Could the Titans cut Chris Johnson?

Since entering the league in 2008 as a first-round pick, Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson has been a house on fire. He’s been so explosive, that there was even talk that he might try to race Usain Bolt. Seriously.

And so everyone agreed that the man had far outperformed his rookie contract and needed to be paid. And after a lengthy holdout, he got paid. A lot.

But, since then, he’s been…how you say….horrific? Sure, his offensive line hasn’t been blowing holes open for him, but he’s clearly been awful. He has 302 yards this year, averaging 2.8 yards per carry with one TD (he scored???). He could be the biggest fantasy football disappointment (injuries aside of course) in the history of fantasy football.

And sources tell Profootballtalk.com that several teams around the league think that Johnson could be cut by the team after the season. Due $8 million next season, Johnson would need to step it up in order for the team to warrant that. And as PFT points out, it would be $7.7 million if he doesn’t hit 1,000 yards this year, and he’s currently on pace for 690.

And Johnson has $9 million of his guaranteed-for-injury-only money that’s only guaranteed if he’s on the roster the fifth day of the 2013 league year. So, by cutting him in March, the Titans could save $17 million.

You want to be patient with a player of Johnson’s talent, but at what point is ditching his bloated contract a reality? Why do we think that if he’s cut, he’ll be set to join the Redskins by sundown that day?