Titans, Chris Johnson Still Far Apart On Deal

Added on Aug 24, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

The Tennessee Titans want to make Chris Johnson the highest paid running back in the NFL. Johnson wants more than that. The result? Both sides remain far apart though Tennessee GM Mike Reinfeldt said that the most recent meetings were ‘beneficial’ and that the sides would talk again in a few days.

Reinfeldt released this carefully worded statement about progress in the talks–or lack thereof:

“It was important for us to have a face-to-face meeting so that everyone could have a voice and understand the perspective of the other side. I’m not sure there was any progress made, but I do think it was beneficial to meet. We were able to discuss several different elements of a potential contract, but there was no agreement on those topics.”

Johnson and his agent had ‘no comment’ on the situation.

By all accounts, Johnson is grossly underpaid relative to his value to the team. He was scheduled to make just over $1 million this year after the Titans revised his contract last year to pay him more money. Even the Titans are in agreement he deserves more–much more–but there’s still a huge gap in the definition of that term. Tennessee has said they want to make him the highest paid running back in the NFL which would equate to somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million a year. Johnson, however, wants to be among the highest paid *players* in the NFL and is seeking a deal that would get him over $13 million a year.

So far Johnson still has the support of his teammates including fullback Ahmard Hall:

“CJ’s the best back in the game. He makes everybody’s job that much more easier. You go out there, you just have to get in front of your guy, get a good connection with your guy, and he’s gone. Everybody’s seen it around the nation.”

Coach Mike Munchak suggests that the fact that Johnson is in Nashville is evidence that he’s looking to resolve the situation quickly:

“I know he wants to get this thing resolved. I know he wants to play this year. I don’t think he wants to take the chance of missing games early so you hope his thinking is the same as ours. CJ, I’m sure he’s trying to get what he thinks he deserves … Hopefully, it’ll get worked out real soon.”

Meanwhile, the Titans will continue their preseason schedule on Saturday when they welcome the Chicago Bears to Nashville.