Chris Johnson: Benched Titans RB Deserves to Ride the Pine for Awhile

Before the season started, if you would have told NFL fans and fantasy players that Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson would rank 26th in rushing yards behind Ben Tate, Willis McGahee and Beanie Wells and among others, and was sitting on the bench in Week 7, most of us would assume that he had been hurt for the last three or four weeks. 

Titans head coach Mike Munchak, who saw his team roll over and play dead against Houston on Sunday, could not take anymore timid play from Johnson, so he is giving him some time to think about what he is doing and how he can get better. 

Whatever the reason is, Johnson has to figure it out soon because he looks like a disaster. After holding out for virtually all preseason in search of a new contract, the All-Pro back has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. 

To date, he has 93 carries for 268 yards and one touchdown, which includes his paltry 18-yard performance against the Texans in Week 7. 

You can't put up those kinds of numbers and expect to play in the NFL. It doesn't matter how good you are or how much money you are making; if you aren't producing at an acceptable level, you will be benched.

Johnson has not been playing well; therefore, he deserved to get benched. 

As much as fans, analysts and players make fun of preseason football, we are seeing just how important it really is because with a full training camp, there is no way Johnson plays as bad as he has in the first seven weeks of the season. 

Johnson's defenders will point out that he has been battling various nagging injuries for most of the season. While that may be true, he has not looked right all season. Even before he was hurt, he was running like he was scared. 

No one can deny Johnson has as much talent as any running back in the NFL, but maybe his time on the bench will do something to motivate him.

Of course, it's entirely possible that, at 26 years old, he has already peaked and this is what we should expect from him now.

I find that hard to believe, but every running back is different, and Johnson already has a lot of miles on those legs.