Titans' Johnson has big money in mind, prepared to hold out

The Tennessee Titans were able to effectively placate star running back Chris Johnson last year and entice him to report for the 2010 season by adding an additional $1.5 million to his $500,000 base salary.

The situation will come to a head again this summer whenever the NFL lockout ends, and the solution is bound to be more complex.

Johnson, set to receive just $800,000 in 2011, is preparing for a much more prolonged holdout if need be and remains committed to joining the game's highest-paid running backs, according to those who have been in contact with him.

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The idea of another "band-aid" deal, after three highly productive seasons, isn't appealing to Johnson, and a contract in the range of the $5 million per season extension that Jamaal Charles signed with the Kansas City Chiefs last season isn't what he's thinking, either.

Johnson has talked in the past about wanting to join the ranks of those garnering $30 million in guaranteed money, and if the free-agent cash begins flying around in a furious manner post-lockout, don't expect his desire to wane.

Johnson is signed through 2012 on his rookie contract, and although that deal doesn't provide fiscal leverage, his presence is imperative to the Titans' offense. Tennessee is in a tricky spot, with quarterback Vince Young departing and rookie Jake Locker perhaps in line to start right away despite losing all offseason to the lockout. And top wide receiver Kenny Britt has had off-the-field trouble throughout the offseason, making Mike Munchak's first year as coach already more unusual than anyone would expect as he steps in for the departed Jeff Fisher.

All those subplots could hang over the Titans entering training camp, but Johnson's situation would be paramount among them. This impasse has the potential to rival cornerback Darrelle Revis' protracted standoff with the New York Jets last summer unless the sides can agree to a compromise soon after the lockout. It's difficult to envision a running back of Johnson's stature playing for less than $1 million per season.

Eventually, the sides will have to find common ground on more than a year-by-year basis. Perhaps they can find a two- or three-year solution, with guaranteed money on the front end, to bridge the gap. Regardless, whenever the lockout ends, expect this dance between Johnson and his employers to be renewed.

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Frazier: Vikings will be prepared once the lockout ends

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. -- As one of a handful of clubs with new coaches and a new offense to install, the Minnesota Vikings stand to lose plenty from the lingering lockout.

The labor impasse has taken away valuable offseason development time.

Oh, and they have a quarterback to break in, too, whether it's first-round draft pick Christian Ponder or a veteran they could sign once the owners and players forge an agreement to allow free agency to begin.

Coach Leslie Frazier won't buy this behind-the-eight-ball theory for his Vikings. Extra pressure to catch up whenever the work stoppage ends is merely perceived, Frazier insisted.

"You look forward to bringing everybody together and kind of shaping and molding your team and creating the culture that you want on your team, and when that time comes we'll be able to get that done," Frazier said, adding: "Not a real mystery as to how our team would look. The fortunate thing for me is I'm familiar with a lot of our roster, and that helps me a lot."

Frazier spoke Wednesday at Rush Creek Golf Club before the team's annual charity golf event to benefit the Vikings Children's Fund.

"Our organization has done a lot of right things in my mind, as far as handling this lockout in the right way and preparing us for some of the things that are going to come," Frazier said. "We talked through some things yesterday with our ownership and just went through some of the different scenarios. So I feel confident that when the time comes -- because of the leadership that we have on our offense, our defense, our special teams, our staff -- that we'll be ready to go."

Put in charge when Brad Childress was fired last November, and coaching the Vikings for the final six games of that disappointing and tumultuous 2010 season, Frazier had a leg up on the job when he was hired as the coach in January.

Ponder has much to learn about his receivers, and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave needs time to teach the plays.

"We're at a serious disadvantage having a new quarterback and a new offense without practice and coaching," wide receiver Greg Camarillo said last week from Bradenton, Fla., where he worked out with Ponder and a small group of Vikings teammates.

All they can do is be as ready as possible.

"That's our job. If you're not ready for it, I don't feel bad for you," defensive end Brian Robison said recently.

Robison has been doing mixed martial arts workouts near his home in Texas.

"Hopefully everybody is busting their butt to get there, and we're able to hit the ground running when the time comes," he said.

Frazier said the organization is "still discussing" a drop-dead date for committing to or canceling training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato if the lockout remains in place. School starts there Aug. 22, so a delayed out-of-town camp is unlikely.

The other contingency plans pertain to free agency, where the Vikings will turn for help at several positions, possibly including quarterback.

One of the biggest unknowns is exactly which players will be on the market, given the uncertainty about eligibility requirements -- could be four years, could be six of experience -- in the collective bargaining agreement.

"Whether or not it's a six-year plan or a five-year plan and even guys that are at the end of four, we have a list and we've identified the guys that we think fit what we're looking for if we choose to go that route," Frazier said. "We haven't made a decision that we're going to go with a veteran quarterback, but we have an idea, based on the list we've put together, if we went that route who we'd target."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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