The Curious Case Of Chris Johnson By Terence Turner
You have to acknowledge that something isn’t right. The question I want you to consider is: Why Chris Johnson isn’t being considered a legitimate Top 3 MVP candidate?
The answer is very simple: Image.
Chris Johnson has been the best back in the league this year. He has accounted for 2176 all-purpose yards and 13 TD’s. He is on pace to come very close to Dickerson’s rushing record. But Chris Johnson will not receive serious MVP recognition due to how is perceived publically.
Now let me go on record to saying that MVP awards really don’t mean much in pro sports. The average fan does not vote for MVP. It is up to the multitude of sports media personalities to make that decision. Lets take Lebron James for example. In my opinion, a lot of sports media people are sucking up to Lebron so they can have that same type of access that Ahmad Rashad had to Jordan. I often laugh at preseason picks for individual awards due to the amount of favoritism that occurs, especially in the NBA. Lebron could average 20 points and the Cavs could go 45-37, and some would still make a case for him winning the MVP. If Carmelo Anthony lead the league in scoring, and his Nuggets to a 2 seed in the West, they still would question him.
In the National Football League, Chris Johnson does not fit that superstar mold. Not that he doesnt have the talent and stats, but because of what he looks like and what people think he represents. I do not know what type of representation or managers he has on his staff but they need to consider this: Chris Johnson is a premiere back, but you would not know that unless you watched highlights. Where are his endorsements? You know people like Adrian Peterson because he is everywhere. When Ladanian Tomlinson was in his prime, you would see him everywhere. Even Ocho Cinco has discovered the art of attention. Chad will not bow nor break under the constant attention he receives. He has been listed as every negative term when it comes to an athlete, but at least his name carries.
When it comes to being a top-tier athlete, you have to consider your image, especially for those with young careers. Shaq has been outed as a sloppy cheater and groupie center to the leagues biggest stars. But his brand is strong enough to withstand such chinks in the armor. If Chris ever wants to be known like that, he needs to consider the value of his brand. Most people would see Chris Johnson in the middle of the street and think he is a thug. No I am not being racist, but stereotypes based on appearance are an unfortunate occurrence in our society. When Michael Vick was caught up, Im sure certain people around the league were relieved that he wouldn’t be the face of the league anymore. He was the antithesis of what America has known for the Quarterback position. Racism will forever exist, for some it will occur more subconsciously than others. America will have a difficult time adjusting to something they have never seen or even thought was possible. Just ask our President.
Lets consider the people are going to get the majority of the votes for MVP. Peyton Manning = Brand. Drew Brees = Growing brand. Brees does not have the endorsements Manning has, but you can tell they are positioning him to be one of the next faces of the League. Tom Brady is still a paparazzi target. They fit the mold. You could see their face on TV and most americans would consider them “safe” people. However, many of the same people who consider these guys safe would lock their car doors at a red light, if they saw Chris Johnson walking along the sidewalk.
Now let me reiterate. I don’t expect Johnson to win the MVP. But at least his team could be making a stronger case in attempts to building his brand. It is a shame that he is being mentioned as the best back in the game, and still doesn’t have the face recognition that he deserves.
You can call this article racist, but I call it reality. I am a huge fan of Chris Johnson. Chris has not been in any trouble, nor has he pulled any stunts that Vince Young has since he has been in the league. The difference between the two is image. Until Chris understands that his image and identity will open more doors, others will continue to treat him as if he is on the outside looking in.
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December 22nd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I have to agree. Chris Johnson has been terrific this season but has not gotten nearly the attention he deserves. I don't even think it's as much a race issue as it is a position and team issue. Simply put, Johnson plays RB on a team that started 0-6 and is still on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. In a season in which two teams with great QBs started 13-0, it's been hard for him to get the attention he deserves.
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
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December 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
In my latest MVP Ballot I have him #1
Johnson, Manning, Brees, Jackson, Favre
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm
C'mon, man! No one looks for MVPs on 7-7 teams!
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I am happy am not the only one who sees this racism in the league,blacks constitude almost 75% of the players in the league yet all the whites gets the awards,I also watch these same ridiculous voters make an excuse to rob melo of his rookie of the yr award and gave it to lebron even tho melo made the playoffs in the west had better numbers and lebron had boozer and zeee on his team and couldn’t make the playoffs in the weak eastern conference,so I really don’t consider mvp to be an award more like a most likable player award
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
That's just silly, mobb. MVPs (and Heisman's) are heavily weighted to QBs. That's just the way it is. It's easy to pick a QB for MVP based on stats. Don't even have to watch the game. Linemen and defensive players are almost never MVPs.____Every non-QB MVP selected by the Pro Football Writers Association has been black. Every non-QB MVP selected by the AP dating back to 1982 when they stupidly picked kicker Mark Moseley as MVP has been black. And two black players shared MVPs with white glory boys (Favre/Sanders in 1997, Manning/McNair in 2003). You've got to go back to 1961 to find a non-QB white MVP before Moseley.____Chris Johnson will get his votes, especially if he passes 2K yards and especially if he breaks Dickerson's record. __
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
A-Rod was voted MVP even though his team was in last place. Yeah that's a different sport but record doesn't have anything to do with the MVP. The NFL QB is seen as The Man and The Future, and he gets most of the hype and attention whereas the running back is seen as a disposable razor type. Last year, Fox played a clip of CJ vying for rookie of the year honors and Joe Buck basically said "shut up, Matt Ryan is our guy" Furthermore, image is everything. A deadlocked, gold teeth running back is only winning that mvp if he puts up god numbers along with poor QB play across the league. This is why we gawk at Derek Jeter's new women but shit on Eldrick. This is why "big dumb" Kimbo Slice will fail in the MMA but "NCAA champ" Brock Lesnar gets a title shot after 2 fights. This is why Brett Favre is backed when he refuses to sit but A.I is foolish for not riding the bench in Det and Memphis. A cosby sweater and an eloquent vocab goes a long way.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Very well written. Chris Johnson is without question in the top 3 of best backs in the league right now. Without question if he is not on this team they do not win their games. I do think that while I agree with your point, it maybe also the position he plays. The NFL is QB driven and if you take a top back and a top QB the QB will tend to win. It is unacceptable that he is not in the discussion.
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
alright lets go with your theory that its a QB’s award, how come Aaron Rogers name is not being mention then,he has a better passer rating and a better touchdown to interseption ratio as compare to all the candidates you r talking about.also why did mcnair have to share his award with peyton,its like peyton manning has the award every yr he plays common.this is not right MVP Means Most Valuable Player and not Most Likable Player jezz
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
why is it that the only black players who gets the awards are non QB’s players, r u saying that black QB’s are not mvp’s because even McNair had to share his award with peyton manning.Mcnabb has been in this league for over 10yrs,I can’t remember him being considered for MVP,r u telling me Mcnabb is not an MVP QB, he’s been to countless NFC finals to the Superbowl,yet he has no consideration what so ever.this is just horrible and some of these voters needs to give their ballots away,honestly cuz this is a most Likable Player award and not a most valuable player award
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Randall Cunningham won the PFWAA MVP in 1990. McNabb has never put up the gaudy numbers that win the award — more than 30 TD passes only once. That was in 2004 when Peyton set a record w/49 TD passes.
No one is mentioning Aaron Rodgers because his team didn't start go 14-0 or 13-0. Besides, he's still fourth in passing yards, third in TD passes, and fourth in passer rating. And he's barely ahead of Peyton in passer rating. Plus he's been sacked the most of any QB in the league.
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Great points. I was using his MVP status as a tie-in for his handlers to clean up his image. With the way Manning and Brees have played, its hard to consider Chris with his team's records. But I felt that if he had that polish on him that most voters desire, people would be making more of an argument on his behalf.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
na we r talking about starts,I don’t care how slidely better Rogers numbers are as compare to Manning at the end of the day he as a better number, and to talk about sack,why don’t you just make it a team award then,because Peyton Manning has a better offensive line,so u can’t say Peyton Manning deserves the MVP better than Aaron Rogers because Rogers is been sack too many times and his numbers are only slidely better, r u kidding me?
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
listen I am not trying to stir up anything or whatever,my issue is that MVP is not a QB’s award,team award or a favorite player award.But it is the best player award,so forget about the team success or loses,who make the playoffs and who didn’t,just look at the players and their talents and how valuable they r ,u would ve to consider Chris Johnson hands down as the MVP.I didn’t here winning coming into play when Dirk Nowiski won it because he got bounce in the first round,but the excuses they were using to avoid giving Garnett in 2002 was that he never made it passed the first round in the playoffs but those same voters who said that in 2002 about Garnett had memory lost when it was Nowiski’s turn,because all of a sudden it became a regular season award
December 23rd, 2009 at 12:32 am
I think it's just tough to get get the attention you deserve when two teams start out a season 13-0. I didn't even realize SD has won 9 games in a row. To me it seemed as though VY was receiving a majority of the focus when Tennessee started winning. I just don't believe image is the issue.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 am
Great article. I heard an analyst say that he won't vote for him (believe it was Trent Dilfer) because even with him putting up those numbers the Titans were 0-7. He made the point that the Titans didn't begin winning until they changed their QB so how could Chris Johnson be the MVP when the QB change is what has them winning? Not saying I agree but thats an argument. The image issue is legit but unfortunately its something that affects whether people get promoted, hired, get dates, etc. The difference between Tiger Woods and Chris Johnson is that Tiger Woods wants everyone to see him one way and act another. Chris Johnson is who he is and finds comfort in keeping it true to himself; whatever that may mean for him.
January 17th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Chris Johnson had a fantastic season. He was the best Offensive Player. MVP no! LT was MVP a few years ago when he scored the 31 touchdowns. His team was also one of the best in the league. The two do tie in together. When you have two teams start 13-0 as a responder said before it makes a huge difference.
Now about the image, his handlers have got to realize looking like Captain Jack Sparrow isn't going to get him Madison Avenue Money. The other hurdle he has to overcome is the speech. Their are baseball players from the Dominican Republic that speak much better english. So for his sake I hope they help him out. He also needs to take a look at his tweeter account since he is now a role model to kids and get the strippers off his friends list. Again, those who are advising please help this young man out. I will give you one name of a player who never could capitalize on his talent: Edgerain James. Ricky Williams pot smoking butt got more endorsements than the edge. Image and the right look is always the key. I don't see a ton of mullet,toothless hockey players selling gillette or nike gear. So as the commercial used to say IMAGE IS EVERYTHING.