Imagine working at your company for a couple of years fresh from college. Let’s assume you didn’t graduate with a sum or cum laude (neither did I) so you weren’t a heralded hire and received an average starting salary. Fast forward a couple of years and now your company looks at you as the their go to person and an integral piece to what they want to accomplish in the future, yet you’re still getting paid that average salary you started off with. Not to mention that in comparison to others in the same position of your industry, you’re severely underpaid. Now you understand the plight of Chris Johnson and Desean Jackson.
Both are holding out from their respective teams and both have every right to.
Desean Jackson is due to make $600,000 this season. That’s a lot more than I’m making but it’s nothing in his line of work. A line of work that almost led to his dismantling last season may I add. Yet Jackson bounced back and actually won the Eagles a game or two last season (see Philadelphia vs New York week 15 for a refresher). Couple that with Jackson’s ability to take the top off of a defense (see first play of Philadelphia vs Washington week 10 for a refresher) and you should come to the conclusion that the man is due a pay increase.
Sure he didn’t catch 100 passes or even half of 100 for that matter, but he has outperformed his initial deal. It’s time that Jeffrey Lurie fork over some of that cash he’s been doling out these past two weeks to an integral part of the Eagles future and Super Bowl aspirations.
The case of Chris Johnson is even worse than that of Jackson’s. Two years removed from a 2000 yard season and expected to be the focal point of the Titan offense again this season, there’s not a reason that Johnson should only be due $800,000 this season.
There’s an argument for Chris Johnson as the most productive running back in football and he’s paid like one of the least. Certainly, the least respected by his front office.After over 5,500 total yards and 38 touchdowns in three seasons, it’s borderline insane for Johnson to even consider playing for what he’s due this season.
The Titans finished last in their division this past season, fans are coming for one reason…Chris Johnson. Do what’s right Bud Adams and pay the man.