49ers release wide receiver Stevie Johnson
By Mike Dyce
San Francisco 49ers release wide receiver Stevie Johnson the day before the start of NFL Free Agency.
The Philadelphia Eagles are making waves losing players left and right on the east coast, meanwhile the San Francisco 49ers are going through their own overhaul on the West Coast.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh is gone, wide receiver Michael Crabtree is expected to leave, linebacker Patrick Willis is expected to retire, running back Frank Gore is reportedly joining the Eagles and now another pass catcher is leaving, though not by choice.
According to NBC Washington’s Dianna Marie Russini, the 49ers will release wide receiver Stevie Johnson after he refused to take a pay cut.
49ers will be releasing WR Stevie Johnson. It's been the plan for a while. I'm told he'll be picked up by another team quickly. #49ers
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2015
Johnson was brought in to help shore up the 49ers offensive weapons for quarterback Colin Kaepernick just last offseason, and they traded a fourth-round pick for him.
Johnson had three 1,000 yard seasons with the lowly Buffalo Bills but didn’t get nearly the same production in 2014. It is partly due to fewer passes coming his way and catches.
The 49ers also are prepared to sign wide receiver Torrey Smith from the Baltimore Ravens, so losing Johnson won’t hurt too bad.
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