fired off a series of tweets on Sunday night, saying:
“People just be talking.”
“Let that old Shi* stay in the past.”
“It is what it is..”
This came off the heels of a report from Tony Pauline that stated:
Is Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson on the trading block? The short answer is possibly, if the price is right … While it’s not fair to say Johnson is on the trading block, several people tell me the Steelers are open to moving the receiver if they receive fair compensation. -Tony Pauline, SportsKeeda
Now, there has been “talk” of Johnson being a trade candidate given his recent season that was highlighted more by what he did in terms of effort and locker room responses, opposed to his play on the field.
Johnson is also headed into the final year of his deal and is unlikely to receive an extension with the Steelers.
But most of that “talk” has been by the media, with no credible reporting saying either Pittsburgh or Johnson wishes to part, until today.
The fact that Johnson quickly shot the runner down is a sign that he’s not the one looking to separate, but maybe Pittsburgh is.
And to be clear, the way that Pauline words the report leads me to believe Pittsburgh may not be shopping Johnson, but they aren’t hanging up the phone if another team comes calling.
And fresh off a report that the Steelers visited with one of the best WRs in this years draft at the combine, (even though he’s projected to go well before Pittsburgh’s 20th overall pick) it may point to changing of the guard in the WR room, leaving this situation as one that bears monitoring.
