Chris Johnson Will Report to Camp

Chris Johnson isn't getting the long-term deal he wanted, but he and the Tennessee Titans have agreed on a compromise deal that will get the star running back to training camp on time. According to NFL sources, the Titans will move up about $1.5 million of the $2.5 million in escalator bonuses Johnson is scheduled to get in 2012 as a result of his record-setting 2009 season and add it to his 2010 salary. He'll now make about $2 million between the escalators and his scheduled base salary of $550,000.




Johnson, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards and set an NFL single-season record for yards gained from scrimmage in 2009, held out of the team's offseason workout program as he made clear his desire for a new contract. The Titans told him they didn't feel it was right to be renegotiating signed deals after only two years, no matter how brilliant the second of those years was.



Last week, though, the Titans floated this compromise concept, designed to allay Johnson's concerns that his 2010 salary was too low for a player of his caliber while still sticking to their refusal to re-do deals after two years. According to the source, Johnson decided the compromise was good enough to get him to camp, though he continues to hold out hope that he and the team can negotiate a new contract.



According to the source, the length and value of Johnson's current contract will not change under the compromise. The only change is that $1.5 million will be moved up from 2012 and paid instead in 2010. Of course, if Johnson does eventually get his new deal, the money he's giving up in 2012 will be irrelevant, since that season would be incorporated into the new deal.



The resolution to the Johnson situation was first reported Monday afternoon by ProFootballTalk.com