Chris Johnson to Be Released by Jets: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The New York Jets did not pick up veteran running back Chris Johnson's contract option, which means he will be a free agent on March 10. He spent just one season with the organization.

The team announced the decision on Feb. 14. 

It's not a surprise. Rich Cimini of ESPN New York previously reported New York could save $3.5 million by letting the back go. Based on his production, it wouldn't have made much sense to keep his $5.25 million cap hit on the roster.

The Jets signed Johnson last offseason after he was let go by the Tennessee Titans. They hoped he would rediscover some of the big-play ability that allowed him to become one of the league's most dynamic offensive players during the first five years of his career.

It didn't happen. He ended up splitting time with Chris Ivory, who finished with six touchdowns compared to just one for the East Carolina product.

Johnson wasn't terrible by any means. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry and still made an impact in the passing game. He just didn't showcase the explosive burst he was so often associated with when he became known by the moniker "CJ2K."

So it's hard to blame the Jets for moving on. Now the question is where Johnson goes from here.

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He'll turn 30 early next season, and it's hard to imagine a team giving him anything more than a short-term deal for depth purposes. He can still be effective in limited doses, perhaps as a third-down back, but isn't built to handle the heavy workloads he did when at peak speed.

The biggest problem is that he struggles to break tackles. So even a relatively small drop-off in quickness transformed him from a top-tier running back to one merely in the league-average range. It's unlikely he'll reverse course at this stage of his career, either.

Johnson could still excel in the right situation. Expectations should be kept within reason as he heads back to the free-agent market, though.