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Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson’s summer of discontent continues on unabated as he has now parted ways with this agent.
The veteran running back has moved on from Kristin Campbell of 40 Sports & Entertainment Group, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:
Some agent news: #Browns RB Duke Johnson has moved on from his previous representation and is currently without an agent. Johnson had requested a trade from Cleveland and stayed away during most of the offseason. Will a new agent take it in a new direction?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 9, 2019
The move comes as Johnson continues to hold out hope that the Browns will trade him prior to the start of the regular season. Johnson skipped the voluntary portion of the team’s offseason program, but was in attendance at the mandatory minicamp in early June.
Related: No need to rush the Duke Johnson decision
At that time, Johnson reiterated his desire to be traded, but also said he would not be a problem for the team, as Jeff Schudel at The News-Herald reported:
“My role on this team hasn’t been big for four years — not just last year. I didn’t complain, didn’t ask for a trade, just did my job. I want to be somewhere I’m wanted. Will that stop me from doing my job? Of course not. Me being upset and me being still wanting to be traded is not going to stop me from coming out here and performing at a high level.”
Johnson’s comments led quarterback Baker Mayfield to point out that the Browns are moving forward with or without Johnson, which in turn led to some veterans reportedly talking to Mayfield about getting involved in someone else’s business.
Speaking of getting involved in someone else’s affairs, Mayfield’s comments led rapper Luther Campbell, the husband of Kristin Campbell, to mouth off about Mayfield on Twitter:
Fuck @bakermayfield for saying that dumb s*** about Duke Johnson . I guarantee you you be the one to divide this locker room up you are not in Texas at Cracker Barrel
— Luther Luke Campbell (@unclelukereal1) June 5, 2019
How Luther’s Campbell’s comments tie in to Johnson’s decision to move on from Kristin Campbell is unknown, but Johnson was clearly ready for a change in representation.
A new agent may not change Johnson’s situation with the Browns, however. Second-year running back Nick Chubb is entrenched as the starter, and running back Kareem Hunt is scheduled to return from his NFL suspension in mid-season. The club has also been talking up running back Dontrell Hilliard at every opportunity.
Related: State of the Browns backfield
But while it seems likely that general manager John Dorsey will move Johnson at some point, it may not happen as quickly as Johnson hopes.
No matter what they say publicly, the Browns still don’t know for sure that Hunt can keep his act together through the eight-game suspension that will start in September. And they can talk up Hilliard all they want, but the reality is that he has zero rushing attempts and just nine pass receptions on his résumé, so seeing a bit more of him in the preseason would not be the worst idea before trusting him with a backup role.
For now, Johnson may be without an agent but he is not without a team, even if that is not the way he envisioned how things would work out this summer.