Chris Johnson: Not Ready to Make His Decision Yet

Dec 29, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back

(28) warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Well, we thought yesterday was going to be an exciting day. Chris Johnson was in town to visit with the team, and most of us hoped, to sign. Well it didn’t happen. He was in town, and attended the Knicks’ game last night, but without a contract to play for the New York Jets. According to a report on NFL.com, there were good feelings on both sides, but no deal.

Here is what Chris Johnson had to say about the day:

Chris Johnson on his Jets visit today, per @PeterBotte: “Everything went well. It’s a fine city,” but “not ready to make my decision.” #nyj

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) April 16, 2014

So, the scenario plays on for a while.

The resounding assumption, as the news came out that Johnson left the facility without a contract, was that there was a difference of opinion regarding money, his role, or both. Chris Johnson likely wants to start and be a feature back, while the Jets have in mind a dual role with the incumbent Chris Ivory.

Of course, each side likely wants payment in concert with these roles.

Johnson has other visits to make around the league, although he seems to have enjoyed his visit to Florham Park. Does Chris make it back to NY to sign a contract with the Jets? Does he end up somewhere else, with a team willing to give him a chance as the feature back? Obviously, we will find out in the coming days.

However, no matter what we want to see, John Idzik will not overpay for this player. He will not overpay for ANY player, so he sure won’t start now.

Chris Johnson believes he is still a feature back. The tape on him reveals the fact that he isn’t. He does not hit the holes the same way he did when he was younger, earning his CJ2K moniker. He can get to the outside and break off a long one, but not consistently. Look at his stats:

Rushing & Receiving

These are the numbers of a player that is ready to be a complimentary player, a member of a two-headed attack, with a guy such as Chris Ivory. Johnson does NOT have the numbers of a feature back any longer. Ivory carried the ball for nearly a yard better per carry last season. But, Ivory can’t carry the load on his own because of his running style.

The Jets need the sum of these two parts together, but not at any cost.

If he is a complimentary back, Johnson should be paid as a complimentary back. Overpaying for a player in that role just isn’t fiscally responsible. John Idzik knows this, and won’t break that rule, even if the fans want it.

If Johnson goes somewhere else, you may be inclined to call it a mistake. It might be, but we don’t know that yet. We have to see what the Jets do instead, before we declare it a glaring error by John Idzik. The Jets might come up with a great alternative. The result of this move is not the be all and end all for 2014.

Now that Chris Johnson has left without a deal, there is no guarantee he will be signing one. If that is how it turns out, don’t write Idzik off as an idiot. Let’s see what he has in store first. There is a lot of off-season to go.