NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee Titans and Chris Johnson have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension ending the three-time Pro Bowl running back’s holdout.
Tennessee confirmed Thursday the team had agreed to terms on the revised deal. Johnson tweeted Wednesday night that he had dinner in Orlando with his agent Joel Segal “talking business” on the 34th day of his holdout.
Johnson has led the NFL in yards rushing the past three seasons and refused to report to the camp without a new deal.
The 24th pick overall in the 2008 draft out of East Carolina, Johnson became only the sixth man in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards when he ran for 2,006 in 2009.
The Titans revised his contract a year ago moving some money up in his contract, but he still was set to earn only $1.065 million for this season.
Now the running back will be under contract for the next six years through 2016, and the revised deal is worth $53.5 million with $30 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the contract.
This deal will be noticed by running backs such as Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, who is in the final year of his original contract. Carolina gave DeAngelo Williams $21 million guaranteed in his new deal a few weeks ago.
The Titans (2-1) wrapped up the preseason Thursday night at New Orleans, but Tennessee’s season opener is Sept. 11 at Jacksonville.
For new coach Mike Munchak, having the running back on the team for the entire season was crucial for Tennessee, which is coming off a 6-10 season.
Tennessee wanted Johnson to at least have a few days of practice with new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in a revised offense with coordinator Chris Palmer.
Taylor retires a Jaguar after 13 seasons
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Running back Fred Taylor is retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons and nearly 12,000 yards. Taylor will sign a one-day contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday so he can formally retire with the team that drafted him ninth overall in 1998.
Taylor spent 11 seasons in Jacksonville and remains the franchise’s leading rusher with 11,271 yards. He ranks third with 286 catches and fourth with 2,361 receiving yards.
Taylor spent the last two seasons playing sparingly in New England, where he ran 106 times for 424 yards and four touchdowns.
Taylor ranks 15th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,695 yards. He is 379 yards behind Thurman Thomas and 343 ahead of John Riggins - both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Falcons bolster secondary by adding Hayden, Sanders
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons beefed up their secondary depth by signing cornerback Kelvin Hayden and confirming their deal with safety James Sanders.
Hayden spent the past six years with the Indianapolis Colts before being cut in a salary cap move. He has nine career interceptions and is best remembered for the pick he returned for a touchdown in the 2007 Super Bowl, clinching a 29-17 win over Chicago.
Sanders started 49 games for New England over the past six years, making eight interceptions and returning two of them for TDs. Last season, he set careers highs with three picks and six passes defended He also was cut for cap reasons.
Around the league
• RAMS: St. Louis re-signed wide receiver Mark Clayton, who has recovered from knee surgery. Clayton caught 22 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns the first four games last season. Before the injury, he was Sam Bradford’s top target.
• NFLPA: The NFL players’ union has canceled its weekly conference call, eliminating a planned discussion about HGH testing. Many members of the NFLPA executive committee were traveling Wednesday or preparing for their final preseason game, prompting the cancellation.
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