Six-time Pro Bowler sends message to former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava after rough debut for UCLA in loss to Utah

Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava had an uneven debut for the UCLA Bruins in a season-opening loss to the Utah Utes this past weekend.

Iamaleava completed 11-of-22 pass attempts for 136 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 47 yards and threw an interception.

Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, a six-time NFL Pro Bowler, had a message for Iamaleava after his debut for the Bruins.

"Sometimes you got to be careful," said Johnson on Nightcap. "Now, this is not just a message for him -- this is for life in general. Sometimes you're in situations where you want more and you think the grass is greener on the other side, when you got stability right there in your backyard -- you got comfortability right in your backyard.

"You got to understand that. And then you're trying to be greedy. Your play on the field is gonna take care of itself. If you want more money in NIL, you take care of that between the lines with your play. They will have no problem bumping you up [if you play well]. They let you go for a reason. They let you go seek out what you're looking for -- which is more -- elsewhere. And then you go somewhere where you make less, and they tax more. And you lost your first game against Utah. Come on, man -- that's a life lesson in itself, too."

Iamaleava is reportedly earning around $1.2 million this season at UCLA. He was set to earn around $2.4 million at Tennessee before transferring to UCLA in the spring.

A report last week from CBS Sports suggested that Tennessee was willing to bump Iamaleava's pay to the $3 million range, but the Volunteers were unwilling to go above that number.