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Adam Schefter is being accused of irresponsible reporting by fellow NFL insider Mike Florio, who subsequently revealed that he is no longer friends with the ESPN reporter.
Pro Football Talk’s Florio called out Schefter over a tweet about Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a head coaching candidate in Washington before Dan Quinn reportedly accepted the position earlier this week.
Johnson had taken himself out of the running for a head coaching position, but instead decided to stay in Detroit at least the following season.
But according to a tweet from Schefter on Tuesday, “Ben Johnson wasn’t the head coaching lock people thought and his asking price scared some teams, sources said.”
Speaking with the ‘Bernstein & Holmes’ op Chicago’s 670 The ScoreFlorio berated Schefter for failing to offer Johnson a chance to defend himself.
Adam Schefter is being accused of irresponsible reporting by fellow NFL insider Mike Florio
Pro Football Talk’s Florio called out Schefter via a tweet about Lions OC Ben Johnson
“I want to preface this by saying that there was once a time when Adam Schefter and I were friends, but we’re not anymore,” Florio said. “I’m just amazed that he can get away with things that others can’t get away with. I’m not saying he can get away with this, I’m currently pointing it out.
“To put out the idea that Ben Johnson’s asking price scared teams without further information, without further context, without an opportunity for Johnson or his agent to respond to this suggestion, seems irresponsible to me. And I would get swept away if I did.
“But you share this with 10.7 million followers on X and it’s treated like gospel. “Ben Johnson is unreasonable, Ben Johnson is unrealistic, Ben Johnson is too big for his britches.”
‘I want to know more about this. What was the number? Is it reasonable to be shocked by the amount of money Ben Johnson supposedly wanted? Is it 10, is it 15, is it 20 million? Don’t know. And is it true? Or is it just face-saving by the commanders who were so closely associated with Ben Johnson?’
‘So that one tweet arouses a lot of curiosity. And I feel like it’s not something you put out there outright – and at least without giving Johnson a chance to refute it, explain it, comment on it, confirm it, whatever.
Lions OC Ben Johnson’s agent has denied that his client was asking for $15 million per season
To be fair, Schefter wasn’t the only NFL Insider to claim that Johson had a high asking price to become a head coach.
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports wrote in December that Johnson wanted $15 million per season, something his agent has since refuted.
Florio’s opinion was a very inside journalistic view that not everyone cares about, but it is not unfair to him to ask for more details about Johnson’s alleged demands.
Johnson surprised many by staying in Detroit in hopes of a future job instead of taking one of eight vacancies, including the opening in Washington with the No. 2 draft pick.
Florio was angry that Schefter tweeted that Johnson’s asking price ‘scared some teams’
CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson had reported in December that Johnson’s asking price was $15 million per season, which his agent refuted.
But it’s hard to assume that Schefter’s vast audience is aware of Anderson’s reporting from more than a month ago.
And without knowing the asking price, it’s difficult for the general public to know if Johnson was asking for too much or if teams were making excuses for why they didn’t sign him.
With Johnson as offensive coordinator, the Lions went from 22nd in 2021 to fourth and third in 2022 and 2023, respectively.