Pittsburg, PA
Diontae Johnson Takes High Road in Steelers Rivalry
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson isn’t holding any grudges as he and his new team, the Baltimore Ravens, descend upon Acrisure Stadium for an AFC North showdown in Week 11.
Johnson struck a reminiscent and reflective tone when speaking to reporters about his return to Pittsburgh, stating that stepping onto the field and into the visitor’s locker room with a different uniform on will provide a foreign feeling.
“Just being back in that stadium, where it all started, it’s going to be different,” Johnson said. “I actually have never been in the away locker room [in Pittsburgh], so that’s going to be different for me, but I’m ready to get back there, just to see the good people that I made relationships with, but other than that, it’s a big moment for me.”
Johnson’s NFL career began in 2019, when he was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft out of Toledo. He’d call the Steel City home for five seasons through the end of the 2023 campaign, recording 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns across 77 games (67 starts).
With one year remaining on his deal, Pittsburgh dealt the 2021 Pro Bowler to the Carolina Panthers back in March for cornerback Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-round pick, which was used to take Iowa defensive tackle Logan Lee.
Johnson was Carolina’s most productive receiver throughout his seven contests there this season, posting 30 catches for 357 yards and three scores.
With the Panthers far removed from the playoff race, he was traded to the Ravens along with a 2025 sixth-round selection on Oct. 29 in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder.
The 28-year-old hasn’t unearthed much of a role since arriving in Baltimore, however, as he’s only taken 23 snaps in his two contests with the team thus far.
Johnson isn’t stressing about his lack of involvement though, stating that he has to remain prepared and can’t worry about how the game plays out given that it’s largely out of his control.
“They’re working me in there slowly, but, you know, I just go out there, whenever they call my number, going to do my thing,” Johnson said. “So I can’t go in there just expecting a lot. I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself. However the game goes, I’m all for it.”
While he would love to show the Steelers what they’re missing, especially after Mike Tomlin’s recent comments downplaying his potential impact on Sunday’s matchup, there’s no guarantee Johnson will have a true opportunity to do so.
Regardless, it appears he’s relishing the chance to come back to Pittsburgh and catch up with some old friends.
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Penguins Start Ignites Sidney Crosby Trade Conversation
The Pittsburgh Penguins have started the season 6-9-2 including a terrible loss to the Dallas Stars that saw them give up six goals in the first period. The team has looked lifeless in most of their losses and despite having an improved roster, the Penguins are likely heading for another year of selling at the trade deadline.
Reports have indicated that Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas has made calls to teams and is talking through some decisions, but a fire sale isn’t taking place. The Penguins did trade Lars Eller back to the Washington Capitals for a couple of draft picks, but Eller has been on the trade block since last season.
Combine the Penguins’ poor start with the idea of a teardown and one key name will always pop up: Sidney Crosby. Even in his 20th NHL season, Crosby is still playing at the top of his game and climbing some historical ladders.
It didn’t take long for pundits and analysts to once again discuss the idea of Crosby leaving the Penguins, something that won’t happen, but the talking heads will beg for.
“Shouldn’t [Dubas] be open for business at this point? Shouldn’t he be tearing this down?” Jay Onrait asked on TSN. “And then there’s all this talk about Crosby. Could you actually move him?”
Onrait understands that Crosby has no interest in moving and the Penguins have no interest in moving Crosby, but what if things keep getting worse?
“I know he wants to stay… but could you convince him?”
Through most of the 2023-24 season, analysts were talking about the idea of Crosby being delt out of Pittsburgh. He was about to enter the final year of his contract and the Penguins didn’t appear to be getting any better any time soon.
Crosby signed his extension during the offseason briefly putting those talks to rest. Now that the Penguins appear to be back in the mud, it’s almost certain those discussions will return.
“I was saying it last year and I feel like I got to be louder than ever,” Brian Hayes said on TSN’s Overdrive. “You got to get him out of there.”
Hayes also understands Crosby is locked in and doesn’t want to leave, but he and many others just want to see one of the greatest players of all time go out on top.
It’s that hope for Crosby to continue adding to his legacy that will drive so much of the conversation. People want to see him win more Stanley Cups while the Penguins likely won’t give him that chance.
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