After a relatively quiet offseason on the Chris Johnson front, the past two days have been jam-packed with rumors.
The newest team making a push for the former 2,000-yard rusher is the New York Jets. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York, Gang Green is expected to acquire a veteran running back, and the team has kept its eye on Johnson.
While the Jets may not be the perfect fit for Johnson, who is still confident in his ability to be a workhorse for a team, he could serve as a nice 1-2 punch with bruiser Chris Ivory, who the team acquired last offseason.
“The Jets are interested in acquiring a veteran, and the name to watch is Chris Johnson,” Cimini wrote. “Yeah, that Chris Johnson, who likely will be released by the Tennessee Titans. The Jets need speed, and Johnson has speed. I’m not sure he’d want to play for the Jets and be part of a committee, but I could see the Jets showing interest, depending on his price. He’d be a nice complement to Ivory, a thunder-and-lightning tandem.”
On Friday, Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean reported Johnson was most likely going to land with the Atlanta Falcons. Because of the $8 million Johnson is owed this coming season, the most likely scenario would include the Tennessee Titans releasing the veteran back. Then then Falcons could sign him as an unrestricted free agent.
Soon after that news surfaced, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the Titans could cut Johnson as soon as next week. Because the aforementioned $8 million salary, finding a trading partner is extremely difficult. Johnson would have to be willing to take a pay cut in order to sign with the Falcons, who have about $8.7 million remaining in cap space. The Jets are in a better financial position, with about $35.7 million available following the release of Mark Sanchez.
Titans very likely to release RB Chris Johnson next week after failed trade attempts. Would draw strong interest as FA as DeSean Jackson did
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 28, 2014
Johnson’s divorce with Tennessee has been speculated about since January, when the Tennessean reported the team was considering cutting him. Earlier in March, Pro Football Talk suggested the team put Johnson on the trading block.
Regardless, it seems as if the Johnson situation is close to coming to an end. If and when he is released, it seems as if Atlanta and New York are the two teams to keep an eye on.
