D'Ernest Johnson DM'd Every AAF Team In 2018 Asking For A Tryout, And Last Night He Graded Out With The Best Game By An NFL Running Back This Season

Well this is just a feel good story. An undrafted free agent that attended Saints minicamp in 2018 and left unsigned, D'Ernest Johnson took it upon himself to write a professional note to every single AAF team in the league, just trying to get a chance. The AAF, in case you forget, is that Alliance of American Football league founded by Bill Polian that was founded in March of 2018 and went bankrupt by April of the following year.

D'Ernest played in that one season of the AAF's existence, running for 372 yards in his 8 games with the Orlando Apollos.

When the league folded, he attended Browns training camp in 2019 and impressed enough people to make the 53-man roster. He finished the 2019 NFL season with 4 carries, and then he got 33 carries in all of 2020.

Which brings us to last night, with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both ruled out for the Browns, D'Ernest Johnson finally got his chance to shine. And he absolutely nailed it. 

22 carries. 146 yards. A touchdown. Named Player of the Game. And oh yeah, he graded out higher than every single running back that has played a game in the NFL this season.

Yes, that includes Derrick Henry's three games of 3 touchdowns each.

Bottom line, this dude was ready to go when his number was called. And this man just got himself PAID last night. Now, is it going to be by the Browns? I'm not sure. Nick Chubb is our guy, and I'd like to think we try and bring Kareem Hunt back next year as well. But after what we saw from D'Ernest last night, some people are saying maybe we let Hunt walk for the money and sign D'Ernest for less? I don't know guys, but he looked GOOOD.

And he's so down to Earth. He rolled into his post game press conference with a Trust the Process shirt, where he learned that LeBron James tweeted about him during the game.

This has such a good feel to it. I'm cheering for D'Ernest Johnson, whether he's on the Browns or if Cleveland decides to take the numerous phone calls they'll be receiving this morning about trading him.