NFL News: Chris Johnson Parts Ways With New York Jets

The New York Jets have declined an option to retain running back Chris Johnson, who will become a free agent for the second straight offseason in the National Football League, or NFL. The franchise had until Monday to decide but made an early decision and did not want to extend Johnson’s stay with the team by declining his $500,000 option bonus.

The Jets signed Johnson in April 2014 to a two year deal worth $8 million but the running back under-performed in the 2014 regular season ending up with career lows in rushing yards at 663 on 155 carries and 24 receptions, both numbers also below the expected numbers for the RB who was thought to be a key player in the Jets’ season. Despite Johnson’s underwhelming numbers, the Jets still ranked third overall in average rushing yards in the league at 142.5 rushing yards per game.

Johnson was a promising running back with his previous team, the Tennessee Titans, where Johnson played from 2008 to 2013. Johnson was the Titans’ pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and was selected 23rd overall in the annual rookie selection. Johnson’s best season with the Titans and his NFL career came in 2009 when he ran for 2,006 rushing yards on 358 carries and had 14 touchdowns. Johnson had 1000+ rushing yards in all of his six years with the Titans but couldn’t get those kind of numbers in New York.

“This is the first time I've ever felt this type of frustration, but there's nothing I can really do about it right now,” Johnson told ESPN.com back in October 2014 marking what was a below par season with the Jets. To replace Johnson, the Jets are reportedly aiming to acquire Buffalo Bills’ running back C.J. Spiller.

The Jets had another disappointing season going 4-12 in the regular season and was one of the worst teams in the entire league on both ends. Johnson is a three-time NFL Pro Bowler making the team in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and was a member of the NFL First-Team All-Pro in 2009. He was also the NFL Offensive Player of the Year that year.

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