Chris Johnson can't play for $550K

[2bikemike]

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.

[whoman69]

The NFL, like most businesses except all the other sports, have the contracts designed to favor them. The fact they can cut someone who is under contract and pay them nothing should be equalled out by someone who can demand a pay raise when they are greatly overproducing their current contract. Pointing out that because of a bonus paid years ago makes his actual salary for this year higher still puts him below the normal compensation that a back of his ability would make. Unlike Revis I haven't heard that Johnson is trying to become the richest back in the league. The situation can't be compared to baseball because their careers are potentially much longer and those players are rare if they don't spend the first three years of their career in the minors.

[BossChief]

Chris Johnson has lost his damn mind.

I watched an interview of him saying he not only wants to be paid as the highest running back in the league, but one of the highest paid offensive players and even said a SB of 30-40 million is what he wants.

**** all of that

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Chris Johnson has lost his damn mind.

I watched an interview of him saying he not only wants to be paid as the highest running back in the league, but one of the highest paid offensive players and even said a SB of 30-40 million is what he wants.

**** all of that

yeah, that's insane. healthy raise, sure. but that's too damned far.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Chris Johnson has lost his damn mind.

I watched an interview of him saying he not only wants to be paid as the highest running back in the league, but one of the highest paid offensive players and even said a SB of 30-40 million is what he wants.

**** all of that

Yeah, but is that what he's actually demanding, or is that his way of forcing Tennessee to step up the offer? You always have to start negotiating at a high point.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Yeah, but is that what he's actually demanding, or is that his way of forcing Tennessee to step up the offer? You always have to start negotiating at a high point.

Come on dude. $30-$40 Million signing bonus right before they are about to have a lock out?

Like I said, nobody is getting PAID this year due to the CBA issues and if the players cant figure that out.......

Why would you give a huge contract to a guy when you have no idea what the salary cap structure if there is one, or how the CBA is going to be structured one year later?