National Football League

Chris Johnson rips Jets, points fingers on his way out the door

Published Feb. 18, 2015 12:01 p.m. ET

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Sid Saraf

Chris Johnson isn't thrilled right now.

The New York Jets declined to pick up the veteran running back's option for the 2015 season, which will make him a free agent come March 10. And now, after a season that saw him run the ball a career-low 155 times for 663 yards, Johnson says he was promised something that the Jets didn't deliver on.

"When I sat down and talked to (former Jets head coach) Rex (Ryan) before I signed with the Jets, my role and my situation was explained to me totally different to what actually happened," Johnson said on the Rich Eisen podcast.

Johnson was under the impression that he was going to be the lead running back in the offense.

"Basically it was a situation where I was going there to be the guy or whatever," Johnson said on the Rich Eisen Show. "It was still said, yeah both guys (Johnson and Chris Ivory) was going to get playing time, but I think it was like after the second game or something like that, it just switched over and I started getting less and less playing time."

Hence, the serious dip in Johnson's statistical output. However, Johnson isn't putting the blame on Rex Ryan. He seems to point the finger at departed general manager John Idzik.

"I think last year, with the organization, I think a lot of the stuff was out of Rex's hands."

Another player agrees with Johnson's viewpoint.

Tight end Kellen Winslow played for the Jets in 2013 and took to Twitter to express his thoughts.

"Chris Johnson is not lying," Winslow said. "My role was never explained to me. Wanted to help Geno/Jets as route runner. Politics got in the way. #Idzik."

Oh, well. Things like this happen sometimes. Johnson, 29, will be free to continue his career elsewhere.

"I got a whole lot left in my tank," Johnson said. "I think I went to a situation where I was told one thing and it was another.”

(H/T to New York Daily News and Pro Football Talk)

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