First Call: Speculation on Mike Tomlin’s contract value; Diontae Johnson wants some respect
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Wednesday’s “First Call” has a hunch about what Mike Tomlin is making from the Pittsburgh Steelers on his newest coaching contract. Diontae Johnson is talking himself up in Carolina.
And we celebrate another happy Penguins anniversary.
What it took
We know Mike Tomlin signed a contract extension on Monday to remain the head coach of the Steelers through 2027. What we don’t know is how much money he is getting.
However, one social media post from Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan indicates that he is making between $19 million and $20 million, trailing only Kansas City’s Andy Reid among NFL coaching salaries. Reid has won three of the last five Super Bowls.
Hot Rumor: Mike Tomlin is now the 2nd highest paid coach in the NFL with his contract extension. Behind Andy Reid. Money around $19-20 million. Wow.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) June 11, 2024
Back in 2022, Sportico tabbed Tomlin’s last contract at $12.5 million, fourth highest in the NFL at the time behind Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Sean McVay.
In my opinion, if those new numbers are accurate, that ticket is impossible to justify for a coach that has failed to win a playoff game in 11 of the past 13 seasons and seven years in a row.
Put some respect on it
Former Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson doesn’t feel like he gets enough respect in the NFL. He’s looking to change that now that he has been traded from Pittsburgh to Carolina.
“I’m a diamond in the rough, and I’m just going to continue to keep elevating,” Johnson said via the Panthers’ YouTube channel. “I carry that chip wherever I go because I still get overlooked. I feel like I don’t get the respect I deserve sometimes. That just makes me go harder. I’m going to keep putting it on film and proving to the league that I’m one of the best separators out there.”
Last year, Johnson had 51 catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns, averaging over 14 yards per catch. That was a career-high.
Johnson missed three games because of injury in 2023. Then, he was dealt in the offseason for cornerback Donte Jackson.
More sports
• As he approaches 30, T.J. Watt driven by elusive 1st playoff win with Steelers
• Tim Benz: Steelers’ Danny Smith confirms NFL game officials reaching out to coaches over new kickoff rules
• 15 years after winning the 2009 Stanley Cup, Max Talbot recalls Game 7 heroics
Where are we going with this?
As minicamps roll on throughout the NFL, some in Pittsburgh are tracking news out of Denver. That’s where Courtland Sutton is trying to work out a contract with the Broncos.
He is one of the many players that has been frequently mentioned as a trade target for the Steelers should they attempt to acquire a veteran wide receiver to bulk up their thin pass-catching depth chart.
The 28-year-old wants a new contract even though he has two years remaining on his current deal. However, just $2 million in guaranteed salary remains on it. Sutton had 59 catches for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns working with Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in Denver last year.
As he pledged he would do, despite his discontent over his contract, Sutton showed up for mandatory minicamp. However, he claims that negotiations are at a “stalemate” at this point.
“My team and I have been in contact with the guys upstairs to handle all of that stuff,” Sutton said to reporters. “We’re going back and forth trying to figure out the best way to kind of find the middle ground for the situation. We are at a stalemate in a sense, but I have confidence and faith that the right thing will be done.”
#BroncosCountry LIVE: @SuttonCourtland meets the media after today’s mandatory minicamp practice
https://t.co/fo3jIdlNm0— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 11, 2024
Sutton is currently set to make $17.3 million against the cap this season and $17.8 million next season. His salary is slated to be $13 million this year and $13.5 million in 2025.
Many happy returns
As we’ve already discussed at “Breakfast With Benz,” Wednesday marks the 15th anniversary of the Penguins winning their third Stanley Cup behind the Game 7 heroics of Max Talbot in Detroit.
But today also mark’s the eighth anniversary of the club’s fourth Stanley Cup win. On June 12, 2016, the Pens beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 to claim that best-of-seven series 4-2 and secure the franchise’s fourth championship.
Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang and Patrick Hornqvist scored goals in support of Matt Murray, who stopped 18 of 19 shots.
Sidney Crosby picked up the first of his two Conn Smythe trophies. He would do so the next season as well as the Pens repeated as Cup champions, beating the Nashville Predators in six games to win that final round as well.