The market for Chris Johnson is reportedly 'heating up.' (USATSI)
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By now, everyone is aware that the Titans are more or less ready and willing to trade Chris Johnson. New coach Ken Whisenhunt says there's "no rush" but certainly they'd like to move him sooner rather than later. Good news for Tennessee then: the market is reportedly "heating up."
Pro Football Talk reports that "multiple teams" are interested in attempting to make a trade for the running back formerly known as CJ2K but also adds that "nothing is imminent."
This aligns nicely with everything we've heard about Johnson being "in limbo" and Whiz stating the team plans to take their time.
Johnson's averaged 1,328 yards and eight touchdowns since being taken by the Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He's also averaged 290 carries per year; if anything he's a remarkably consistent annual performer.
However, Johnson isn't consistent from week-to-week or even carry-to-carry. Add in the fact that his yards per carry dipped in 2013 to 3.9 and there are red flags.
There's also the red flag of Johnson not wanting to take a big pay cut. That applies for both his current team and whoever would trade for him.
So there are certainly hurdles to clear in terms of compensation (for everyone involved) before this thing can really take wings.
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QB Campbell signs one year deal with Bengals
According to ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter, quarterback Jason Campbell has signed a one year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2014 season. The monetary terms of the deal have yet to be released. Campbell has familiarity with the offense that Cincinnati will be running in 2014. New Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson was Campbell's OC in 2010 and his head coach in 2011, both seasons in Oakland.Campbell spent the 2013 season as part of the Cleveland QB carousel, starting the last eight games for the Browns. He led the team in passing with 2,015 yards and 11 touchdowns, and had the best game of his career in a 27-26 loss to the Patriots at Foxboro in Week 14, throwing for 391 yards and three touchdowns.
Rarely would you say that there's a quarterback competition on a team where their guy threw for 4,293 yards and 33 touchdowns the previous season... but, don't think for one second that Marvin Lewis and Hue Jackson aren't going to use the signing of Campbell to try to motivate current QB Andy Dalton to take some strides and improve even more this year. With this signing and the rumors that they are interested in Georgia signal caller Aaron Murray, it may be possible that they aren't all that thrilled about the prospect of Dalton being "their guy" long-term.Look, the guy put up great fantasy numbers last season. He helped me win a high-stakes league in the process. But, he also threw 20 interceptions in the regular seasons, two more in a home playoff loss to San Diego. I watched him play at least six times in 2013, and saw him underthrow a wide open A.J. Green what felt like at least once in every one of those games. Had he been able to lead his receivers on deep balls a little better, he could have eclipsed 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. Fantasy fans see the numbers. Bengals fans see what could have been a much better season.I like Dalton. He is still going to be the starter and he should still be expected to have another good season in 2014. But, the signing of Campbell definitely shows that they want to have a decent backup to go to, should things start to go awry and Who Dey Nation starts to get restless.
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