If the Tennessee Titans go the next decade without making the playoffs, a lot of their personnel decisions will be the cause. The Titans had the choice to part ways with running back Chris Johnson, but instead opted to keep him on the roster, guaranteeing him a $10 million salary for this season.
If you are going to pay a back $10 million, you might be inclined to make him the focal point of your offense. The Titans then turned around and gave former Jets running back Shonn Greene a three-year $10 million deal.
The excuse from head coach Mike Munchak was that Greene would be able to wear defenses down, and he wasn’t brought in simply to be a goal line back.
Chris Johnson is not pleased about the signing, and he told the Tennessean that he likes all the Titans off-season moves, but has no idea why the Titans signed Greene.
“I have never been a big fan of the two-back system, so I don’t know how we plan on using him,” Johnson said casually. “I’m not afraid of competition, but I was thinking we’d maybe get a draft pick for the other back. And you don’t give a guy that kind of money to be just a goal-line guy and in tough-yardage situations. So we’ll see what happens.”
Johnson for his part tried to take the high road, and said he would just roll with. He understands he can’t get all the carries.
“I’ll just roll with it. Of course I don’t want to carry the ball 30 or 40 times a game,” said Johnson, who averaged 17.25 carries per game last season.
“And I don’t mind a guy getting a carry or two. But if I am the main guy and it is supposed to be my team … it shouldn’t be an issue.”