Diontae Johnson responds to Ryan Clark saying Steelers ‘didn’t play like winners’

Chris Adamski
Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 3:10 p.m. | Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 3:10 p.m.

Go Ad-Free Today!

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in the huddle during Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Former Steelers safety and current ESPN commentator Ryan Clark said the Steelers showed no fight in the 38-3 loss.

Ryan Clark criticized the effort and pride of players on his former team. A prominent current member of the team zinged back.

Clark, a former Pittsburgh Steelers safety turned ESPN commentator, seemed put off by the Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. A day after posting to his verified Twitter account that the Steelers “did not fight” in going down meekly in blowout fashion, Clark on Monday was on the set of “Get Up.” He said rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett was “the only dude who strained the entire day, and it was the quarterback.”

“This team gave up,” Clark said. “This team wasn’t playing anymore.”

Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson was asked Monday about Clark’s comments.

“I don’t worry about ‘R.C.,’ ” Johnson said from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He played here. He knows how the Steelers play. If you wanna come play, he can come help us win if he’s got so much to say. But other than that, I am going to be keep playing football and worry about me and my team.”

They did not fight.. can’t ever say players quit, because you can’t judge intent.

They were not prepared to fight, didn’t execute, & didn’t strain. It’s unacceptable https://t.co/4J7GinqXgl

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) October 10, 2022

Clark was careful to refute that he used the word “quit” to describe the Steelers. Clark also has a close relationship with Mike Tomlin and reiterated that Tomlin “is my favorite football coach.”

“This team didn’t fight,” Clark said. “This starts with Coach Tomlin. You no longer have a Hall of Fame quarterback, you no longer have other (prominent past) players then the team … when you know you don’t have what it takes on paper, you’ve got to go out and do something else. That’s what winners so. This team didn’t play like winners.”

More on the Steelers loss to the Bills:

• Bills throttle Steelers in Kenny Pickett’s 1st start
• Steelers’ 38-3 loss to Bills marks most lopsided defeat in Mike Tomlin era, worst since 1989
• Kenny Pickett shows fight in losing 1st start with Steelers
• Steelers lose 4 starters to injury during blowout loss to Bills
• Steelers unhappy no penalty was called on Damar Hamlin hit to QB Kenny Pickett

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.