Good news for the Browns: running back Duke Johnson reported to Browns minicamp on Tuesday. Bad news for the Browns (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com): Johnson still wants a trade. 
Johnson told reporters that he felt slighted by the Browns’ previous efforts to trade him and wants to be with a team that wants him. He added that he wants a trade sooner rather than later so that he can acclimate to his new club, though he softened things a bit by saying that he’ll still show up to play if he remains in Cleveland.
Johnson, a pass-catching whiz out of the backfield, doesn’t appear to be a major part of the team’s plans this season. Rising sophomore Nick Chubb figures to be the focal point of the team’s running game while new addition Kareem Hunt will take a large share of the carries once his eight-game suspension is through.
Johnson, meanwhile, has averaged roughly 59 catches and 543 yards per season. Even last year when he saw only 40 carries behind Chubb and Carlos Hyde, he still managed 47 grabs for 429 yards.
Don’t let the door hit you where the good lord split ya Duke. Hope he gets moved to a non contender.
I often feel that way when players ask to be traded, but not in this case. Duke has done everything that organization has asked him to do and then some. He’s also too good of a back to essentially be 3rd string when Hunt returns. Is Johnson a starter? No, but a whole lot of teams would love to have him. I understand the Browns position and they shouldn’t just give Johnson away. But Duke has never complained or caused trouble through all of the craziness in Cleveland over recent years, and I can see his side of things too.
I agree. I like Duke a lot. Not his fault the GM wanted to pick up Hunt (and subsequent PR hit) in order to push his PT even further after Chubb getting 90% of the touches the previous year… he only has one career and a limited time frame to maximize it. Send Duke somewhere that will utilize his skill set in a more effective manner.
I’ve always like Duke, and for the record I’m a Steeler fan. I liked his work ethic and effort from the start, and I really liked him when he showed so much respect and compassion to Ryan Shazier after his injury. I would love to see Duke become a Steeler but since the Steelers drafted a RB I don’t see it happening.
I hope the browns would never trade with the Steelers. Regardless of the circumstances, unless you want to massively overpay for Duke or another player on the roster.
HE felt slighted? Does he mean because they tried to trade him? Or they didn’t try hard enough?
He said he wants to be on a team that wants him, but then said he feels slighted for them trying to trade him? I’m confused
I’m a bit confused too. Duke doesn’t use the word “slighted” or even come off that way in the interview clip in Cabot’s Twitter feed. Maybe he thinks the Browns aren’t trying hard enough to trade him, or asking too much for him?
I wish the Bucs could find cap room to fit him in. He’s a really good football player that would fill a big need here in Tampa.
Bucs can trade a 3rd rounder for him, he would be there before the week is out. If the Bucs offer that pick for him
Cowboys might want to make a call especially if Zeke gets suspended again.
The Browns will probably wait until Hue Jackson returns from whatever black hole he fell into before trading Duke.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns hold on to him until the trade deadline. They’ll need him until Hunt’s suspension is over. I like the guy but maybe he should just accept he’s a role player on an improving team.