Tennessee Titans Willing to Pay Chris Johnson

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson has been holding out for the second consecutive year in an attempt to force the team to give him a better contract. Last year Johnson held out after a breakout year because he thought he deserved more money. The Titans restructured his contract for 2010 and agreed to renegotiate the deal again this year.

Johnson has been noticeably absent from Titans training camp and the Titans now say they are ready to make him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. They just want him to show up to camp before finalizing the deal.

The Titans need Johnson to be in camp as they adjust to a new head coach and the wrinkles in the offense that come along with a regime change. Johnson told the Tennessean that he was not aware the Titans were willing to pay him the highest salary for a running back saying, "Maybe they talked, but I guarantee we never received any offer."

Drafted in 2008 Johnson has the most rushing yards of all other backs in the last three years with 4,598. Originally scheduled to receive $850,000 this year the three-time Pro Bowler feels he is worth more than that.

During negotiations in 2010 Johnson said that he would like to receive $30 million guaranteed. Around the league the Carolina Panthers just paid running back DeAngelo Williams $21 million guaranteed and Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings has $10 million guaranteed in the final season of his contract.

Titans fullback Ahmard Hall was optimistic that the tone the Titans are taking will draw Johnson to camp. "I think he'll come in," he said. "As long as they're expressing they're willing to give him something, I think he'll come on in."