Waiting It Out: Andre Johnson, Darrelle Revis and Chris Johnson Contract Drama

As if general managers don't have enough to worry about in the offseason when it comes to contract negotiations with the rookie draft picks, there always are a few veterans to make their lives a bit more complicated.

In some cases, the veteran may threaten a holdout, but in most cases, the team has the advantage and it comes down to how stubborn the agent and player can be.

But in a few cases, such as Darrelle Revis, Chris Johnson, and Andre Johnson, the player has risen to the level of "problem that needs resolved ASAP."

If a player like Chris Johnson holds out, that can seriously alter how the team designs their offense.

If Revis holds out, the Jets defense all of a sudden is nowhere near as good at shutting down the passing game.

If Andre Johnson holds out, the Texans are missing a huge downfield threat, and their field gets shorter, making it easier for defenses to gain an advantage.

But each player represents their own set of hurdles when it comes to getting a new contract.

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson represents the biggest quandary for a team, the Tennessee Titans. Johnson ran for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. That was only his second year after he ran for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns his rookie season.

Johnson, understandably, believes he's outperformed his rookie contract and wants a new deal. He's held out of the voluntary workouts and could hold out of training camp.

The problem is the Titans are in a bind over how much of a raise they can give him, but losing Johnson for any portion of the 2010 season would be very bad for their chances of winning. You just can't replace a guy who runs for more than 2,000 yards.

The Titans have to figure out a way to get around the maximum 30 percent raise the league will allow them to give Johnson in base salary without front-loading the contract with bonuses that would constitute too great a risk for the team.

At the very least, Johnson should be making more than his backup, Alvin Pearman. Pearman is scheduled to make $630,000 in 2010 while Johnson, who signed a five-year, $12 million rookie contract, is scheduled to make just $550,000 in base salary this year.

The Titans, at the very least, need to offer Johnson something to get him into camp this season. He's clearly outperformed his rookie contract, and running backs have a very short shelf life, so Johnson will want to cash in while he can.

Darrelle Revis

Darrelle Revis has developed into an elite "shutdown corner" in the NFL and is the New York Jets' top contract priority this offseason. While Revis did not skip the team's recent voluntary workouts, he has made it clear he wants to be the highest paid cornerback in the league.

Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha signed a three-year, $45.3 million deal last offseason, and that is the contract Revis will be working off of.

Unlike the Titan's Johnson, Revis is scheduled to make $1 million this year, so the Jets aren't looking at the kind of limitations the Titans are facing. However, the Jets also have several other players who want contract extensions right now, or will want new contracts next year.

Revis, however, is a guy they can't afford to mess around with. Revis had 54 tackles and six interceptions, but those stats, as good as they are, don't really encapsulate how much of a terror Revis is to the opposing offensive coordinators in his ability to disrupt the passing game.

Without Revis, the Jets probably won't make the playoffs. Revis has become the kind of player who is a game-changer, and his presence on the field changes how the quarterback plays his game.

Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson represents the player with the least amount of leverage, but his situation is similar to another NFL Pro Bowler, Cleveland Browns' Joshua Cribbs.

Cribbs signed a long-term contract that he promptly out-performed. Cribbs held out for a day of voluntary workouts last year, had another Pro Bowl year and received a new contract in January.

Johnson has five years left on an eight-year extension he signed in 2007. He had 101 receptions for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns in 2009. Like Cribbs, Johnson held out from voluntary workouts for a few days before showing up, noting it goes against his character to hold out.

Johnson's contract, $60 million in total value, worked out for him pretty well for the first three years, but using his uncle as his agent hasn't worked out so well as now his salary is falling relative to other wide receivers.

Johnson has little leverage to get a new contract this year, but his numbers demand the team give him some respect. However, playing another season of 100-plus receptions for more than 1,500 yards will go a long way toward getting him another contract.

Just ask Cribbs. Give the team a good reason to tear up a contract with more than two years left on it, do it for two years in a row, and they usually are willing to deal.