Chris Johnson now loses a year towards free agency

[Deviant]

Where I think Carson Palmer is being a bitch for retiring, I think Chris Johnson is justified for holding out. CJ is the Titans franchise. He's a premier running back in the NFL and arguably the best running back depending on how you wish to argue it.

A man who breaks now Hall-of-Famer Marshall Faulk's scrimmage yards record shouldn't be making a base salary of $800K year. Period. That's an insult. The only loser in this scenario are the Titans.

[StealthShot]

Losing an accrued season doesn't affect CJ2k it only really affects players who will be ERFA or RFA.

[EmpireWF]

Where I think Carson Palmer is being a bitch for retiring...

Why's that? The man is sick and tired sacrificing his body for a shitty organization.

If he's willing to stop playing instead of feeding into said shitty organization, more power to him.

[Hasselbeck]

This will have no effect whatsoever. Chris Johnson wants a long term deal with the Titans, I assume the Titans want the same.

He was never going to hit free agency basically.

But either way, the fact he's slated to make 800k this year.. yeah I'd probably want to hold out too.

[Guest]

Ravin, I would normally agree with you on contract holdouts. And it really only happens in the NFL, because of what you said- the contracts are not guaranteed all of the way.

But, in the case of Chris Johnson, I have to disagree with you. This is a player who has made three consecutive Pro Bowls, is the reason that the Titans offense can even do anything, AND he holds the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage. There is no way that player should be making $800,000 a year.

How about ownership for once, be willing to extend a player who is that valuable to their team? Because in theory, CJ has already made $7 million guaranteed for his career. If he's managed that well, he might not have to play another down of football or work and be set for his life. He can sit out indefinitely.

It also seems that Eddie George agrees with the holdout.

Unhappy with his contract, running back Chris Johnson still hasn't reported to Tennessee Titans training camp. Eddie George, the franchise's all-time leading rusher, said Wednesday that Johnson has a point.

"I look at the organization and most of the onus is on them, because they told him they would take care of him after last year," George told the (Nashville) Tennessean. "From Chris Johnson's perspective, I don't blame him for not being there. He has to do what he has to do because he is one of the top backs in the NFL and the window for a running back is small. He has to get his deal now where he has leverage.

"Chris shouldn't have had to hold out because there has been ample time to get a deal done, and you can't hide behind the fact the CBA was the holdup. To me, it's unfortunate Chris is even having to go through this because I know he wants to be there practicing with his teammates."

George, a four-time Pro Bowl player who is atop the Titans' rushing list with 10,009 yards, said it's "uncalled for" that the Titans have put themselves in this position as new coach Mike Munchak is trying to prepare his team for the season.

"Mike Munchak is doing all he can to put his thumbprint on the organization and Chris is his best player," George told the newspaper.

Johnson said last year that he wanted a new deal with $30 million in guaranteed money. The Titans revised his contract by boosting his 2010 salary by $1.5 million to $2.05 million to convince the running back to report.

Johnson is heading into his fourth season and due to make $800,000 in base salary. The final two years of his deal can max out at roughly $2.7 million.

Johnson can be fined $30,000 for each day he misses camp, but he wants to be rewarded for his production from his first three seasons. He became only the sixth man in NFL history to run for at least 2,000 yards, when he ran for 2,006 yards in 2009, and the first to rack up 2,500 yards with 500 yards receiving.

He followed that by running for 1,364 yards last season, despite finishing the season with a bruised thigh. He has started 46 of the 47 games he has played since being drafted 24th overall in 2008 out of East Carolina.

Johnson has 4,598 career yards, averaging five yards per carry, and also has 1,008 yards receiving.

"It definitely behooves everybody to make him happy so everybody can win," George told the newspaper. "Does he deserve a new contract? Absolutely he does. He has outperformed his other one. It's now time to stop messing around and get the deal done."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp1...ohnson-holdout

[SHOGUN]

Of course you don't see this in any other sport. The NFL is the only major sport where the contracts are not guaranteed.

There's nothing stopping owners from cutting guys and getting out from paying them millions. So why shouldn't one of the best players in the sport hold out when he's clearly being underpaid?

Johnson doesn't even have a big window in his prime to make a lot of money.

Exactly.

[dave]

easy to say that the players should honor their contracts when teams do not honor them either.

If Johnson gets hurt he risk's getting less money than he could of got if he wasn't hurt. and the fact RB statistically drop off after 30 and so you want to make as much as possible before that mountain-drop comes

Johnson has the leverage as well in Tennessee where they have a shit team without him and are probably finishing 3-13 or less

They'd probably finish 3-13 with him. That's one bad team.

But, I agree with most of the posters, Johnson's gotta get his cash money. He plays the most perilous position in the game and is woefully underpaid.

[leaffan]

Was this issue of non guarenteed contracts even brought up in the new CBA?

[Herm]

The Titans are ready to make Chris Johnson the highest paid running back in NFL history when he reports to training camp, General Manager Mike Reinfeldt said today.

Johnson, meanwhile, said he is still waiting on an offer.

The most productive running back in the NFL over the past three seasons has been holding out because he wants a long-term contract. He has two years remaining on his current deal, and is scheduled to make a little more than $1 million this season.

“Even though he has two years left on his contract, we’d like him to go in,” Reinfeldt told the Associated Press. “He could go to meetings, get to know the new coaches, he can learn the scheme. He doesn’t have to practice, but it’s something we want to get done.

“Again, we’re willing to make him the highest paid running back in the history of the NFL. That’s kind of where we are.”

Reinfeldt also told the Associated Press that Johnson’s agent, Joel Segal, was the first person the Titans called when the NFL lockout was lifted in late July.

Reached by phone this afternoon, Johnson told The Tennessean: “I am surprised at Reinfeldt's statement about offering to make me the highest paid running back. Neither me nor Joel have received any offer from the Titans at all.”

Asked if the Titans had offered a deal immediately after the lockout, Johnson said: “Maybe they talked, but I guarantee we never received any offer.”

Johnson also defended his holdout, saying he is in great shape and ready to practice, “but I have to take care of business first.”

Segal has been unavailable for comment.

Reinfeldt's statements came less than 24 hours after Titans all-time leading rusher Eddie George publicly criticized the team for dragging its feet in getting Johnson locked up to a long-term contract.

Johnson is believed to be seeking a contract including around $30 million guaranteed. By comparison, the Panthers recently gave running back DeAngelo Williams a five-year, $43 million contract with $21 million guaranteed. As for other top-paid backs, Adrian Peterson of the Vikings is scheduled to make $10.7 million this season in the final year of his deal, and in 2008 Steven Jackson of the Rams signed a six-year, $44 million deal with more than $20 million guaranteed.

Reinfeldt’s stance since the beginning of training camp has been that Johnson must report before the Titans would negotiate.

“With his position, it’s important he’s here meeting people,” Reinfeldt told the Associated Press. “I don’t think he needs to carry the ball 30 times in the preseason to be ready for the regular season. For a running back, it’s more important he’s here to learn his teammates and learn the offense. Beyond practice time, he’s got the natural ability.”

[Ravin]

Honestly, both sides need to stop acting like a bunch of fucking babies. CJ won't come to camp because he wants an offer first. Titans won't give him an offer till he comes to camp. Jesus christ someone put their pride away and just get it done. You both will agree on the same thing in the end, just neither wants to let go on this little "hold" they have.