FRANKLIN — Chris Johnson wants a new contract. The Tennessee Titans have no plans to give him one, at least not now.
The reigning NFL jerseys Offensive Player of the Year says he's not sure how it will all end, but he knows this much — he's not showing up to play at his current salary.
"I can't play for $550,000,'' Johnson said. "The money that I am playing for, I am getting paid less than the starting 11 (on offense) and I'm one of the lowest paid starting running backs in the league.''
Johnson held his football camp for kids on Wednesday at Battle Ground Academy. He was tight-lipped about his contract status while speaking to a group of media in the morning, but later in a one-on-one discussion he opened up a bit.
Johnson said he's prepared to hold out of training camp, which begins July 31, but hopes it won't come to that. So far, however, the Titans haven't given an inch in talks with Johnson's agent, Joel Segal.
Johnson is two years into the five-year, $12 million contract he signed as a rookie, a deal that included $7 million in guarantees. Last month, Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt told The Tennessean he expects Johnson to "honor his contract."
Segal attended Johnson's camp Wednesday, but declined comment. Although there's a chance Segal could meet with the Titans while in town, Johnson said he's the one calling the shots.
"This is a business, and at the end of the day I am the player and he is the business man. He advises me,'' Johnson said. "I handle what happens on the field, and he handles everything else and he is working to take care of me.
"But it is my decision at the end of the day. Right now, I am not sure what is going to happen. I just hope they pay me, but I don't know.''
Titans' officials declined comment on Wednesday.
Several players assisted with the camp, including quarterback Vince Young, fullback Ahmard Hall, safety Michael Griffin and cornerback Ryan Mouton. Former Titans running back LenDale White, released by the Seahawks last month, was also on hand.
To a man, Johnson's teammates have supported him, even though he's skipped the offseason conditioning workouts and organized team activities, all of which are voluntary.
Johnson skipped most of those sessions last year, too, then rushed for 2,006 yards and broke the single-season record for scrimmage yards.
"I think Chris is willing to take it as far as he needs to take it," White said. "I can't get inside his mind and say how long he'll hold out, but obviously he is serious about this. This is his livelihood. He has to look out for himself. Believe me, he loves the Titans and the city of Nashville, but he is looking for his livelihood and his life. No one can be mad about that.''
Johnson's tone on Wednesday was matter-of-fact, but it's clear he's becoming more frustrated with the situation. After saying on Monday he wasn't mad at the Titans, he replied "no comment" to the same question on Wednesday.
He also sounded uncertain of what to expect and hopeful that things wouldn't get ugly.
"My teammates, they understand what I am going through, and know it's a business,'' Johnson said. "Anybody would be frustrated when they should be the top paid player and they are just making $550,000. Anybody would be frustrated, but at the end of the day it is a business thing. And I really understand first-hand the business part of the NFL.''
The Titans have cited the 30 percent rule, a byproduct of the league's labor issues. It restricts big increases in Johnson's salary from year to year. They say it makes it nearly impossible to get a new deal done, since they'd likely have to pay him guaranteed signing bonus money in the $40 million to $50 million range as part of a market rate extension.
And a 30-day rule could come into play. Under the collective bargaining agreement, if a player doesn't report to his team within 30 days of the regular season opener — Sept. 12, in the Titans' case — he could lose a year credit toward free agency.
"I don't know what's going to happen,'' Johnson said. "Right now, though, I am just staying in the best shape I can so I'll be ready whenever I do get back on the field. I just don't know when that will be.''
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