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If there's any end near in the Chris Johnson contract saga, it's hard to see it.Johnson's already stated that, after topping the 2,000-yard rushing mark in 2009, he wants to be the highest-paid running back in the league -- Steven Jackson currently holds that title with a six-year, $44.8 million deal. But as FanHouse's Dan Graziano reported earlier this week, the Titans are hesitant to hand out a new contract to Johnson after just two years. Johnson is, after all, under contract through 2012, which means that there's no reason for Tennessee to rush to an expensive contract, save for Johnson's threats to continue holding out.
The latest wrinkle in the saga came Friday. Johnson told ESPN's Michael Smith that he wanted $30-$40 million guaranteed on a new contract, according to Smith's colleague Adam Schefter.
That is a hefty chunk of change.
To put it in perspective, when the Giants and Eli Manning agreed to a contract extension earlier this offseason -- one that made Manning the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history -- Manning received $35 million guaranteed.
So can Johnson talk Tennessee into rewarding him in that way? It's hard to imagine, but if the Titans don't, they may not see much of CJ2K in 2010.
NFL Network's Jason La Canfora said Thursday that "I continue to hear from people close to him that [Johnson's holdout threats are] not just rhetoric." And NFL.com's Vic Carucci wrote that the situation looks like "a dispute with no hope for resolution."
All that leaves us watching a game of financial chicken. Is Johnson really prepared to sit out the season after rushing for 2,000-plus yards in 2009? Are the Titans really willing to take the field without one of the game's best players?
We can only wait and see.
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