Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson Can't Cross the Line Between Fun and Fool

"It's like Obama.  Obama was the first black president.  I could be the first black face of the NFL," declared Chris Johnson in an interview with Sporting News.

This offseason, there is no doubt that Chris Johnson has earned the label "cocky" if he hadn't already.  There are two kinds of cocky though, and Johnson is walking a fine line.

"Basically just come out here this year, another year, and try to get those 2,500 yards; make all my fantasy owners proud," answered Chris Johnson when asked about his goal in 2010.

A player can be "funny" cocky like Chad Ochocinco or Jared Allen.  Sure they have their few haters, but each creates many more laughs with their antics than scowls.

"Do any body got payton address I got to go get my award," tweeted Johnson after losing the MVP race.

The other type of cocky is a Terrell Owens or DeAngelo Hall type of attitude; someone who makes many enemies, on and off the field.

"In real life, I'm 100 percent unstoppable.  I got no home. I run for days," proclaimed Johnson after being "only" rated 99 overall in Madden 2011.

As of now, Chris Johnson is hilarious.

If you type his name in Google Images, the drop-down suggestion list will include his pimped out yellow car with its yellow rims, his dreadlocks, and his shiny golden teeth. This training camp he showcased his brand new custom designed red Nike shoes with "CJ2K" embroidered on the back of left shoe and "KNOWS" on back of the right.

It is much better to be seen as a clown than a trouble maker.

On that note, he may be seen as comical now, but he's inching closer to turning into a team cancer. Every other day he's getting in the news with one of his doesn't-think-before-he-speaks quotes.  All he has to do is take one of those outbursts too far and his only future in the NFL will be with the Cincinnati Bengals.  It may have been a bad time to lose vocal leaders in Keith Bulluck, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and Kevin Mawae now that Johnson's mouth has been unleashed.

Johnson could afford to learn a lesson or two in humility as well.

He has been known to be less than congratulatory to his competitors when it comes to awards.  He complained to the media when Matt Ryan edged him out in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2008.  He felt as equally robbed about losing the MVP award voting to Peyton Manning last year.

No Titan teammate has ever called out Johnson in the media for his actions which is a very good sign. 

Nate Washington raved about how hard he trained during his holdout.  Vince Young definitely trusts him saying he wouldn't doubt Johnson could rush for 2,500.

Some fans may be turning against him, but as long as his teammates have his back, his time in Tennessee will continue to be fun to watch.

Whether he's daily butchering the English language on twitter, or setting nearly impossible goals, Chris Johnson has not managed to cross that imaginary line, yet.

"First of all, I want to thank God, most of all. Without Him it wouldn't be possible. I want to thank all the fans who voted for me, I want to thank all my friends and family. I want to thank Ustream and I want to thank Twitter most of all. And if you got a Twitter, follow me at ChrisJohnson28," spoke Chris Johnson at the ESPY's after winning the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year award.