Former NFL star Chad Johnson has seen a lot over the years, but the 49ers had him on the verge of tears as they beat the New York Giants 30-12 at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night.
The Giants, missing star running back Saquon Barkley, amassed just 150 total net yards in Week 3, compared to the 49ers’ mark of 441. Johnson was upset by New York’s lack of creativity, he said, on the defense from San Francisco enabled “disrespect” for the opponent through man-to-man coverage.
“[The Giants] I have to make Daniel Jones’ job easier because he has it in his hands to be a quarterback and sit back there and do what he needs to do [49ers defensive end Nick] “That’s not going to happen with Bosa falling off the edge and the rest of the 49ers defense playing well,” Johnson told Shannon Sharpe during the “Nightcap with Unc and Ocho” show on Friday.
“I wanted to cry, and I’m not trying to be funny. I know I mess around a lot, but I felt bad. The fact that on third down – almost every down – the 49ers had their nerve until it went.” By the fourth quarter, they were playing man-to-man with a safety in the middle of the field and said, “Let me see how you take the lead.” That hurt me.”
Johnson criticized the Giants’ apparent lack of game plan and suggested their quarterback Jones wasn’t worth his $40 million per year contract. And as a six-time Pro Bowl receiver, Johnson was visibly upset as he watched New York’s wideouts get bullied on Thursday.
“From quarter one to quarter three, I saw several times the 49ers defense was playing man-to-man all the way on third downs – and some second downs – and no one could break through,” Johnson told Sharpe. “It’s a sign of disrespect to this reception room.”
The 49ers’ vaunted defensive line – at times featuring a five-man front – gave Jones little time to get the ball to his pass catchers, even if they were able to break free from San Francisco’s secondary. The Giants quarterback went viral He looks close to tears himself On Thursday, New York’s offense was unable to do its job.
And if Johnson plans on taking another look at this loaded 49ers roster this season, he might want to keep the tissues handy.
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