Chris Johnson can't play for $550K
 

Titans running back Chris Johnson is one of the best players in the NFL, and he can't stand the fact that he isn't paid like one of the best players in the NFL.

"I can't play for $550,000,'' Johnson told Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, referring to what he's scheduled to make this season. "The money that I am playing for, I am getting paid less than the [other] starting 11 [players on the Titans' offense] and I'm one of the lowest paid starting running backs in the league.''

Johnson, who has three more years on the five-year, $12 million deal he signed after the Titans drafted him in 2008, said he'll hold out of training camp if he has to.

"Right now, I am not sure what is going to happen," Johnson said. "I just hope they pay me, but I don't know.''

The Titans don't seem inclined to give Johnson a new deal, noting that they've still got Johnson locked up for three more years, and that the "30 percent rule" would make it tough for them to dramatically increase Johnson's salary. And the Titans have a lot of leverage if Johnson holds out, because if Johnson doesn't report within 30 days of the start of the regular season, he could lose a year of credit toward free agency.

The truth is, if the Titans refuse to play ball with Johnson, he ultimately will play for $550,000. And if he gets fined for holding out, he'll play for even less than that.



So if he signed a 5 year 12 Million dollar deal isn't he in effect making 2.4 Million being paid in advance for his efforts?

Sorry Chris but no sympathy here.

His body will probably be shot in four years. He needs to get paid now while he is the best in the league. If he gets hurt and never gets his speed back the Titans will drop him in an instant.

It's not like he could embarrass the Tits
after Pac and Young

I'll never blame a man for trying to get as much money as he can.

RBs aren't worth long expensive contracts anymore....

He should of thought about this when he signed his contract. Poor overpaid athletes.

his contract was his rookie deal. teams upgrade contracts, specifically rookie contracts, all the damned time. he was one of the best players in teh nfl last year. he's earned a healthy raise to say the least.

keep in mind too, they wouldn't hesitate for a MINUTE to cut his ass if he wasn't living up to his side of the bargain. he's protecting his own interests (as a position player whose average lifespan in the nfl is roughly 3 years) by trying to get his. I can't blame him.

My point is he isn't playing for 550K he's playing for 2.4 Mil. He basically was paid about 1.8 Million of this years salary when he signed his contract.

If I were him, I'd be trying to parlay last year into more money, too.

**** yeah. He's the best in the business. His time is now.

titans should ride him for another couple of years and then trade him to somebody and let them pay him.

He basically wants a signing bonus, so if I'm the Titans...try to ink him to a new 3-year deal, with a low per-year salary.

He'll be pretty much shot after this anyway, but he'll do enough to warrant the money up front.

This isn't quite like the LJ situation.

Sorry, you're just a RB.

If only he could win games by himself.
He put up 2006 yds and the team was .500.
I think he deserves an upgrade on his rookie contract but not one that is based on him having 2000+ yards per season.
The Tits won't be winners untill they can balence their offense thus lowering CJ's stats.