Titans likely to cut Chris Johnson

[ThomasTomasz]

Former Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans will have a knee scope Tuesday to repair a meniscus he tore in Week 3, according to a league source, and seems a virtual certainty to hit the free-agent market this spring.

Johnson had an MRI on the Monday following the Sept. 22 game vs. San Diego and opted to play out the season despite considerable pain and discomfort, still grinding out a 1,000 yard season. The surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews.

Johnson faces a 4- to 6-week recovery period and should be in good shape to pass a physical by the time free agency opens in mid March. Johnson is set to make $8 million in 2014 on the record contract extension he signed with the Titans, and the team will ask him to take a pay cut. Johnson is not inclined to do so, sources said, and thus his release seems inevitable.

Johnson remains one of the more explosive backs in the game, though the injury limited his last season. The Titans have also lacked any semblance of a passing game in recent years, the run game scheme has not always fit Johnson's style and overall the team has lacked innovation on offense.

A change of scenery, and amicable split, makes sense for both sides, with new head coach Ken Whisenhunt recently taking over. Johnson, to his credit, did not want trainers to speak about his knee issues last season and hoped to keep the matter quiet while he tried to play through the injury and return to top form.

It's likely the Titans will look to finalize Johnson's status with them, and assess his willingness to agree to a lesser deal, at the combine, when most discussions of that nature take place. This is not an especially deep free agent class of running backs, and in recent years very few players at that position have been first-round picks as well.

Johnson has spent his entire career with the Titans and is yet to experience free agency. He has previously rushed for 2,000 yards in a season and been an MVP candidate for the Titans, who have lacked stability and sustained productivity from the quarterback position since Steve McNair's heyday.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...have-knee-scoped-a-near-lock-to-hit-fa-market

 

[CaribbeanJoseph]

:ronaldo:

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Maybe a new system will do him good. Used to be really exciting but after his 2k season has really not been relevant despite the once a season eye popper.

 

[Maynard]

it pains me to see how the NFL has killed the running game. CJ skills may have declined, but todays NFL is not RB or defense friendly.

 

[NAHSTE]

Play through injury all season without complaint, rewarded with a pink slip and your contract is torn up. Cold world.

And they wonder why players hold out for bigger signing bonuses...

 

[Tailback U]

Lot of talk in the bay about the niners going after him since gore is pretty much done.

 

[Woy]

Lot of talk in the bay about the niners going after him since gore is pretty much done.

That'd be a pretty good fit. He'd thrive running some of that read option stuff with Kaepernick and he'd have a stable offensive line to run behind.

 

[buckeye]

Play through injury all season without complaint, rewarded with a pink slip and your contract is torn up. Cold world.

And they wonder why players hold out for bigger signing bonuses...

Yeah but he also held out for a bigger contract then showed up out of shape... had a horrid year that year too.

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[NAHSTE]

Yeah but he also held out for a bigger contract

And his employer can tear that contract up whenever it wants. So I still side with the players every time.

 

[buckeye]

And his employer can tear that contract up whenever it wants. So I still side with the players every time.

I'm on the fence on that one... its his job to play football, he demands more money then lays down. If he can demand more money for his performance then the team should be able to cut his pay for poor performance.

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[JeremyHight]

I have said it before and I'll say it again, paying big money for a runningback doesn't make sense. The shelf life of a RB is getting smaller and smaller, while people are showing that you can win with young RBs on their rookie contracts. Even when you have someone as good as Adrian Peterson, that doesn't guarantee you a playoff win or even an appearance. I'd rather spend my money on a almost any other position.

 

[BigBucs]

Play through injury all season without complaint, rewarded with a pink slip and your contract is torn up. Cold world.

And they wonder why players hold out for bigger signing bonuses...

Yeah but he also held out for a bigger contract then showed up out of shape... had a horrid year that year too.

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And his employer can tear that contract up whenever it wants. So I still side with the players every time.

I'm on the fence on that one... its his job to play football, he demands more money then lays down. If he can demand more money for his performance then the team should be able to cut his pay for poor performance.

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:curb:

 

[ThomasTomasz]

And his employer can tear that contract up whenever it wants. So I still side with the players every time.

Hard for me to side with the players when, even on a rookie deal like Johnson was, he's making at least $1 million a season. Anyone can put that money away and live well for the rest of their lives.

Even the rookie minimum is $420,000.

 

[ralaw]

Hard for me to side with the players when, even on a rookie deal like Johnson was, he's making at least $1 million a season. Anyone can put that money away and live well for the rest of their lives.

Even the rookie minimum is $420,000.

That's not realistic. The more money you make equals the more money you spend. A 22 year old athlete isn't going to save the majority of their salary for when they hit 30 and get cut because they cost the team too much money.

I generally always side with the players because outside of being an elite QB players have a very short window to make as much money as possible.

 

[buckeye]

That's not realistic. The more money you make equals the more money you spend. A 22 year old athlete isn't going to save the majority of their salary for when they hit 30 and get cut because they cost the team too much money.

That is a character flaw. You can't justify holding a team, city, fans hostage because the player has no common sense.

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[ralaw]

That is a character flaw. You can't justify holding a team, city, fans hostage because the player has no common sense.

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Character flaw? It is common sense. You can't expect these atletes to live simple lives and save the majority of their money for a time when a team releases them.

Lol no team is being held hostage.......especially in the NFL.

The nature of business is the owners are trying to get the most production at the lowest rates and the laborers are trying to work at as high of a rate as possible. This will never change. Chris Johnson got his money......good for him.

 

[buckeye]

Character flaw? It is common sense. You can't expect these atletes to live simple lives and save the majority of their money for a time when a team releases them.

Lol no team is being held hostage.......especially in the NFL.

The nature of business is the owners are trying to get the most production at the lowest rates and the laborers are trying to work at as high of a rate as possible. This will never change. Chris Johnson got his money......good for him.

The problem is people feel bad for him. He didn't play anywhere near the level he did before he got the contract. That is essentially stealing money. If your everyday person does that at their job they will lose it as well.

Who in this day and age doesn't know that you have to save money for the future? With only 1 of those years post contract signing he should be set for life... no way that can legitimately be argued.

When a player holds out he is essentially holding his teammates, fans, and the city hostage. "Either you pay me what I want or I won't play... but you still have to pay me my previous salary until then". Go try that where you work and let us know how that works out for you



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[ralaw]

When a player holds out he is essentially holding his teammates, fans, and the city hostage. "Either you pay me what I want or I won't play... but you still have to pay me my previous salary until then". Go try that where you work and let us know how that works out for you



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When a player holds out they are using leverage and I don't see anything wrong with that. Do you know how often players are told to take a pay cut/restructure or be released?

You can't compare the athletic world to our world. If I get denied a raise I can just hop to another firm.....professional athletes can't do that.

 

[NAHSTE]

The average career for a RB is 4-6 years. Maximizing your earning potential in your only window to do so is not at all a character flaw.

 

[buckeye]

The average career for a RB is 4-6 years. Maximizing your earning potential in your only window to do so is not at all a character flaw.

We are talking about Chris Johnson. He got a multi-million dollar payday and played down... yes they were right in cutting him. It doesn't matter how long your career is, if you demand a huge payday then lay down... you are essentially stealing... that is a character flaw.

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