So Chris Johnson wants a new contract? Let's just see how his 2009 salary compares to other running backs...

I'm reading today how the Tennessee Titans are going to give Johnson an additional 2.5 million "signing bonus" on top of his $550,000 base salary this coming season to possibly make him end his current holdout. The only thing that I'm thinking when I hear this news is: How much do other starting running backs make in salary (that are obviously not on the same level talent-wise as Chris Johnson)? Because right now Johnson is probably the best running back in the NFL. No offense Minnesota fans. So here are the 2009 base salaries for starting running backs:

Jones-Drew, Maurice $13,100,000
Jacobs, Brandon $11,506,110
Bush, Reggie $7,089,940
Tomlinson, LaDainian $6,731,630
Jackson, Steven $5,507,280
McFadden, Darren $5,391,760
Moreno, Knowshon $5,080,000
Ward, Derrick $5,006,760
Mendenhall, Rashard $4,801,240
Gore, Frank $4,350,000
Grant, Ryan $4,250,000
Johnson, Chris $4,249,680
Benson, Cedric $3,750,000
Brown, Ronnie $3,608,399
Buckhalter, Correll $3,004,810
Wells, Beanie $2,790,000
Jackson, Fred $2,253,770
Jones, Julius $2,000,000
McCoy, LeSean $1,680,123
Portis, Clinton $1,252,280
Greene, Shonn $1,215,000
Turner, Michael $1,007,280
Peterson, Adrian $760,330
Williams, DeAngelo $745,000
Rice, Ray $735,760
Addai, Joseph $718,720
Maroney, Laurence $697,280
Barber, Marion $624,420
Harrison, Jerome $539,160
Thomas, Pierre $465,590
Slaton, Steve $392,280
Smith, Kevin $391,370
Charles, Jamaal $390,200
Forte, Matt $388,120

I highlighted some of the best running backs in the league last year to give some perspective. I just want to all of you to sit there and marinate on what some of these players (that only average a 5 year career) are making and what they are producing!

Photo from lesterslegends.com and additional information from sports.yahoo.com