NFL’s Best Running Back Will Impact Sportsbook Odds. If you were going to make a wager at the sportsbook on the Tennessee Titans but were worried about the status of running back Chris Johnson, you can relax. The NFL’s leading rusher will be in camp as the Titans and Johnson came to an agreement that will take care of his contract for this season. Johnson led the NFL last year in rushing and he is a player that makes a huge difference vs. the sports book NFL odds.
Sportsbook odds on Tennessee list them as 28-1 dark horse candidates to win the Super Bowl. Without Johnson those odds would be 40-1 or more. He is one of the best players in the league and the Titans could not afford to be without him. The Titans are going to move up Johnson’s salary for this year without redoing his contract. According to his original contract, Johnson would have made just about $500,000 this season but with the new arrangement he will get about $2 million. Johnson was considering holding out if something was not done with his contact and the Titans didn’t have much choice but to do something. Sports book stats indicated that Johnson set an NFL single-season record last season for most yards gained from scrimmage.
Johnson is still hoping to get a new contract worked out with the Titans but for now this compromise was enough to get him to camp. The change in Johnson’s current contract is actually very simple as the team is paying him $1.5 million in terms of incentive bonuses in 2010 instead of in 2012. Johnson is not worried about 2012 though since he expects to have a new deal in place long before then.
Tennessee was an excellent team just two years ago vs. sportsbook odds but last year they started 0-6. They turned things around though and went 8-2 the rest of the way but still did not make the playoffs. Vince Young played well at quarterback and Johnson ripped through opposing defenses. With Johnson set to go with a contract for this season, optimism in Tennessee is high again. Whether Young can keep his head screwed on straight is always an issue but the Titans can at least rest assured that Johnson will be carrying the offensive load in 2010. Tennessee could be worth a look in preseason odds at the sportsbook now that the situation regarding Johnson has been resolved.