The Chris Johnson Saga Thread

#1
robvols

robvols

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#1
How does this not have a thread of its own?

RECAP
-Chris Johnson feels that he should get a new contract because of his 2,000 plus season

-Titans says no because they would rather have him finish his contract, or talk after three years in the league. Plus a couple of things:
1. The present CBA structure prevents such huge increases
2. The potentially looming strike after next season.

-Chris Johnson says okay and decides to sit out OTA's.

-More fuel to the fire is added as Warren Sapp and Torry Holt encourages him to sit out.

-Titans teammates understand his situation and are apparently not upset, YET.


So there you go guys.

Add from here
 
#2
#2
The NFL rewards stats. Chris Johnson had ridiculous stats, so he deserves that raise.
 
#3
#3
He can't get more than a 30% raise at this point, per the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (which determines how players can be paid)

He could possibly get a ridiculously large bonus - but i'm not sure how structurally sound money-wise that is for NFL teams to do that

The team will end up giving him a better, larger, long term contract when they renegotiate everything after his 3rd or 4th year...the major issue that's throwing a wrench into this is that under the current system, you really can't make a massive change like he wants to a contract this early in a player's career (and this early in his contract)
 
#5
#5
robvols said:
How does this not have a thread of its own?

RECAP
-Chris Johnson feels that he should get a new contract because of his 2,000 plus season

-Titans says no because they would rather have him finish his contract, or talk after three years in the league. Plus a couple of things:
1. The present CBA structure prevents such huge increases
2. The potentially looming strike after next season.

-Chris Johnson says okay and decides to sit out OTA's.

-More fuel to the fire is added as Warren Sapp and Torry Holt encourages him to sit out.

-Titans teammates understand his situation and are apparently not upset, YET.


So there you go guys.

Add from here
Click to expand...

it won't amount to much this season; right now he's missing voluntary workouts

once camp starts, if he chooses not to show up, per NFL rules he gets fined $10,000 a day for missing camp, and to get the third year credit to be able renegotiate his contract in this league, he needs to actually play this year. He'll be in before the season starts, for both those reasons (fines build and the credit)

I think the team does want to renegotiate with him, but really they can't do it reasonably right now. You'll see him get a very big deal from them when they're able - the FO aren't idiots and this isn't the haynesworth scenarios in the slightest.

He'll get his contract, but it really just can't be done after only his 2nd year
 
#6
#6
Doesn't he have an agent that can explain how the system works?
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#8
#8
Also I believe the FO is aware of running backs the next season and beyond after such an accomplishment has been made.
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#10
#10
robvols said:
Also I believe the FO is aware of running backs the next season and beyond after such an accomplishment has been made.
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I didnt mean to make it sound like I was saying you were

that was meant for the people who are going to come up and say "they didnt keep haynesworth like you saw, what makes you think they'll do any better with Chris Johnson" etc etc

these topics seem to get at least 1-2 of those
 
#11
#11
i just wish he would be a team player and get it done on the field already. repeat last year and then justify a better contract. key words in this are "team player." sure he deserves to get paid, but this is one of those things that irks me with professional athletes. show up and play, and earn the money you agreed to in the original contract. suck it up and get it done to what you agreed to. he is a young athlete and a lot of things can change in terms of deserving big money. if the players decide to strike in the future than none of them deserve anything. as much as i like the kid, he may never be able to repeat last year, but if he put up big numbers without his little body getting injured, than a bigger contract may be justifiable. i may be completely out of line, but i just want to see guys show up and support each other without selling out for past accomplishments. if anyone deserves a raise it should be the guys who made his epic season possible in the trenches.
 
#12
#12
robvols said:
Doesn't he have an agent that can explain how the system works?
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I'm not a fan of agents being helpful in these situations

past things seem to point more towards them playing a "holdout, we can get you more money" part from things i've seen....they seem more than anything just in it to maximize the financial opportunity to its peak, and sometimes to do so as soon as they possibly can

I do imagine johnson's pretty aware of all this information though (as far as the system). he's still going to be advised to hold out, due to the stats from last year, just in case there is the possibility the team might try to do something risky to get him his money now -- that's where all the players advice (Holt, Faulk, and everyone) on this is a business comes from i think
 
#13
#13
TrueOrange said:
I didnt mean to make it sound like I was saying you were

that was meant for the people who are going to come up and say "they didnt keep haynesworth like you saw, what makes you think they'll do any better with Chris Johnson" etc etc

these topics seem to get at least 1-2 of those
Click to expand...
I hope they know there are huge differences. Thanks for the heads up.
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#14
#14
blupotato said:
i just wish he would be a team player and get it done on the field already. repeat last year and then justify a better contract. key words in this are "team player." sure he deserves to get paid, but this is one of those things that irks me with professional athletes. show up and play, and earn the money you agreed to in the original contract. suck it up and get it done to what you agreed to. he is a young athlete and a lot of things can change in terms of deserving big money. if the players decide to strike in the future than none of them deserve anything. as much as i like the kid, he may never be able to repeat last year, but if he put up big numbers without his little body getting injured, than a bigger contract may be justifiable. i may be completely out of line, but i just want to see guys show up and support each other without selling out for past accomplishments. if anyone deserves a raise it should be the guys who made his epic season possible in the trenches.
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2 things, and i'm not criticizing your argument or anything like that

1) it's a business, so unfortunately with the financial aspects these kinds of things are going to happen...and do so alot. It's not so much whether someone's a team player or self-centered or not, it's just the business end and how one's going to be encouraged to handle a situation like this. I'm really just pointing this out b/c I want to make the point that there's a huge difference between what Johnson's doing here and say what T.O. did (along with his actions and behaviors) in Philadelphia over his contract issues.

I think people overlook a bit too, Johnson stayed in FL during OTAs last season too; this is normal for him. It's not really big deal worthy until he decides not to come to camp (which I dont think he'll do with the penalties; the guy's not looking for a Mexican standoff here like say Owens or Favre might do)

2) Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that LT is one of the - or maybe even the - highest paid positions in the league. The Olinemen get a HUGE amount of money for their jobs (such as protecting the QBs blind spot, which is vastly important). They dont receive constant media glory for it (that's just the system) but they get paid pretty handsomely, especially when they're good
 
#15
#15
TrueOrange said:
2 things, and i'm not criticizing your argument or anything like that

1) it's a business, so unfortunately with the financial aspects these kinds of things are going to happen...and do so alot. It's not so much whether someone's a team player or self-centered or not, it's just the business end and how one's going to be encouraged to handle a situation like this. I'm really just pointing this out b/c I want to make the point that there's a huge difference between what Johnson's doing here and say what T.O. did (along with his actions and behaviors) in Philadelphia over his contract issues.

I think people overlook a bit too, Johnson stayed in FL during OTAs last season too; this is normal for him. It's not really big deal worthy until he decides not to come to camp (which I dont think he'll do with the penalties; the guy's not looking for a Mexican standoff here like say Owens or Favre might do)

2) Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that LT is one of the - or maybe even the - highest paid positions in the league. The Olinemen get a HUGE amount of money for their jobs (such as protecting the QBs blind spot, which is vastly important). They dont receive constant media glory for it (that's just the system) but they get paid pretty handsomely, especially when they're good
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i understand exactly what your saying and agree. it is a business, but i also understand that a contract is a contract. i also feel like any athlete who withholds stepping on the field and asking for money is on the same level (t.o.,farve, etc. no matter the sport). i was just posting in a perfect world scenario thought process, that if athletes would just show up and get it done, and earn their very handsome keep.

sure there is much more to the process than my post, but it is not like c.j. is at the level of elite multi-year veteran players, yet, to justify huge money. if he is not about the raise than we would not even be having this conversation. you are absolutely right about the #2 part of your post. i am not trying to argue that.

like i said, i may be completely wrong in my thought process in terms of his motives. but when i see an athlete crying for more money and not showing up to get his work done, than i just lump them in the same category. sure their situations and behaviours may differ, but they are all doing the same thing in terms of whining about a contract that they agreed to. i am sure that the titans will offer him much more money if he can replicate a productive healthy season next year. that is when he can make a considerable raise.

your completely correct in what your saying and i agree. i just don't want to see another guy who has one huge season hold a franchise hostage and then flake out due to injury or ego. hopefully, this is not the case in this situation. i don't know all of the fine points of the contract and will not pretend to, but in a prefect world c.j. would just show up and get it done on the field like he is already being paid to do.
 
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#18
#18
He is definitely underpaid compared to the production on the field. That being said, the FO's hands are tied to an extent due to the 30% rule and not having a CBA in place for next year. The Titans CAN restructure his contract , but he still won't get anywhere near the money he is asking for.

Also, I've heard the question thrown around "Don't the Titans deserve the benefits of making a smart draft decision?" And I think the answer is yes, they do, in the form of the production he puts out and how he helps this team.

IMO, pay the man whatever you can afford to pay him. If that means restructuring this year, so be it. If that means telling him you will reward him after this season, so be it. But RB's have very short shelf-lives in the NFL.

Here's a list of Rushing Leaders in 2005. Look at some of these names:

- Shaun Alexander
- Edgerrin James
- Tiki Barber
- Clinton Portis
- LaDainian Tomlinson
- Rudi Johnson
- Larry Johnson
- Willis McGahee
- Thomas Jones
- Reuben Droughns

So, I ask this question:

Do you wait to pay Johnson top dollar after his current contract is up when history has shown that the production most likely will drop off considerably?
 
#19
#19
orangetanker11 said:
He is definitely underpaid compared to the production on the field. That being said, the FO's hands are tied to an extent due to the 30% rule and not having a CBA in place for next year. The Titans CAN restructure his contract , but he still won't get anywhere near the money he is asking for.

Also, I've heard the question thrown around "Don't the Titans deserve the benefits of making a smart draft decision?" And I think the answer is yes, they do, in the form of the production he puts out and how he helps this team.

IMO, pay the man whatever you can afford to pay him. If that means restructuring this year, so be it. If that means telling him you will reward him after this season, so be it. But RB's have very short shelf-lives in the NFL.

Here's a list of Rushing Leaders in 2005. Look at some of these names:

- Shaun Alexander
- Edgerrin James
- Tiki Barber
- Clinton Portis
- LaDainian Tomlinson
- Rudi Johnson
- Larry Johnson
- Willis McGahee
- Thomas Jones
- Reuben Droughns

So, I ask this question:

Do you wait to pay Johnson top dollar after his current contract is up when history has shown that the production most likely will drop off considerably?
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you summed up exactly what i was trying to convey last night. he definitely is underpaid compared to other top rb's and other titans, but he still has a lot of contract left and he has already been paid 7 million to my knowledge. that is a pretty good chunk of money for only being in the league a couple years. i have no problem with them restructuring to what they can give. if he wants to be a titan for a long time than by all means lets work together and make it happen to the benefit of both parties. but we can't afford to restructure every guy's contract after they have a good year. i just don't want it to come back and bite us if he gets injured. a guy his size may have a much shorter shelf life than some of the bigger backs.
 
#20
#20
Yes he does deserve the cash. You can spin it anyway you want too, but he really does. What is the shelf life of a running back?? 6 years? maybe less?

He knows that. Give him a bonus and restructre the freakin deal. Bud got so much damn money that he will not come off of. I will be forever mad if he lays down on this one. Make a point to reward our longshot 1st round darkhorse draft pick, who has stunned the whole league.

Please Mr Adams..PLEASE
 
#21
#21
blupotato said:
you summed up exactly what i was trying to convey last night. he definitely is underpaid compared to other top rb's and other titans, but he still has a lot of contract left and he has already been paid 7 million to my knowledge. that is a pretty good chunk of money for only being in the league a couple years. i have no problem with them restructuring to what they can give. if he wants to be a titan for a long time than by all means lets work together and make it happen to the benefit of both parties. but we can't afford to restructure every guy's contract after they have a good year. i just don't want it to come back and bite us if he gets injured. a guy his size may have a much shorter shelf life than some of the bigger backs.
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You know I hate to jinx any damn thing, but I always worry about him getting hit and piled on as well. I know how small he is. People around the league who have not watched every single run he has ever done, think he is always running around everybody, but truth be known he takes some damn big hits. Serious hits. I respect him alot for doing what he does. He is very underappreciated for his TOUGHNESS. Not just his speed. This man IS TOUGH.
 
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#23
#23
VOLnVEGAS said:
You know I hate to jinx any damn thing, but I always worry about him getting hit and piled on as well. I know how small he is. People around the league who have not watched every single run he has ever done, think he is always running around everybody, but truth be known he takes some damn big hits. Serious hits. I respect him alot for doing what he does. He is very underappreciated for his TOUGHNESS. Not just his speed. This man IS TOUGH.
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you certainly speak the truth and it worries me greatly at the hits he does take at the amount of touches. he is certainly one of the toughest guys his size i have ever laid eyes on. hopefully, the passing game picks up to lighten the load for him.
 
#24
#24
If teams were afraid to pay players on the possibility of injury, no one would get paid.

Also, being smaller doesn't automatically make him an injury risk. Ever hear of a guy named Warrick Dunn?

Like I said, pay the man while you still can get high production.
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#25
#25
RBs have short careers. I can see why he would want the money now during the prime of his career.
 
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