Every Coach’s Dream or impending disaster?

Will Johnson's ego get in the way of the Titans?

I was doing a buzz through Hot off the Wire earlier today to catch up on what is going on in the quiet time of the NFL world and I was a little startled by some things surrounding Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson.

Johnson was beast in his rookie season, rushing for 1,228 yards, nine touchdowns and chipping in another 260 yards with a score through receptions. He was electric and a joy to watch. Fantasy owners who had him loved him, too.

Now, however, it seems his ego may be getting a bit too big for his jock strap.

For starters, Terry McCormick, of The Nashville City Paper, reported Johnson is soliciting fans for suggestions on end zone celebrations.

“I’m going to test out celebrations,” Johnson said. “I’ve gotten some, but I feel like I didn’t get any one that caught my attention yet.”

He went on to say that he’ll pay a fine if he is given one. “If it’s better than T.O. or Ochocinco, I’ll pay the fine,” Johnson said.

I have mixed opinions on the whole planned celebration thing. You know it’s the No Fun League. You know you’re going to be fined for it. So why bother unless you’re looking for attention?

Then, I read some more disturbing comments from our buddy Jim Wyatt, of the Tennessean. Jim writes Johnson no longer wants to be known as the “Dash” in the tandem of “Smash and Dash.”

That was the nickname given to Johnson and running mate LenDale White last year. Johnson, instead, wants to now be known as “Every Coach’s Dream.” Yeah, that’s right, he’s giving himself a nickname.

He was “Every FANTASY Coach’s Dream” most of the season last year. I’ll give him that. Maybe he’s confusing fantasy with reality. We all do that from time to time, you know.  I have told you Megan Fox is in love with me, right? I’m playing hard to get; she loves that.

“Smash and Dash have had a divorce – that’s official. I have to be my own guy, so no more Smash and Dash, that was last year. Every Coach’s Dream, that’s me. Because they say every team has its own identity. I feel for me, I can’t be noticed as a group any more. I am my own guy,” Johnson said.

What happened to no I in team?

Wow. Doesn’t want to be noticed as a team anymore, huh? Wants to be his own guy now, huh? What ever happened to the mentality there is no “I” in team?

I’m all for a player being confident. I’m all for a player talking a little smack from time to time, too. However, Johnson’s two things scream a “me first” attitude to me. You don’t hear stuff like this come from players on the New England Patriots.

For starters, he is just entering his second year. If a player with a proven track record had diarrhea of the mouth like that, I might understand it a little better. But the reality is that Johnson has just ONE year under his belt. The Titans, despite a nice season, didn’t win anything last year. In fact, Johnson was injured in their playoff loss after a fast start.

He is talented enough to back up the talk of wanting to be his own man, but maybe he should wait until he has done something on the field for more than ONE season. Maybe he could be like many other great players and let his play bring the attention, not his mouth.

Titans head coach Jeff Fisher had some fun with it, too. He poked fun at Johnson, noting that “Every Coach’s Dream” doesn’t take unnecessary penalties like Johnson did when he pretended to play bongo drums. He also said “Every Coach’s Dream” doesn’t suffer an injury during a playoff game.

How is that for a reality check?

Fisher said the two running backs will probably come up with a new nickname, maybe something like “Dumb and Dumber.”

White also wasn’t too crazy about Johnson’s comments.

“He’s a little delirious,” White said. “When he wakes up out of the dream he’ll be all right. And the one thing about dreams is they are not real.”

Well if dreams aren’t real, LenDale just destroyed my whole theory of Megan being in love with me.  Sigh.

“I don’t know him right now. I think it’s the Pro Bowl stuff – ya’ll created somebody we don’t want to see,” White added.

Maybe next week Johnson can say he plans to run for 2,000 yards and score 30 touchdowns.

We can only hope the Titans’ vets will get in his ear and make him realize he can do his talking on the field, not during the offseason. Vocal players this time of year often only disappoint when it comes time to put the pads on.

With fantasy football players taking him early in the first-round, many better hope Johnson starts choosing his words more closely and focusing on his play and not being his own personality. If not, “Every Coach’s Dream” might become “One Big Disappointment.”