Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said Thursday that he’s ready to make Chris Johnson the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

From the New York Times:

General manager Mike Reinfeldt told The Associated Press on Thursday that Johnson’s agent was the first person they called once the NFL’s lockout was lifted. The Titans reworked Johnson’s contract a year ago to give him more money in 2010 and promised to talk to him again a year later.

Reinfeldt says they already have talked about the perimeters of this new deal for Johnson and would like to have the running back in camp to learn the offense with a new coach while negotiations are finished.

This has always been a no-brainer in my eyes. Johnson has been one of the most productive running backs in the NFL the past couple of years and arguably deserves to be the highest paid RB in the league.

It’s not like this is a risky proposition for the Titans, or at least not in the way signing a player coming off an injury or a down year would be. Johnson is only 25 and barring injury, he presumably has four or five productive years left in him. If the Titans make him the highest-paid running back now and lock him in for five years, then everyone (i.e. the player, the team and the fan base) should be happy.

Of course, there are always unforeseen issues that arise. Maybe Johnson will be upset in three years because another running back has surpassed him in terms of their contract status. Maybe he’ll get paid and shut it down like Randy Moss did when he got to Oakland. Who knows? We can only go off the information presently at hand and the information presently at hand suggests to pay the man what he’s worth and reap the benefits of having him locked up for the next X amount of years.

Contract holdouts used to irritate me in professional sports. An athlete and a team come together on a deal with the intentions of honoring said commitment. Then the athlete feels underpaid and holds his team hostage until he gets what he wants. Considering teams can’t ask for their money back when an athlete gives a Barry Zito-type performance year after year, the whole notion of a holdout didn’t sit right with me.

But that was a rather juvenile way of looking at the situation. In the NFL, teams can’t ask for money back but they can cut a player without honoring their commitment, so why shouldn’t athletes bargain for more money when they’ve outperformed their contract? At the end of the day, whether you’re a professional athlete or working out of a cubicle, you use the leverage you have to get as much as you can (within reason, of course) before that team or company decides it’s done with you.

Over the past week, there have been multiple reports that Chris Johnson will not report to training camp without a lucrative new contract. Set to earn just $800,000 this year despite being the NFL’s best back, it’s hard to blame Johnson for forcing the Titans into a corner. He still has two years left on his current deal, but it’s a deal in which he has outperformed.

There are a couple of reasons why the Titans shouldn’t give into Johnson’s demands (assuming he does holdout, that is), starting with the position he plays. Running backs just aren’t as valuable as they were 8-10 years ago. It’s a passing league now and if teams concentrate their efforts into building a decent O-line, they don’t have to break the bank for a top back. And considering the NFL is now a two-back league, committing a bunch of money to that position seems rather unproductive.

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Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean does not expect Titans running back Chris Johnson to report to training camp without a new contract once the lockout is lifted.

Last year Johnson received what amounted to a $1.5 million raise. The Titans moved money he’d earned in escalators from 2012 to 2010, and added some incentives. When he finally reported for training camp, Johnson – who had $30 million guaranteed in mind — said it wouldn’t happen again. And I believe him.

Indications are Johnson’s not going to budge this time. I’ve heard it from too many sources to think otherwise. And after three straight Pro Bowl seasons and the most yardage of any back in the NFL during that time, it’s not hard to understand why.

Right now, the Titans can’t do anything about his deal. When the lockout is lifted, it’s going to be interesting to see if the Titans will budge this time around, because I don’t get the sense Johnson will.

If Wyatt’s projections turn out to be correct, then the Titans might as well break out a huge pros vs. cons list and make a decision about this situation once and for all. Because they can’t keep doing this dance with Johnson every offseason.

If there were one player to break the bank on, Johnson would be it. He’s far and away the Titans best player and the team will need him when they usher in the Jake Locker era either this season or next. Thirty million is a lot but it’s not like Johnson is in the twilight of his career. He’s 25 and barring injury, he has plenty of productive seasons ahead of him.

On the flip side, no team wants to set a precedent for allowing players to holdout in order to receive a new contract – even if it’s their best player. Plus, what happens the next time Johnson thinks he has outperformed his deal? Will he force the Titans’ hand again? If the team gives in now, what’s stopping Johnson from holding out again down the road if he wants even more? Besides, Johnson still has two years left on his current deal and he just received a $1.5 million raise last season. The Titans aren’t financially obligated to give him anything more than what he previously signed for.

Again, the Titans will eventually have to choose the lesser of two evils and make a decision once and for all. Either give into Johnson, forego the huge distraction that a holdout would cause and reap the benefits of having a happy CJ on the field, or stand firm, don’t award players for holding out and risk not having their best performer on the field come September. No matter how you slice it, Johnson is putting the Titans in a tough spot and I’m glad I’m not the one who has to make any decisions on this issue. But Tennessee will have to settle on something at some point.

As Wyatt points out in his report, this situation could get messy when training camp begins.

The Nashville Tennessean reports that Titans receiver Kenny Britt is now a wanted person in Nashville for outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

According to the report, Britt allegedly made inaccurate statements on his driver’s license applications on two occasions. If he doesn’t surrender himself to the state of Tennessee, he is “subject to arrest,” although his attorney Jonathan Farmer says Britt will cooperate.

“When he gets back he is going to cooperate fully and we are looking forward to getting that resolved in a quick manner,” Farmer told the Nashville Tennessean. “He takes it seriously and is looking forward to getting it resolved.”

Considering Britt has been involved in at least seven incidents with the police since the Titans drafted him in 2009 (which includes a resisting arrest charge last week in New Jersey), it would appear that the young wideout doesn’t take anything seriously. Instead of being responsible during the lockout, Britt has taken the opportunity to get into more trouble. Had he bothered showing up to a players-only workout last week, he would have avoided being arrested in New Jersey.

Britt will eventually have to decide whether or not he wants to play professional football. He certainly has the talent to succeed, but the league has a way of weeding players out who would rather play off the field than on it. JaMarcus Russell is a perfect example of this and while a guy like Pacman Jones is still in the NFL, he certainly hasn’t lived up to his first-round status.

At some point, Britt will have to make a choice between his football career and being a malcontent.

On Wednesday, Titans receiver Kenny Britt was fined $478 after pleading guilty to a careless driving charge stemming from an arrest in New Jersey last April.

And…I…was…shocked. A $478 fine and four points added to his driver’s license? After he was arrested on three counts (including a felony) following an alleged car chase with police? Seriously?

Even though those charges were reduced before he received his punishment, talk about one of your all-time smacks on the wrist. But I said to myself, “Anthony, just wait. He’s a fool. There’s going be an opportunity where he screws up again. Just be patient.”

I didn’t have to be patient very long because Britt was arrested yet again on Wednesday night by New Jersey narcotics officers and charged with two counts of resisting arrest.

That’s right, on the same day he was let off easy for another crime, he pushed away from officers and wouldn’t submit to handcuffs. He’s been charged with a minor disorderly persons offense as well as a third-degree crime, which apparently carries a possible sentence of 3-5 years if convicted. (“If convicted” – ha! Like an athlete would ever be convicted of a crime outside of dog fighting and shooting himself in the leg while in New York.)

Just to be clear, I have nothing against Britt personally. I don’t want to see Britt be a nuisance to society – I just figured he would try to be again.

And why wouldn’t he? He was charged with a felony, saw his charges reduced, and then got away with a slap on the wrist after police officers chased him in his vehicle. If I were him, I would think I were invincible and that I could do whatever the hell I wanted because I was an athlete and the same laws that apply to everyone else don’t apply to me. Then I’d go out and get in trouble again because hey, what’s the worse that could happen? Another $478 fine and a few points on my license? Psshaw.

The Titans better hope this lockout ends soon or else this kid is going to get into more trouble. He has no organization in his life right now and certainly no boundaries. What’s interesting is that had he just been present at a players-only workout on Wednesday instead of committing crimes in New Jersey, this incident would have been avoided. But apparently Britt has no clue about…ah…what’s the word I’m looking for? Oh, right: Responsibility.

As Jeff Fisher’s offensive line coach for 14 seasons, Mike Munchak coached the Titans’ front five to 10 Pro Bowl berths and helped open up holes for highly successful backs like Eddie George and Chris Johnson. He also has a bust in the Hall of Fame, so commanding respect from his players won’t be an issue for the former Houston Oiler great.

But considering the Titans only interviewed a total of four candidates before they hired Munchak as their next head coach, I wonder whether or not the team did their due diligence when it came to finding Fisher’s replacement.

If the Titans knew that Munchak was their guy when they started the hiring process, well, there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Owner Bud Adams seems quite fond of him and it is his team, so if that’s his guy, then so be it. Like all new head coaches, Munchak deserves a chance to succeed.

But when you only talk to three other candidates (OC Mike Heimerdinger, Atlanta OC Mike Mularkey and Giants’ DC Perry Fewell) to replace a man who previously held the job for 14 years, questions will be raised.

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As it stands right now, not even the Dos Equis guy could convince Mike Reinfeldt to keep Vince Young. The Titans’ GM confirmed on Friday that he plans to trade or release the 27-year-old quarterback this offseason, which signals the inevitable end of Young’s tenure in Tennessee.

According to Rotoworld (via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider), two undisclosed teams have joined Minnesota as potential destinations for Young. The Redskins, Bills, Dolphins, Cardinals, 49ers, Raiders, Panthers and Jaguars could all be interested in a quarterback this offseason, but at this point who knows where Young will wind up?

What we do know is that the Titans will have a tough time trading him. Teams know that Tennessee wants to release him, so why not wait until then to acquire him? The Titans are hoping that some team will put a trade package together (even if it’s a couple of PEZ dispensers and a pack of double-A batteries), but that’s highly doubtful considering he’s owed $8.5 million in base salary next season.

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Bud Adams’ organization is a complete mess right now. For the past couple of years, his head coach has been feuding with his once-prized quarterback and despite owning a league-best 13-3 record in 2008, the team hasn’t won a playoff game in six years.

Call it a firing or a mutual separation – whatever it was, it was time for Jeff Fisher to go. And if Adams is smart, Vince Young will soon be heading out the door, too. Everyone expected Adams to choose between the two but the right decision in the end is to start fresh by ridding himself of both of them.

The Fisher v. Young feud was a major distraction last year. Even running back Chris Johnson (the true face of the franchise) admitted so after the season. Who was most at fault for allowing things to get that bad? Everyone, from Adams to Fisher to Young, everyone played a role in creating the mess that this team is currently in.

Young hasn’t shown the ability to lead and his work ethic stinks. Despite what his supporters believe, he won’t fetch much in a trade because the league is well aware of his maturity issues. Fisher is a throw back coach who usually got the most out of his players, but he’s won five playoff games in 16 years with three of those wins coming in 1999 when he took the Titans to the Super Bowl. In 16 seasons with Tennessee, he never once developed a true No. 1 receiver or had a quarterback who threw for 3,400 yards or 25 touchdowns, which are pretty standard numbers these days for good starters. Granted, he’s supposed to be a defensive-minded coach, but his defenses have finished 27th, 19th, 32nd, 5th, 7th, 28th and 26th since 2004.

It was time for the Titans to go in another direction. Everyone saw what happened last year in Carolina when John Fox rode out the final year of his deal: he had little to no interest in helping a team develop its young players when he wasn’t going to be around to watch them grow up. Maybe things would have been different with Fisher in Tennessee but if the Titans’ front office knew they wanted to eventually make a change, why wait? Part mutually so that both sides could have a clean break.

And that’s exactly what they did. The Titans have a long way to go to right the ship but at least they’ve started the process by parting ways with Fisher. Next up is Young and then this team can really make some headway.

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and…Vince Young?

From ESPN.com:

Young says in an interview with ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley on Wednesday night that he will work to let his next team know he’s an elite quarterback who just wants to win games and be the best. Asked if he could work as a backup, Young laughed.

“I’m going to go into the organization, the team, and compete. That’s all I can do, and let them make their own decision after that,” Young said. “Definitely I am a starting quarterback, an elite quarterback in the NFL. I want to go ahead and start. But like it always is, the coaches have the last word.”

I get that Young was just trying to exude confidence in his abilities. After all, what is he going to say? That he sucks? That he has maturity issues and might be incapable of leading a NFL franchise?

That said, if he truly believes that he’s an elite NFL quarterback, then the guy is in serious need of a reality check. I could be way off in my assessment, but something tells me that he feels that he’s been wronged by Jeff Fisher and that is head coach has held him back. Maybe to some degree, he’s right. But the main reason Young is an on-again, off-again starter is because he’s a highly unstable leader. He may own a winning record but that doesn’t make him a winner.

You would never see quarterbacks like Brady, Manning, Brees, Donovan McNabb or Aaron Rodgers throw their shoulder pads into the stands while walking off the field in a hissy. None of those players would need a teammate to track them down as they headed out of the stadium in an attempt to console them after a poor performance either.

That’s because guys like Brady, Manning, Brees, McNabb and Rodgers are leaders. They set the example because they know that’s what is demanded of them. Young hasn’t grasped that yet, which is why he says that he’s an elite quarterback instead of knowing it.

Young can be a terrific player at times and I hope some day he puts it all together. But as of right now, he’s got a long way to go in order to consider himself elite.

Here are three quick-hit observations on the Colts’ AFC South-clinching 23-20 win over the Titans on Sunday.

1. Colts hit jackpot on Sunday.
First, the Chiefs lost to the Raiders at home. Seven. Then, the Colts beat the Titans on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri field goal as time expires. Seven. Then, the Jaguars lose to the Texans. Seven…jackpot. All right, so that last thing didn’t even need to happen if the Colts beat the Titans but it worked well with my jackpot theme so I forced it in there to make the bad analogy work. Sue me. Give Indianapolis credit for not backing down when Tennessee came out swinging. The Titans had nothing to play for and it’s human nature to think that, in that situation, Tennessee might roll over. But they didn’t, and the Colts showed some resolve by continuing to fight for four quarters. You would expect them to do that with the playoffs on the line, but look at the Chiefs. They would have won the No. 3 seed in the AFC had they beaten the Raiders, who also had nothing to play for. But the Chiefs thought Oakland would lay down and when Oakland didn’t, Kansas City tucked tail and ran away. Now Indianapolis has the No. 3 spot and has earned a date with the Jets next weekend.

2. Manning does it again.
This wasn’t an overly impressive outing for Peyton Manning, who was out-gunned by Kerry Collins (who threw for 300 yards and finished with a passer rating of 111.1). But it was Manning who once again came up clutch in the end by leading his team into field goal range in the closing minutes. Manning couldn’t move his offense much in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t matter in the end. He saved his best work for the finale and now the Colts are once again AFC South champions.

3. The Titans deserve some praise.
Give Tennessee credit for showing up to play on Sunday. This is a team that was criticized for giving up last weekend in Kansas City but they came out swinging against the Colts. When Indy held leads of 13-6 and 20-13, the Titans could have shut it down and let the Colts cruise in the second half. But Tennessee didn’t and the Titans wound up making a game out of it. And hey – surprise! – Randy Moss actually made a big play when he snagged a first down pass in the second half to keep a drive alive.