Andre Johnson Contract

Andre Johnson sat out of organized team activities Monday in protest of his contract. Johnson, who signed an eight year deal in 2007, is now unhappy with the contract and wants a new deal.

This is just another distraction for the Houston Texans after Brian Cushing's suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy.

8 Years, $60 Million

Johnson was dissatisfied with his original contract that he signed as a rookie and the Texans reworked that contract with two years left. This contract, that still has five years remaining, pays him $60 million over the 8 years with $15 million guaranteed. Johnson is expected to be paid a base of 5.8 million in 2010.

New Contract?

Texan's General Manager, Rick Smith, said he isn't worried about Johnson missing OTA's and said that Johnson should know that they are willing to sit down and talk. But working a new deal with so many years left on the existing contract is rare.

Johnson has been nothing but a productive professional for the Texans during his career. But like almost every other athlete, he was looking for a long term deal - and he got it. Now he thinks he is worth more (and he might be right) and wants a new contract. If players want to be the highest paid each year, why commit to so many years. If he would have signed a five year deal instead, it would probably be easier to work out a new contract with three years left rather than five.