Chris Johnson Is a Great NFL Holdout Example for Maurice Jones-Drew

Maurice Jones-Drew should thank Chris Johnson. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars running back, who is skipping the team's mandatory minicamp this week and is reportedly willing to stretch his holdout into the regular season (per CBSSports.com), has a guide to getting the money he desires.

Last offseason, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson was fresh off a 1,364-yard, 11-touchdown campaign that followed a legendary 2,006-yard, 14-touchdown masterpiece.

Johnson felt he had done enough to warrant a major and more lucrative extension, one that would make him the highest-paid runner in football.

Due to the considerable drop in his production from 2009 to 2010, and with two years left on his deal, some believed his demands were outlandish, and he was out of line to hold out. Not surprisingly, fans always have a hard time siding with players during holdouts. 

Johnson was only 25 at the time of his holdout and had not taken a ridiculous amount of punishment in his first three years in the league. 

Unfortunately for MJD, he has been a workhorse for a while and, at 27 years old, doesn't have time on his side.

However, what Jones-Drew can do is follow Johnson's commitment to the holdout and be truly willing to miss regular-season games this fall. 

Why? Because sooner or later, the Jaguars will have to budge. 

The Titans realized CJ2K was steadfast in his decision to hold out and eventually paid him the money he wanted. On the brink of the the team's Week 1 opener, Johnson received a whopping four-year, $53.5 million extension. 

The Jaguars are in a much more dire situation than the Titans were last season, as MJD is the lone established offensive star on the roster. 

If the bowling-ball back skips minicamp, training camp and the preseason, Jacksonville's management will be under so much pressure to sign its franchise player that Jones-Drew will get the money he is asking for.

And the money he deserves. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso