Cleveland Browns: Duke Johnson learns of the social media overreaction machine

Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson learned on Sunday how quickly a social media post can blow up and become bigger than expected

He says it was nothing. It probably was nothing. Yet Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson still got the social media overreaction machine running at full speed with just a few words on Sunday.

Johnson decided to put the definition of the words “patience” and later “disrespect” on his Twitter account.

For the back who suddenly saw the Browns sign Carlos Hyde and draft Nick Chubb, this had to be a direct shot at the Browns. Or at least that’s what the social media world thought.

An immediate fear among some fans was that the versatile running back was going to want out of Cleveland as he’s suddenly in a crowded running back room.

Others were trying to tell him that his time would come and he will get a new deal soon.

As for Johnson, he later went back to Twitter to say that he rarely ever tweets about work. That may have calmed most down, but the fact is Johnson learned how quickly the overreactions can pour in on social media.

Then again, Johnson is a smart guy, maybe it was his plan all along to get some heads turned in his direction just to swiftly brush it off as nothing. If so, at least he got his point across.

Or maybe it was completely innocent. We may never know.

What we do know is that Johnson is beloved by fans, especially after a 2017 season that saw the former third-round pick haul in 74 receptions for 593 yards.

Next: T.O. wanting to come back to play for Browns?

He was a rare bright spot in a winless season, and should find a role despite the addition of Hyde and Chubb.