From the moment that he hit the free agent market, Chris Johnson was the most talented player in free agency, and multiple teams were interested in signings the former 2,000-yard rusher. But, after nearly a week of rumors and speculation, Johnson signed with the New York Jets for a two-year contract that is worth $8 million, with $2.5 million in the first year. Although Chris Johnson is not considered the franchise running back that he was in 2009, he is expected to add a new dimension to the Jets' offense as a 'split back'. Johnson is the epitome of a home-run hitting running back, with tremendous speed and elusiveness. Despite these attributes, Chris Johnson is not always seen as a complete running back, which is why he is expected to split carries with other backs on the Jets' roster. With the signing of Chris Johnson in addition to Eric Decker and Michael Vick, it is safe to say that the New York Jets' offense will look completely different next year, compared to 2013. (To see some of Chris Johnson's highlights, click here.)
Aldon Smith Taken Into Custody, May Miss 2014 Season
Throughout his career, Aldon Smith, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, has been one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL, averaging nearly a sack per game. With this said, Aldon Smith has not performed as well off of the field, missing games for alcohol use, gun felonies, and other legal problems. Unfortunately, Smith was yet again in a legal issue, when he allegedly stated that he was in possession of a bomb in the Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, April 13th. After being taken into custody by LAX police officials, Aldon Smith was charged with a false report of a bomb threat, and paid a $20,000 bail at the Los Angeles Jail. Although these actions had no affiliation with his professional football career, Smith may receive harsh penalties from the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers. At this time, no official punishments have been given to Smith, but it is very possible that he will be suspended for several games in 2014, and possibly the entire season. Along with this, there is also a possibility that Aldon Smith must serve time in jail for his three gun felonies, his DUI from last year, and now the LAX incident. Needless to say, the future of Aldon Smith's football career seems very cloudy right now, and only time will tell what will happen.
Multiple Teams Pick Up Player's 5th-Year Options
Throughout this past week, several organizations have decided to retain some of their talented, young players by extending their contracts for one more year. In the NFL, it is required that first-round rookies are signed to a four-year contract with an optional fifth year that can be added on if the team wishes to do so. This 'extra year' is usually called a 5th-year option. The two most notable players to receive would be Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and J.J Watt, defensive linemen of the Houston Texans. The Texans announced that Watt would be paid around $7 million in 2015, while Cam Newton will be earning roughly $14 million from the Carolina Panthers in 2015. Along with these two pro-bowl players, other players such as defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson of the New York Jets and cornerback Jimmy Smith of the Baltimore Ravens have also had their 5th-year options picked up. Although these contract options may seem similar to contract extensions, they act more as extra time for teams and their players to sign new, multi-year contracts. Hopefully for both the players and teams, these long-term deals will be reached sooner than later.
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