If the New York Jets plan to use a platoon system at running back, new acquisition Chris Johnson has conveniently forgotten the message.
NFL.com is reporting that the seventh-year running back who signed with the Jets in the offseason after six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Tennessee Titans is scoffing at the idea of sharing the football in the Jets backfield.
Johnson told NFL.com's Around The League that he intends to take the lion's share of the carries next season.
"Once the season starts and once we're playing and I'm doing my thing, I'm pretty sure if I'm making plays they're going to want to keep handing the ball off to me," Johnson said. "If they want me to continue making plays, I'm pretty sure I can't do that if I'm on the sideline."
Jets luring Chris Johnson to help Geno Smith
NFL.com reported that Jets running backs coach Anthony Lynn said last week that the team needed to take a cautious approach in handling Johnson, who has 1,742 career carries for 7,965 yards. He is coming off offseason knee surgery and told NFL.com he's close to 100 percent.
"I want to do the best thing to help the team," Johnson told Around The League. "That's coming out here and making big plays week after week after week. As for the time share and all that, it won't be an issue I'm pretty sure."
Part of the reason the Jets inked the 28-year-old Johnson was his willingness to split carries with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. Despite his bravado to Around The League, Johnson indicated that he believed he wasn't saying anything he didn't believe to be true at any position on the Jets.
"That's with any position on the field, if we have a receiver that's continuing to make play after play I'm pretty sure they're going to keep getting the ball," Johnson said. (Offensive coordinator) Marty (Mornhinweg) is a smart guy, he knows how to put his players in the right position to make plays, so at the end of the day, if I continue to play like I've been playing, they're going to keep handing the ball off to me."
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