There’s nothing but respect between Lions’ receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his (now former) offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — but that didn’t stop them taking shots at each other on Johnson’s way out the door.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ben Johnson promised to ‘f--- up’ each other after coach left for Bears
The NFC North is going to be FUN.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
With Johnson accepting the head coaching job in Chicago is means the teams will see each other twice a year, and both the player and coach want to tear each other apart.
[WARNING: NSFW language ahead]
“I told him: ‘For two times a year Ben, we’re gonna f*** you up.’ He goes: ‘I’m gonna f*** you up.”
St. Brown said it was obviously good-natured, and added that Johnson is one of the best, if not the best coach he’s ever played for. Raving about his intelligence for the game, and his approach to coaching, the receiver said he totally understood that it was Johnson’s time to leave — adding that if he stayed in Detroit another year it would have likely led to questions around the league why Johnson didn’t want to advance his career.
Interestingly St. Brown also dropped the three teams Johnson was deciding between, joking that it was fine because Johnson was a “traitor.” According to the receiver his coach was deciding between the Bears, Jaguars, and Raiders on Sunday night — but hadn’t made a final decision.
St. Brown also debunked ludicrous theories that Johnson tanked the Lions’ playoff game so he could move on, saying that Ben was involved in the prep all week, that he was in the room with him, and the idea that a coach of Johnson’s caliber wouldn’t give it his all was ridiculous.
It’s going to be fun in the NFC North next season.
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