The Official Chris Johnson Holdout Thread

I agree that CJ needs to get to Nashville although his presence isn't necessary for the FO to get a contract. In regards to the CBA/cap issue- I feel that is a convenient excuse. Other contracts were rapidly offered and it isn't like the FO had no warning (almost 12 months in fact) that this issue was in front of them. I'm sure they were monitoring the cap situation as CBA negotiations were occurring- they weren't starting from scratch when the CBA was agreed upon.

I agree that we don't want to overpay CJ and I agree with the philosophy to approach big contracts cautiously. There is just no reason other than ego/control to not have had a contract ready and to "force" CJ into camp. This is a situation where the front office is having to answer to last year's business tactics. You are only as good as your word and the word last year was that a contract would be in place. I understand why CJ is reticent to trust the front office.

 

His teammates aren't worried about his commitment to the team. A number of them said they support him and understand the holdout. This just a lame PR play by Reinfeldt. There's nothing holding Reinfeldt from sending a fax to Orlando. It doesn't hurt my feelings that CJ is currently sitting in Orlando. He deserves to be paid, and he deserves have negotiations/process done on his terms.

 

If Chris shows up, even with an agreement that he wont have to practice, he loses his leverage. Period. Without knowing any specifics of the Titans offer, he would be a fool to show up. His only leverage is to deny his services. They can say they'll make him the highest paid RB, but there are a lot of ways to claim that. Without knowing total guaranteed money, avg salary over the first 3 seasons of the deal, total compensation, etc, he has to take the Titans word for it. And frankly their history in this kind of situation isn't very good.

There is an easy way around this that lets both sides save face. Start negotiating now in secret. Once you have the basic framework of the deal done, Chris can show up to camp for a day or two, and then they can announce the deal. That way Chris knows what he's getting before he loses the only leverage he has, and the Titans can maintain their position that they will do deals with players once they show up for camp and help avoid future holdouts.

It's very rare that I side with a player in a holdout, but in this case I'm 100% behind CJ. He is an elite player who is severly underpaid. The Titans are making themselves look bad, and everyone around the league (players, fans, journalists, other teams) seems to recognize that but them.

 

I am not sure about that. Specially when everyone knows that all it takes is a plane ride for CJ to get paid. Getting paid is what he want's, correct?

Then book that $300 plane ride to make 20+ million dollars.

This off-season is one that everyone needs to be there, period. His holdout this off-season is just as bad as when Vince went running back to school in Texas when Dinger came in.

"Well what if he has a career ending injury?" Then don't effing practice. At least be involved in the meetings with the coaches.

And another counterpoint to that... what if we shell out 20+ million.... and in two weeks he has a career ending injury. Good deal then?

 

if Cj hasnt reported by opening game, then he will be traded, Titans wont put up with a RB doing that. I drafted Jamie Harper in one of my leagues. i just have a feeling CJ might not be back as a titan.

 

What? The Titans are going to hold a gun to his head and tell him to play or else? Why can't he just show up and if the Titans pull shenanigans just say, "Peace out then!" and go back to Orlando?

I mean, this dude is rich. Flying from Orlando to Nashville for him is like going out to Zaxby's for dinner for me.

 

I think the Titans need to hell CJ's Agent that they will offer him the money when he shows up to camp, and the offer is going to go down by $250k every day he is not in camp.

 

You fail to realize that the Titans need Chris Johnson a lot more then Chris Johnson needs the Titans. Trading him would be doing him a favor, and we'd have at least 10 teams knocking on our door the instant that was a possibility

 

Okay then call up those 10 teams and say give me your best offer, not that hard.

 

This is a perfect analysis. CJ and AP are 1a and 1b, the rest of the league is just playing catch up. After CJs first year, it was 'oh, well, he has to do it more then one year'. Now Deuce wants to put Jamaal Charles and Arian Foster ahead of CJ after just 1 successful season...