In news that proves why I should wait another week before writing 10,000 words about fantasy football and attractive women, the Tennessee Titans shocked Chris Johnson – Nay, the world! – when they announced that they were prepared to make him the highest paid running back in NFL history. Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt said that as soon as Johnson ends his holdout and returns to camp, he will honor the elite RB with the contract he deserves.

“We’re willing to make him the highest-paid running back in the history of the NFL,’’ Reinfeldt said. “That’s kind of where we are. … We’d like to have him here, and we’d like to be fair with him.” (Via The Tennessean with one hell of a Burnsy-esque photoshop)

When asked how he plans to pay that kind of money, Reinfeldt responded: “Have you seen the rest of this roster? We could sign two of him.” As for Johnson, he claims this is all completely news to him.

“I am surprised,” Johnson said of Reinfeldt’s “statement about offering to make me the highest-paid running back. Neither me nor Joel have received any offer from the Titans. Maybe they talked, but I guarantee we never received any offer.”

Johnson has every right to be skeptical of Reinfeldt’s statement, but it wouldn’t hurt for the mouse to take the cheese and just show up to camp. As long as Reinfeldt isn’t standing there with a giant check for “$1,000,000,000,000,000″ and whispering, “Do us a solid and don’t cash this until 2017,” it could be in Johnson’s best interest to go. But some people disagree.

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The customary off-season activity for NFL stars coming off break-out seasons is to replace their cubic zirconia earrings with diamonds and dial up their agent because it’s time for daddy to get paid. Though I don’t know too much about his cranial accessory situation, Titans rushing sensation Chris Johnson is definitely doing the latter.

Chris Johnson announced over twitter, which seems to have replaced ‘addressing the media’ as the modern medium for announcing contract crankiness, that he isn’t happy with making $550,000 this year after taking a run at the NFL season season rushing record and making James Brown’s in-game updates very predictable.

The NFL’s leading rusher last season is seeking a new deal with a big raise. The Titans have yet to budge.

“Just got off the phn w/ my agent & its not good news I’m feeling lk @Revis24 rt now at least dey offering him,” Johnson wrote, referring to Jets corner Darrelle Revis, who is also seeking a new contract.

Johnson went on: “Its like how do u expect ur players to give they all and not put their bodies on the line when you not willing to give them what they deserve. How do u want player 2 honor their contract but the team dot have to honor it. If u dont wnt 2 pay a player early dont cut a player early.” -Tennessean

A countless amount of players have complained about the uniquely unfair non-guaranteed contract situation , but the fact of the matter is that’s what the players association and owners agreed upon and until the situation can be rectified, players have no say in the matter unless they can convince teams that they’re valuable enough to warrant a new contract.

I don’t know which brilliant Players Association representative thought this system would be great in a sport where serious injuries happen basically every week, but he probably feels like a big idiot right now. Especially because there’s the probability of a strike or lockout looming over the 2011 season like Stanley Roberts at an all you can eat seafood buffet when the NFL’s popularity is at an all-time high.

Johnson has yet to participate in any of the Titans’ voluntary minicamps and only time will tell if he’ll continue his holdout when workouts become mandatory and fine money’s on the line. Though he’s obviously worth more than the measly $550,000 the Titans have him on the payroll for, he has no real leverage unless he pulls a Crabtree, which he most probably will not do. All he can do is cross his fingers and hope the Titans are feeling generous. Johnson’s just the victim of a broken system.

Remember Chris, if you really want to play football in an organization where players are treated fairly, there’s always the UFL. Or my backyard.