Former United States international Eddie Johnson took to social media on Friday to question Jordan Morris’ new contract with the Seattle Sounders, asking, “What has he done?”
Morris, 24, missed the entire 2018 MLS season after tearing his ACL in February, but Seattle still gave him a new five-year contract reportedly worth an average of $1 million a year.
And Johnson posted a long caption on Instagram next to a screenshot of the The Athletic’s story on Morris’ contract, concluding with, “How you get a Mil a year with no World Cup under your belt and never played in Europe coming off a ACL injury.”
According to MLS Players Association data, Morris earned $234,500 in total compensation on his rookie contract last year. Johnson made $156,333 in his final year in Seattle in 2013, then complained about his contract and was traded to D.C. United, which paid him $613,333 in 2014 before reportedly voiding his contract because of a heart ailment.
Johnson also responded to people who reacted to his Instagram post, and wrote on Twitter that anyone suggesting Morris is a superior player “better do your research.”
You clowns saying Morris better then me y’all some crazy mother you know what y’all better do your research. You forget I turned down Benfica when I was 19 lol when they were powerhouses. Truth hurts that’s why y’all all so sensitive I’ll say it again what has he done🤔
— Eddie Johnson (@eddie_johnson7) December 8, 2018
Morris made his U.S. national team debut just after the 2014 World Cup while still a student at Stanford, where he won an NCAA national championship and the Hermann Trophy as national player of the year. Werder Bremen offered him a deal to play in Germany out of college after a trial, but he decided to join the Sounders and was named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2016.
The striker has scored five goals in 25 international appearances, including the winner in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, but he missed the crucial World Cup qualifiers that fall with a hamstring injury as the U.S. failed to secure its place in Russia last summer, before the knee injury wiped out his 2018.
Johnson was selected in the 2001 MLS draft as a 16-year-old and played in the U.S. until he joined English Premier League club Fulham in 2008. He spent much of his time out on loan with second-tier clubs Cardiff City and Preston North End as well as Greek club Aris before returning to MLS in 2012.
He played in the 2006 World Cup and was one of the final cuts on the 2010 squad. He scored the goal that qualified the U.S. for the 2014 World Cup but was left off the final team. After he made 63 national team appearances, the heart issue ended his career at age 31 in 2015.
Johnson scored 71 of his 90 goals in his club career in MLS and added 19 international goals.