Chris Johnson vs. Titans: Will Standoff with Titans Spill into Season?

Usually this is the time of year where position battles are being round up and the starters are heading into their final dress rehearsal before the season, since many play very little in the preseason finale. But the situation in Tennessee this year is a bit different.

Instead of hearing about roster moves, rookies, or how their two new quarterback’s are doing, the only story that matters is this holdout between the franchise and their all-world running back Chris Johnson. With having the team’s second preseason game already in the rear view mirror and the season opener less than three weeks away, this still being an issue is starting to raise every Titan fan's blood pressure.

But don’t worry, tomorrow is the day.

Tomorrow will be the first time that representatives from both sides actually get together to see where they stand on a deal according to CJ’s twitter account. Lets just hope this is a good thing.

So far the game of chicken has centered around the idea that CJ2K wants to get paid like a top playmaker (which sounds a bit excessive to me and most everyone else) and GM Mike Reinfeldt stating the franchise will not make an offer until the stud running back reports to camp. Once he reports they would engage in talks to make him the highest paid running back in the league, if you take their word.

As you probably know by now, CJ has flipped them the bird and stayed home.

This situation is becoming scarier by the day for Titan fans. If the meeting that is supposedly going down tomorrow doesn’t resolve this situation, we may be left with a doomsday scenario.

Reinfeldt came out a few days ago and stated that he has spoken to CJ’s people and they aren’t even able to agree on parameters for a deal.  And if they can’t agree on basic parameters, what is the point of offering a deal. This is not the way you want to hear from a GM just days before entering a negotiation.

Please Titan fans, take a step away from the cliff. Don’t jump.

I don’t mean to be the guy yelling “FIRE” in a theatre, but this seems to have the distinct odor of a Vincent Jackson/Logan Mankins situation all over it. Like those two players last year, Johnson has pushed all his chips into the middle and dared the Titans to call his bluff.

Could CJ missing part of the season become a reality? The way things are going it looks like it could get much worse before it gets better.

After seeing the likes of DeAngelo Williams (seriously what were the Panthers thinking) and Larry Fitzgerald getting paid, Johnson may have dug his feet into the sand. These two monster deals did the Titans no favors. He wants his money.

Things didn’t get any sunnier when Titans owner Bud Adams came out and said “I’m not gonna make any offer with the way he’s acting. Life’s too short,” via TitansInsider.com. Maybe it’s just me, but that doesn’t sound like an owner who is about to open up the checkbook for his star player.

Seriously fans, back away from the cliff. Please.

Who’s fault this is depends on whom you ask. It is probably a little bit of both party’s fault. Blame who you want, that isn’t what is important. Just know this is a player who has nothing to lose anymore. Him missing time has become a reality. It could happen. Even Adam Schefter said so, so it must be true.

Keep your blackberry or iphone or whatever you use close by tomorrow, because however this meeting goes will likely be how the 2011 season goes.