3 Reasons the Tennessee Titans Should Pay Chris Johnson

Tennessee Titan running back and current holdout Chris Johnson deserves to be paid like any other elite NFL player.  However, although publicly professing to make their star among the highest paid players, the Titans’ brass has yet to follow through with their claim.

Despite surrendering $30,000 in fines for each day he eschews training camp, Johnson seems resolved to sit out, however long it takes to be appropriately compensated.

Many people fallaciously assume that every athlete is self-entitled, greedy, and undeserving.  Thus, the moment one does anything other than show unbridled appreciation for his fortuitous occupation, it immediately becomes an affront to the rest of the population.

4.3 speed isn't replaceable, regardless of how much the hoi polloi may suggest otherwise.  In addition to Chris Johnson's unparalleled talents on the field, people ignore his other irreplaceable quality:  the ability to generate interest among the consumers. The capacity to do so results in increased revenue, stemming from the increased sale of tickets, team paraphernalia, and advertising/sponsorship, among other things.

If the owners can capitalize on Johnson's unique skill-set, directly profiting from his productivity, then he certainly should be allowed to do so, as well.  

With this in mind, here are three reasons why it is not only imperative that Chris Johnson is inked to a lucrative extension, but the right thing to do …

He's Earned It

To say that Chris Johnson has outperformed his current contract would be a glaring understatement.

Johnson, selected 24th overall in the 2008 draft, signed a five-year deal with the Titans. He immediately cemented himself as a draft day steal by amassing nearly 1,500 yards from scrimmage during his rookie campaign.

He failed to disappoint in his sophomore season, rushing for a remarkable 2,006 yards while finding the endzone 16 times, en route to a rushing title and the AFC's best offensive player award.  

He followed this with another impressive year, being named to the Pro Bowl for a third consecutive season, despite a lackluster offense surrounding him.  

Needless to say, Johnson has surpassed both his peers' and peoples' expectations.

His Current Contract Is Unjust

Chris Johnson is slated to earn $800,000 this season. In contrast, fellow draftee and current Oakland Raider running back, Darren McFadden, is scheduled to receive just over $7 million this season.

Now, consider this: McFadden has ran for less yards over his entire career than Johnson did in a single season (2009).

Despite consistently outperforming his peers, Johnson is not compensated for doing so. In fact, Johnson will make less than even the average NFL player salary of approximately $1.1 million dollars this year.

Meanwhile, the superstar's explosive performances have drawn national interest; which, apparently, everyone should be allowed to profit from except for Johnson.  

How is that fair?

It's Hypocritical to Argue Otherwise

"But he signed a contract. He should honor it!"

Right. Just like the owners honor those same contracts by cutting players who underperform, year after year?  If this is acceptable, than how could it be logically argued that it's unacceptable when the roles are reversed?

"If I 'held out' of my job, I would be fired!"

You're replaceable; he's not.

"He should just be happy to be paid anything for playing a game!"

The same could be argued about any job, but it's nonetheless facile and invalid. What some might naively deem a "fun game," others recognize for what it is: a billion-dollar industry.  

An industry that Chris Johnson helps generate millions of dollars in revenue for. He is the product that the NFL and the Tennessee Titans are selling to their customers. Furthermore, Chris Johnsons don't grow on trees; rather, they are of very limited supply, yet astronomical in demand.

He has worked hard to raise his own market value to be universally regarded among the best.  So, is it really so wrong that he request that his salary commensurately reflect this?

You might scream "shut up and play;" but, logic shouts, "shut up and pay."