Titans G.M. Mike Reinfeldt said Thursday he’s willing to make Chris Johnson the highest paid running back in the league. That’s news to Johnson.
“I am surprised at Reinfeldt’s statement about offering to make me the highest paid running back. Neither me nor Joel have received any offer from the Titans at all,” Johnson told Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. “Maybe they talked, but I guarantee we never received any offer.”
What we have here is a failure to communicate.
The Titans couldn’t negotiate with Johnson during the lockout. They say they won’t negotiate with him unless he shows up to camp. Since he hasn’t shown up to camp, no offer has been made.
Someone has to bend here. If Reinfeldt is ready to make Johnson’s the highest paid running back in the league, he may as well just negotiate the contract now. No matter where Johnson is.
Johnson is the rare player with leverage and a strong argument for a new deal. It seems like a new contract is inevitable.
The Titans should just start working on it now if they want Johnson in those meeting rooms.