(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
According to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, Diontae Johnson is unhappy with his current contract situation and trying to send a message through his lack of attendance at OTAs. Johnson was absent from the first three days of voluntary OTAs this past week and he'll likely not show up until when it's mandatory. Johnson would be fined $88,650 if he misses all three days of mandatory minicamp.
Johnson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and with the market exploding at the wide receiver position, he probably wants in the range of $20 million per year. Kaboly believes Johnson has very little leverage in the contract negotiations, but also mentions that it's just OTAs and he's really not missing much. Now, if he decides to skips mandatory minicamp and training camp. That's when it becomes an issue.
“I know Diontae is grinding no matter where he is,” Chase Claypool said at OTAs on Thursday. “I know a lot of people are looking into it, but I am not looking into it too much because he is perfecting his craft, and he is going to come ball out.
“I don’t think it is a big deal, but I know people will make it a big deal because people need clicks and stuff. It is not a big deal. We are going to get work in during the offseason.”
Johnson tweeted last night "Ain say nun ... LOL." Which possibly suggests that Kaboly's report that he's unhappy with his contract is untrue. Who knows, but it's hard to believe that's not that case with Johnson not attending OTAs.
Johnson was also in the news this week for no-showing his youth football camp on Sunday due to a weather-induced travel delay, according to his representatives. The parents reportedly got refunded and Johnson says he's going to make it up to the kids. However, some parents were unhappy with Johnson not being there and how the camp was run, as there was a lot of dysfunction.
A parent reached out to 93.7 The Fan with their story of events. They said the activities started about 90 minutes late, and the company running the camp, FlexWork Sports Management, seemed completely disorganized. There was no water or first-aid kit, and there was a lack of coaches.
"I’m not defending Diontae, but this camp was a Ponzi scheme,” the parent told 93.7 The Fan.