Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson's Contract Demands Are Getting Ridiculous

No one doubts that Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is among the top one or two players at his position. People from around the league almost always name either him or Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson as the best back in the business.

But Johnson's new contract demands are getting out of hand. 

Here's what Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean said on Monday:

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"Johnson wants to be paid like an “elite” player, not just a running back. He considers himself to be in a different class than those players previously mentioned, and he should. No one in the NFL has rushed for more yards in the past three seasons. So it could take paying Johnson as one of the game’s “elite” players—not just the top running back—to get him to camp."

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This, after Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt said he'd make Johnson the highest paid running back in the history of the NFL.

Again, I'm not doubting that Johnson is one of the elite players at his position. Like Wyatt said, he's rushed for more yards in the past three years than any player in the NFL.

Expecting to get paid among the highest in the NFL, however, is a whole different story.

Peyton Manning, the NFL's highest-paid player, recently signed a new deal that will pay him around $23 million next season. Michael Vick will make almost $16 million in 2011.

Adrian Peterson is the NFL's highest paid running back, as he'll make $10.7 million next season. He wants a new contract too, but not because of price—his contract runs out after this season and he wants an extension.

Now, I'm not saying Johnson is requesting a $23 million a year deal. That would be absolutely ridiculous, and he could hold out the rest of his career before he'd see that kind of money.

But, in my estimation, Johnson obviously wants something in the $13-16 million a year range. He'll hold out as long as possible to get it, too, because his demands aren't about getting an extension.

It's about the money.

Johnson is scheduled to make just around $1 million in 2011. He's badly underpaid at that price, but he's also asking for a 1300-1500 percent raise from Titans management.

Reinfeldt has told Johnson that he's more than willing to pay Johnson (maybe not as high as CJ2K wants, but a definite raise), but Johnson has to report to camp first. And now, with Johnson holding out, neither side is cooperating.

Look, I completely understand why Johnson wants to get paid. The shelf life on NFL running backs is short and he wants to make his money while he's in his prime. That's the easy part to figure out.

But at this point, it makes sense for Johnson to get to camp and negotiate with Reinfeldt. I'm betting that the Titans GM won't break any promises with the NFL's best running back. Johnson will get his money, the Titans will have their running back and everyone will be happy.

He won't make Peyton Manning money, but he'll certainly be the highest-paid back in the NFL. That should be more than enough for Johnson.