NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

April 17, 2014

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 1

Jets sign former Titans RB Chris Johnson (Dennis Waszak, Jr.) ................................................................................. 1

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Jets sign RB Chris Johnson to two-year deal (Kimberley Martin) .............................................................................. 3

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

RB Chris Johnson strikes two-year deal with NY Jets (J.P. Pelzman) ......................................................................... 4

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 4

Jets agree to 2-year deal with Chris Johnson (Brian Costello)................................................................................... 4

Johnson a good fix for Jets, just not a dynamic one (Steve Serby)............................................................................ 6

STAR-LEDGER ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

New Jets running back Chris Johnson must prove 2013 struggles were aberration (Darryl Slater) ......................... 7

Receiver Sidney Rice visits Jets, but will re-sign with Seahawks, per league source (Darryl Slater) ......................... 8

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 9

NY Jets land former Titan Chris Johnson to bolster running backs (Seth Walder) .................................................... 9

With Chris Johnson's speed, NY Jets offense can be whole different animal (Manish Mehta) .............................. 10

Chris Johnson lands with Jets (Rich Cimini) ............................................................................................................. 11

NEW YORK TIMES ................................................................................................................................................ 13

Jets Add Spark While Giants Get Insurance (Bill Pennington) ................................................................................. 13

WALL STREET JOURNAL ....................................................................................................................................... 14

Jets Add Running Back Chris Johnson (Stu Woo) .................................................................................................... 14

METRO NEW YORK .............................................................................................................................................. 14

Jets make Chris Johnson signing official (Kristian Dyer) .......................................................................................... 14

USA TODAY .......................................................................................................................................................... 15

Chris Johnson reaches two-year deal with New York Jets (Jim Corbett) ................................................................ 15

Ex-Titan: Chris Johnson 'has something to prove' with Jets (Jim Corbett) .............................................................. 16

ESPN.COM ........................................................................................................................................................... 17

Imagining the Jets' 2014 offense (Field Yates) ........................................................................................................ 17

WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS............................................................................................................... 19

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jets sign former Titans RB Chris Johnson (Dennis Waszak, Jr.) Associated Press April 16, 2014

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http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-sign-former-titans-rb-chris-johnson

NEW YORK (AP) — Always fast on the field, Chris Johnson is looking to quickly prove his critics wrong.

The New York Jets signed the former Titans running back Wednesday, a little over a week after he was officially released by Tennessee.

Johnson met with the Jets all day Tuesday — the first team he visited — and stayed in town to watch the Knicks-Nets game in Brooklyn before signing Wednesday. The Jets announced the move, but didn't release terms.

In a text message to The Associated Press, Johnson confirmed it was a two-year deal.

"I have a fresh start," Johnson told The Tennessean. "Now I am going to go out there with a chip on my shoulder. I know a lot of people are doubting me."

Johnson was told by the Titans of their decision April 4, ending a six-year stint in Tennessee during which he became one of the NFL's most exciting running backs. The former 2,000-yard rusher will team with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell to give coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg a deep and dangerous backfield.

The Jets also have Mike Goodson, who is dealing with legal issues and recovering from torn knee ligaments.

"I've always been a big fan of the Jets," Johnson told the team's website. "There was some thought into this, but just at the end of the day, I was comfortable here. I just felt like it was the right situation."

While his days as a workhorse running back — he carried the ball over 300 times in each of the 2009 and 2010 seasons — might be over, Johnson could be the perfect complement to the bruising Ivory and versatile Powell. In Mornhinweg's first season as offensive coordinator, the Jets finished sixth in the league in rushing last year with Ivory and Powell sharing the load.

Despite the solid production, New York still entered the offseason aiming to improve the position with a big-play runner.

That's exactly what they're hoping to get in the speedy and durable Johnson, who turns 29 in September and is only the sixth player to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons.

"I see this as a team on the rise," Johnson told newyorkjets.com. "This is a winning team."

But there have been questions about whether he'll ever be the same player who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, when he earned his "CJ2K" nickname.

Johnson finished with 1,077 yards — the second-lowest total of his career — and a career-worst 3.9-yard average last season. He also rushed for 100 or more yards just twice.

The Jets held Johnson to just 21 yards on 15 carries in their 38-13 loss last season at Tennessee, but Johnson gouged them for 122 yards on 21 carries, including a career-best 94-yard touchdown run, in 2012.

The splashy move is reminiscent of the one the Jets made in 2010, when they signed an aging LaDainian Tomlinson, who turned out to be a useful role player. While being deliberate throughout free agency, general manager John Idzik has now signed arguably the three best players available at their positions in Johnson, quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Eric Decker.

New York also showed early interest in free agency in running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Donald Brown, but they signed elsewhere.

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The Titans cut ties with Johnson, making him a free agent, to avoid paying the $8 million he was due for this season, along with the final three seasons left on the $53.5 million contract he signed in September 2011. Johnson, who set several franchise and NFL records during his time in Tennessee, repeatedly said he wouldn't take a pay cut this offseason.

That prompted the Titans to unsuccessfully explore trade options this offseason— including with the Jets — before releasing him. Johnson's exit appeared inevitable when Tennessee signed Dexter McCluster to a three-year deal and re-signed Leon Washington to join Shonn Greene in the backfield.

"The Titans were ready to move on," Johnson said in his interview with The Tennessean. "They didn't want me anymore. But everything is going to work out."

Johnson was the 24th overall pick in the 2008 draft out of East Carolina, and had never missed a game because of injury — despite having surgery after the season to repair a torn meniscus that he played with most of the year.

He has 7,965 career yards on 1,742 carries for a 4.6-yard average, including 50 touchdowns, and ranks third on Tennessee's franchise rushing list behind Eddie George and Earl Campbell. Johnson also has caught 272 passes for 2,003 yards and eight TDs.

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NEWSDAY

Jets sign RB Chris Johnson to two-year deal (Kimberley Martin) Newsday April 16, 2014

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/chris-johnson-agrees-to-deal-with-jets-1.7727209

The Jets weren't willing to let Chris Johnson test the market any longer.

A day after he completed his visit to Florham Park, the team announced Wednesday that they signed the free-agent running back. A source confirmed to Newsday that the deal is for two years.

Johnson left on Tuesday without a contract, but it didn't take long for the sides to agree to terms. Johnson's two-year deal reportedly has a base value of $8 million, but he can earn $1 million more in incentives.

The 28-year-old was due to earn $8 million from Tennessee in 2014. But when the Titans were unable to secure a trade partner two weeks ago, they released Johnson.

Now, the 2009 All-Pro is eager to prove his former team, and everyone else, wrong.

"I have a fresh start. Now I am going to go out there with a chip on my shoulder," Johnson told The Tennessean by phone, shortly after signing his deal. "I know a lot of people are doubting me. I want to prove everybody wrong who has doubts in me."

He joins a crowded Jets backfield that features Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. Running back Mike Goodson is still on the roster but is facing weapons charges stemming from a May 2013 arrest in Denville, N.J.

The Jets' offseason training program begins Monday.

When the Titans signed former Jets running back Shonn Greene to a three-year, $10 million free-agent deal last offseason, Johnson expressed frustration at having to share carries. At the time, he proclaimed he's "never been a big fan of the two-back system." But he told the Jets' website that he thinks he'll "fit in pretty well" in offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's system.

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"Just talking to him and to [coach] Rex [Ryan], who's a guy that likes to run the ball, I think I'm going to fit in very well," he said. "We talked about all those things, catching out of the backfield, getting the ball to me in space."

Johnson rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his six seasons with the Titans, including 2,006 yards in 2009. Last year, he rushed for 1,077 yards and six touchdowns on 279 carries (a career-low 3.9-yard average) and caught 42 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns while playing with a torn meniscus.

"When I woke up this morning, I knew it was going to be the Jets," Johnson told the team's website. "I've always been a big fan of the Jets. There was some thought into this, but just at the end of the day, I was comfortable here. I just felt like it was the right situation."

Rice passes on Jets. After visiting with the Jets Wednesday, WR Sidney Rice agreed to terms on a one-year deal with his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, a source confirmed to Newsday. Rice, who has a history of knee issues, tore his ACL in October. But on Monday, he tweeted he's been medically cleared to resume football-related activities.

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THE RECORD

RB Chris Johnson strikes two-year deal with NY Jets (J.P. Pelzman) The Record April 16, 2014

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/rb-chris-johnson-strikes-two-year-deal-with-ny-jets-1.997423

The Jets were successful in pursuing Chris Johnson on the field last September, and they were equally as sharp in doing so off the field once the running back became a free agent.

Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, signed a two-year deal with the Jets on Wednesday, one day after visiting the team’s facility in Florham Park. The contract is worth $8 million, including a $3 million signing bonus, according to reports. It also includes incentive bonuses worth $1 million.

Free-agent wide receiver Sidney Rice visited the Jets later in the day, according to a source.

Johnson was held to 21 yards on 15 carries by the Jets’ tough run defense in Tennessee’s 38-13 win on Sept. 29. That subpar performance typified a 2013 campaign in which Johnson rushed for a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. He was released by the Titans on April 7 after playing six seasons for them.

However, Johnson played much of last season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury that was repaired by surgery in January. The speedy Johnson, only the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, joins a crowded backfield that already includes bruising Chris Ivory and versatile Bilal Powell. Johnson has 272 career receptions for an average of 7.4 yards.

His arrival could mean the Jets are looking to part ways with running back Mike Goodson, still facing weapons charges for an arrest last May.

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NEW YORK POST

Jets agree to 2-year deal with Chris Johnson (Brian Costello) New York Post April 16, 2014

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http://nypost.com/2014/04/16/jets-agree-to-2-year-deal-with-chris-johnson/

The Jets filled their need for speed Wednesday, signing free-agent running back Chris Johnson.

The team and the lightning-quick Johnson agreed to a two-year deal, according to a source, reportedly worth $8 million, but could be up to $9 million based on incentives. ESPN reported the second year of the deal is a team option.

Johnson, who turns 29 in September, was released by the Titans on April 7. He visited the Jets on Tuesday and signed his deal Wednesday afternoon.

“I have a fresh start. Now I am going to go out there with a chip on my shoulder,” Johnson told The Tennessean. “I know a lot of people are doubting me. I want to prove everybody wrong who has doubts in me.”

Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, fills a need for the Jets, giving them a speedy back to complement the bruising running of Chris Ivory.

The three-time Pro Bowler, who rushed for 1,077 yards and six touchdowns last season, is known for his playmaking ability and breakaway speed, even if he has slowed slightly in recent years. He is one of only six rushers to gain at least 1,000 yards in his first six seasons, along with Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Eric Dickerson and Corey Dillon.

“I see this as a team on the rise,” Johnson said in comments distributed by the Jets. “This is a winning team. They didn’t make the playoffs last year, but I think they were a game out of the playoffs with a rookie quarterback. So I feel like this is a team that can do some good things.”

The Titans parted ways with Johnson rather than pay him the $8 million salary he was due in 2014. His production has slipped since that 2,000-yard season five years ago. He averaged a career-worst 3.9 yards per carry last season and did not have a run longer than 30 yards.

The Jets hope to plug Johnson into a backfield that already has Ivory and Bilal Powell. Mike Goodson remains on the roster, but his future with the team is unclear now that Johnson has been added. Goodson is coming off ACL surgery and has well-documented legal troubles that are ongoing.

Johnson can also be a valuable pass catcher out of the backfield for the Jets. He had 42 catches last year. The leading receiver on the Jets was Jeremy Kerley with 43.

“I think I’m going to fit in pretty well,” Johnson said. “Just talking to [offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg] and to Rex [Ryan], who’s a guy that likes to run the ball, I think I’m going to fit in very well. We talked about all those things, catching out of the backfield, getting the ball to me in space.”

The Jets travel to Nashville this season to play the Titans in a game that should be very meaningful for Johnson. The date of the game has not been released yet.

Ivory rushed for 833 yards and three touchdowns on 182 carries last season, but the Jets have concerns about his durability. Hamstring issues hampered Ivory early last season and he has dealt with a variety of injuries during his career. Powell gained 697 yards and one touchdown on 176 carries last year, but tired as the season wore on.

Johnson has played in 16 games for the last five seasons. The only game he’s missed in his career was the finale of his rookie season, when he sat out to rest for the playoffs. Johnson did have knee surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus that he played with for most of last season.

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The Jets played host to free-agent wide receiver Sidney Rice on Wednesday afternoon. By Wednesday night, however, he had signed to return to the Seahawks, who had cut him in February.

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Johnson a good fix for Jets, just not a dynamic one (Steve Serby) New York Post April 16, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/04/16/johnson-a-good-fix-for-jets-just-not-a-dynamic-one/

The first thing you do is lower the expectations for Chris Johnson, no longer CJ2K.

But CJ1K is plenty good enough.

CJ1K makes the Jets better.

Slow and steady wins the race sometimes if your name is John Idzik and you lay in the free-agent weeds.

Running backs have been devalued in this quarterback-driven NFL, as CJ1K learned the hard way at the negotiating table.

Idzik didn’t break the Woody Johnson Independence Bank (2 years at a reported $8 million that could balloon to $9 million with incentives), nor did he need to.

Adrian Peterson’s window to win a Super Bowl is closing fast because Christian Ponder has been a bust. You don’t Ground & Pound your way to a Super Bowl anymore. Even Rex Ryan has gotten that memo.

The Jets won’t threaten the Patriots unless Geno Smith takes the next step, or Michael Vick recaptures some of his old form and is able to stay on the field for a change, and Idzik drafts the likes of LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as a dangerous complement to Eric Decker.

It doesn’t mean CJ1K won’t help, because he will, under the assumption he will be rejuvenated by better blocking and a change of scenery. At 28 (he turns 29 in September), there is still tread on those tires, and the Jets are not unrealistic to believe CJ1K’s career-low 3.9 yards per carry last season was more of an aberration that the start of a decline.

The positives outweigh the negatives — as long, of course, as his knee that was surgically repaired in January holds up, and he accepts his role as something other than the horse.

Ryan has never had a running back that causes defensive coordinators sleepless nights. Thomas Jones was a 220-pound bruiser, LaDainian Tomlinson showed flashes but was a shell of his Hall of Fame self, Shonn Greene was more of a between-the tackles banger, Bilal Powell is just a guy and Chris Ivory runs violently but is no gamebreaker.

CJ1K is the most dangerous Jets back since Leon Washington, before he broke his leg in October 2009.

Get him the ball in open space and he remains a threat take it to the house and electrify it.

Lightning, to Ivory’s Thunder.

He is the kind of safety-valve option out of the backfield Smith did not have as a rookie quarterback. Johnson caught 42 passes a year ago for 345 yards and four touchdowns, including a 66-yarder.

With Smith and/or Vick each a threat in his own right to pull the ball down and run, that should only make CJ1K all the more problematic for opposing defenses.

CJ1K has never missed a game in six seasons because of injury, and even played the last 13 games of 2013 with a torn meniscus. So he’s plenty tough.

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CJ2K had the most touchdown runs of 80 yards or longer in NFL history with six. CJ2K had 12 career touchdown runs of at least 45 yards, behind only Barry Sanders (18) and Jim Brown (13). CJ2K was the sixth player to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, along with Sanders, Curtis Martin, Eric Dickerson, Corey Dillon and Tomlinson.

CJ2K was an $8 million back.

That isn’t who is joining the Jets.

It’s CJ1K, who is now a $4 million back.

Who is worth it for Ryan and the Jets.

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STAR-LEDGER

New Jets running back Chris Johnson must prove 2013 struggles were aberration (Darryl Slater) The Star-Ledger April 16, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/04/new_jets_running_back_chris_johnson_says_i_still_have_it.html

One of the most intriguing story lines among NFL running backs last season was Chris Johnson. He will see his name forever stand alongside some of the sport’s immortal backs, but he looked unquestionably human in 2013.

The Jets, who signed Johnson on Wednesday, do not need Johnson to become a 2,000-yard rusher again – a seven-man club he joined in 2009, his second season in the league. They are counting on him, however, to demonstrate his breakaway speed more often than he did last season with the Tennessee Titans.

For the Jets, the setup for the 2014 season is simple: Already boasting a strong defense, they have a chance to make a playoff push if they improve their sluggish offense. And it will look sluggish no longer if they have enough big-play threats.

Johnson believes he is still that, even if last season indicated otherwise. The Jets signed him to a two-year contract with a total base value of $8 million, including a $3 million signing bonus, plus an opportunity to earn $1 million in incentives, based on how many yards he gains, according to reports. Johnson in 2014 was going to earn a base salary of $8 million, but the Titans cut him earlier this month.

“I have a fresh start,” Johnson told The Tennessean shortly after he signed. “Now I am going to go out there with a chip on my shoulder. I know a lot of people are doubting me. I want to prove everybody wrong who has doubts in me. I still have it.”

For Johnson, “it” has always meant, in addition to his elite speed, his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. The topic came up during his visit with the Jets, which began Tuesday. Johnson told the Jets’ website that he spoke to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg about “catching out of the backfield, getting the ball to me in space.”

Johnson has averaged 45 catches per season during his six-year career, all of which he had spent with the Titans. Even though Johnson averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per rush last season, while playing through a torn meniscus in his knee, he averaged 9.4 yards gained after the catch, ninth among running backs, according to Pro Football Focus.

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With the Jets, Johnson’s speed could nicely complement the power of running back Chris Ivory. Johnson’s arrival into this running back committee also seems to bump Bilal Powell down the depth chart.

It could also mean Mike Goodson will soon be unemployed. Goodson, of course, has bigger concerns: He is still facing two weapons possession charges in Morris County, which stem from his arrest last offseason, shortly after the Jets signed him in free agency.

The Jets have proceeded deliberately through this year’s free agency signing period, in keeping with general manager John Idzik’s style. Johnson is the seventh free agent from another team signed by the Jets – and just the third big-name free agent. The Jets also signed wide receiver Eric Decker and quarterback Michael Vick, who could end up backing up Geno Smith.

If the Jets want Johnson to be a playmaker, by having him bounce out of the backfield on runs or passes, they probably need to supplement the outside options in their passing game during next month’s draft – with an impact wide receiver, tight end or, likely, at least one of each. The Jets’ backfield will now command significant respect. In order for the Jets to keep defenses honest, their full-time receiving targets must do the same.

For the first four seasons of his career, Johnson was among the NFL’s most dangerous offensive players. From 2008-11, he ranked seventh, first, second and third in the league in runs gaining 20-plus yards. He had 55 such runs over that span, including 22 in 2009. In 2012, he ranked ninth in the league with eight runs of 20-plus yards. Last season, he had just five such runs – 17th in the NFL.

Despite the knee injury, Johnson played in all 16 games last season. He rushed for 1,077 yards and six touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 345 yards and another four TDs. And he considers last season an aberration.

The Titans, who saved $6 million against their 2014 salary cap by cutting him, clearly believe he was declining. He will have a chance to show them otherwise this season, when the Jets visit the Titans.

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Receiver Sidney Rice visits Jets, but will re-sign with Seahawks, per league source (Darryl Slater) The Star-Ledger April 16, 2014

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/04/jets_hosting_former_seahawks_wide_receiver_sidney_rice_on_free_agent_visit_per_report.html

(UPDATE: Sidney Rice, who just visited the Jets, wrote on his Twitter page Wednesday night that he is returning to the Seahawks. A league source later confirmed reports that Rice received a one-year contract from Seattle, the team he joined in 2011. So the Jets' quest to bolster their wide receiver position continues.)

Not only did the Jets sign former Titans running back Chris Johnson on Wednesday, but they are also hosting wide receiver Sidney Rice on a free agent visit, according to a league source.

Jets general manager John Idzik is entering his second season on the job, and he knows Rice quite well. Idzik worked in the Seattle Seahawks’ front office from 2007-12. Rice joined the Seahawks in 2011.

Rice, 27, was a second-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2007. Last season, he played in just eight games, and had a career-low 15 catches and 231 receiving yards, before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee – a season-ending injury. The Seahawks released Rice a few weeks after they won the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium.

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Rice was due to earn a base salary of $8.5 million in 2014, and was going to count $9.7 against Seattle's salary cap, in the second-to-last year of his five-year, $41 million contract. But after he was cut, he was going to count just $2.4 million against the cap in "dead" money. But now, he will return to Seattle, presumably under a much lower-priced deal.

Rice has reportedly received clearance from Dr. James Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon, to resume football activities.

Rice, who is 6-4 and 202 pounds, has 243 career catches for 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns. In his three seasons with the Seahawks, he played in 33 games and had 97 catches for 1,463 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2011, Rice was limited by injuries to nine games. He played a full season in 2012.

Rice’s best season was 2009 with the Vikings. He made the Pro Bowl and had 83 catches and 1,312 yards for eight touchdowns – all career highs. Since, his yearly catch totals have been 17, 32, 50 and 15. His yearly yardage totals have been 280, 484, 748 and 231. He did catch seven touchdowns in 2012. Both other than that, he has just seven touchdown catches in three seasons since 2009.

The Jets, who ranked second-to-last in the NFL last season in passing yards, need to bolster their wide receiver position. They have signed two receivers in free agency – a big name (Denver’s Eric Decker) and a reserve-type player (Oakland’s Jacoby Ford).

The Jets are widely expected to select a receiver or tight end with the 18th pick in next month’s draft – perhaps Southern California receiver Marqise Lee, Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks or Texas A&M tight end Jace Amaro.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

NY Jets land former Titan Chris Johnson to bolster running backs (Seth Walder) Johnson agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract, according to a source, and he can earn an extra $1 million if he hits yardage incentives. The second year reportedly is a team option. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS April 16, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-land-johnson-bolster-rbs-article-1.1759218

The Jets badly needed weapons this offseason, and they landed a speedy one for their backfield on Wednesday. Former Titans running back Chris Johnson signed with Gang Green, agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract, according to a source, and he can earn an extra $1 million if he hits yardage incentives. The second year reportedly is a team option.

Johnson visited the Jets on Tuesday, but said he hadn’t made his decision when asked that evening at the Knicks-Nets game in Brooklyn. The Daily News had previously reported that the Jets were one of just a few teams showing serious interest in him. The Jets had more than $26 million remaining in cap space before the Johnson signing.

Before the Titans announced they were releasing Johnson on April 4, the Jets had inquired about trading for the running back, according to a source. He is expected to work in tandem with bruising back Chris Ivory.

Johnson’s visit Tuesday included a physical, according to a source. The running back had arthroscopic knee surgery in January to repair a meniscus tear. He passed a physical administered by the Titans before his release.

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“I want to prove everybody wrong who has doubts in me,” Johnson told The Tennessean.

“(The Jets are) a team on the rise, and I want to make them better. . . . I still have it.”

The Jets revamped their offense a year ago by bringing in coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Though Mornhinweg’s West Coast system is versatile, he lacked the playmakers to allow it to run well. In Johnson, along with other recent signings such as Eric Decker and Michael Vick, Mornhinweg should have more speed and talent at his disposal.

Johnson’s pace can complement the brute force of Ivory, the Jets’ leading rusher in 2013 with 833 yards. Johnson has a chance at a long touchdown every time he’s handed the ball, which can’t necessarily be said for the Jets’ top two backs last season, Ivory and Bilal Powell. A major shortcoming of Ivory’s game is his virtual inability to catch the ball, so Johnson, with his 272 career receptions, provides an extra dimension for Mornhinweg.

But despite the fit on paper, the former Titan is coming off a down year in 2013. He still reached 1,000 yards for the sixth consecutive season, averaging 3.9 yards per carry with six rushing touchdowns and four receiving TDs.

Johnson, 28, is best known for his 2009 season, when he ran for 2,006 yards and earned the nickname CJ2K, but he hasn’t been able to duplicate that sort of success. The Jets are betting that last season wasn’t a sign of a downward trend for him. One strong signal for Gang Green is Johnson’s health: he has missed only one game in his six-year NFL career.

The Jets now have five halfbacks on the roster: Johnson, Ivory, Powell, Alex Green and Mike Goodson, although the Johnson signing will likely signal the end of Goodson’s time as a Jet. Goodson, whose tenure with the team has included a torn ACL and MCL and a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, is in the midst of legal proceedings regarding weapons charges from last offseason. The Jets may wait for the court process to conclude before making a move with him.

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With Chris Johnson's speed, NY Jets offense can be whole different animal (Manish Mehta) The Jets aren’t asking Johnson to outrun any four-legged beasts in the wild in 2014, but they certainly hope the speedy running back, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal Wednesday, according to a source, will provide a home-run threat that was lacking last season. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS April 16, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-johnson-speed-jets-o-animal-article-1.1759235

Chris Johnson was defying logic, beating the fastest land mammal on the planet on a 220-foot long dirt course last summer, when the absurdity of the made-for-TV event revealed this undeniable fact: Win or lose, this guy is pretty freaking fast.

Johnson’s blazing speed is his greatest physical gift, the envy of helpless defensive players unable to catch him, even though Jenna, a 3-year-old cheetah, ultimately accelerated past the three-time Pro Bowler to edge him out in the race televised on the National Geographic Channel.

The Jets aren’t asking Johnson to outrun any four-legged beasts in the wild in 2014, but they certainly hope the speedy running back, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal Wednesday, according to a source, will provide a home-run threat that was lacking last season.

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“I have a fresh start,” Johnson told The Tennessean on Wednesday after signing his new contract. “Now I am going to go out there with a chip on my shoulder. I know a lot of people are doubting me. I want to prove everybody wrong who (has) doubts in me.”

The magic of CJ2K hasn’t completely vanished.

Johnson isn’t a panacea for offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s offense, but he still possesses the rare ability to turn garbage into gold in open spaces. Give him an inch and he can still give you 80 yards.

At worst, he’s Dave Kingman, an all-or-nothing home run hitter who will sometimes make you curse at your television on Sunday afternoons. At best, he’s Reggie Jackson, whose majestic bombs will make you forget the maddening amount of times that he whiffs.

Either way, general manager John Idzik and Rex Ryan deserve credit for upgrading an offense that lacked an explosive dimension last season. Johnson, who will turn 29 in September, won’t come close to his career average of 290 carries per season, but he’ll add a wrinkle to diversify the offense.

The Jets’ expectation is for Johnson and Chris Ivory to provide a formidable 1-2 punch to help reduce pressure on quarterback Geno Smith. The organization had the inside track on Donald Brown at the outset of free agency before he signed with the Chargers.

The Jets, who finished fifth in rushing attempts and sixth in rushing offense in 2013, will lean on Ivory and Johnson as Smith continues to grow.

The Jets added Eric Decker — and are expected to draft another pass catcher early in next month’s draft — to upgrade the league’s 31st-ranked passing offense from a year ago, but the backfield will be the engine for now.

Ivory and Bilal Powell had a nearly 50-50 split in carries last season, so it’s conceivable that Johnson could see about a 35%-40% decline in carries if the Jets stick to that formula. Johnson also provides insurance if Ivory, who has durability concerns, misses time.

Call it Ground-and-Pound 2.0, a modern-day spin on Ryan’s love for old-school football cemented in running and playing suffocating defense. However, these won’t be your older brother’s Jets.

Johnson’s versatility — he has averaged 45 receptions in his six-year career — will give Mornhinweg more options and freedom to attack defenses. The Jets brain trust came away from its meeting with Johnson on Tuesday convinced that he still has enough left in the tank to make a meaningful contribution.

The organization isn’t concerned about Johnson’s work ethic, either. Although Johnson’s production has dipped since his magical 2,006-yard season in 2009, the Jets believe he won’t be as hesitant running behind a better offensive line.

Johnson, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in January to repair meniscus damage, is coming off a career-low 3.9 yards per carry last season, but his 58 career touchdowns are appealing for a team that averaged only 18.1 points (27th in the league) in 2013.

“I still have it,” Johnson said on Wednesday.

The Jets wisely agree.

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Chris Johnson lands with Jets (Rich Cimini) ESPN.com

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April 16, 2014

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/10791328/chris-johnson-agrees-two-year-deal-new-york-jets?ex_cid=espnapi_public

After a relatively conservative first month of free agency, the New York Jets made one of the splashiest moves of the offseason, signing former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The base value of the deal is $8 million, and includes another $1 million in incentives, according to league sources. Johnson's deal has a team option for the second year at $4 million, which would have to be picked up in February 2015, a league source told Schefter.

The team took to Twitter on Wednesday to confirm the signing:

"I've always been a big fan of the Jets," Johnson told the team's official website. "There was some thought into this, but just at the end of the day, I was comfortable here. I just felt like it was the right situation."

Released April 4, Johnson generated little interest on the open market. He visited with only one team -- the Jets -- and wrapped that up Tuesday. The team wanted to get him signed before the start of its offseason program next week. No other team was identified as a serious suitor.

"I see this as a team on the rise," Johnson told the team's official website. "This is a winning team. They didn't make the playoffs last year, but I think they were a game out of the playoffs with a rookie quarterback. So I feel like this is a team that can do some good things."

For years, Johnson was one of the sport's elite players. He has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in his each of six seasons, including 2,006 yards in 2009. But declining production, coupled with a large salary, led to his ouster.

The Jets were reportedly one of four teams that inquired about trading for Johnson, but they didn't want to pick up his salary ($8 million) or surrender a draft pick, not when his release was expected.

New York finished sixth in rushing last season and has every running back returning in 2014, yet felt the need to add more speed. Johnson, 28, is one of the fastest backs in the league, although he's coming off a season in which he averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry.

Johnson's health is a question. He underwent surgery in late January to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and resumed running only about a month ago. He said after the season that he first hurt his knee in Week 3. He didn't miss any games and became the fifth player in league history with 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first six seasons. Obviously, the Jets feel confident he will regain his explosiveness.

There's also a question about Johnson's role. He was a workhorse with Tennessee, averaging 290 carries per season, but he likely will have to accept a reduced role as part of a committee approach. The Jets' other veteran backs are Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory, who rushed for a team-high 833 yards. Ivory's power game should pair nicely with Johnson.

"I think I'm going to fit in pretty well," Johnson told the team's official website. "Just talking to (offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg) and to (coach) Rex (Ryan), who's a guy that likes to run the ball, I think I'm going to fit in very well. We talked about all those things, catching out of the backfield, getting the ball to me in space."

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Johnson's pass-catching ability is another reason the Jets signed him. He's not a prolific receiver, but he averages 45 receptions per season. With 42 catches last season, he was one shy of the Jets' team leader, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. Johnson had as many receiving touchdowns as any player on the Jets.

Johnson became the Jets' third high-profile addition on offense, joining quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Eric Decker.

Once known as CJ2K, Johnson brings star power to the position, the first true breakaway back of the Ryan era. Ryan coached Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson, both accomplished runners, but they weren't home run threats.

Some will argue that Johnson no longer has that dimension, as he managed only five runs of at least 20 yards last season.

There has been a dramatic decline in all aspects of his game since 2011, when he signed a four-year, $53.5 million contract extension.

Shaky offensive-line play, a change in offensive coordinators and the knee injury contributed to Johnson's downturn, but scouts also have noticed that he's not as elusive as he once was. He doesn't force as many missed tackles as he did in his vintage seasons. In 2009, the year he dominated the league, he had 22 runs of at least 20 yards.

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NEW YORK TIMES

Jets Add Spark While Giants Get Insurance (Bill Pennington) New York Times APRIL 16, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/sports/football/jets-add-johnson-while-giants-get-freeman-for-insurance.html?ref=football&_r=0

The Jets made a splashy free-agent acquisition Wednesday by signing running back Chris Johnson, who will provide a big-play threat to an offense sorely in need of the sparkle and sizzle of a Pro Bowler.

Johnson, recently released by the Tennessee Titans, rushed for 2,006 yards in the 2009 season, and although he has not approached that type of production the last few years, he has still rushed for at least 1,000 yards in six consecutive seasons.

Also on Wednesday, the Giants came to terms with another onetime rising star of the N.F.L., agreeing to a one-year contract with quarterback Josh Freeman. The acquisition indicates that the Giants have some uncertainty about the health or durability of Eli Manning, their starter, who had ankle surgery last week. It is possible that Manning could be limited in training camp, and Freeman would give the Giants a veteran quarterback for the preseason.

Freeman, who threw for 27 touchdowns and more than 4,000 yards for Tampa Bay two seasons ago, was released by the Buccaneers last year and then had an ignominious stay in Minnesota trying to help the woebegone Vikings. The other Giants backup quarterbacks are Curtis Painter, who has eight career N.F.L. starts, all losses, and Ryan Nassib, a second-year player who has never been active for a game.

Johnson, who will turn 29 in September, will share the Jets backfield with Chris Ivory, a combination that may presage a return to the ground-and-pound style of Coach Rex Ryan’s early years with the team. Ivory, the Jets’ leading rusher last season, should complement Johnson, who is more of a speed back and can get outside for longer gains.

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Johnson, who signed a two-year contract, has scored 58 rushing touchdowns in 95 games and has caught 272 career passes, another skill the Jets could use out of the backfield.

Since entering the league in 2008, Johnson has run for 7,965 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. But his average last season was a career-low 3.9 yards, down from a high of 5.6 in 2009.

Freeman, 26, has thrown for 80 career touchdowns, with 67 interceptions, and has completed 57.6 percent of his passes in his five seasons. He has also rushed for 922 yards.

In 2013, Manning, 33, had perhaps his worst season since his rookie year. He has started 151 straight regular-season games for the Giants.

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

Jets Add Running Back Chris Johnson (Stu Woo) Wall Street Journal April 16, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303626804579505932658248204?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303626804579505932658248204.html

The Jets added another famous name to their roster on Wednesday, signing veteran running back Chris Johnson, the team announced.

Johnson, who will turn 29 in September, spent his entire six-year career with the Tennessee Titans before the team cut him this off-season. There he established himself as one of the league's fastest men and most accomplished running backs. In 2009, he rushed for 2,006 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

Johnson has missed just one game in his career, and has slowed as he has aged. After a career-high 358 carries in 2009, he attempted 279 rushes in 2013, averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per attempt. That's less than both of the Jets' regular rushers from last season, Chris Ivory (4.6) and Bilal Powell (4.0).

Johnson is the third free-agent speedster to join the Jets's 25th-ranked offense from a year ago, along with quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Eric Decker.

The Jets didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

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METRO NEW YORK

Jets make Chris Johnson signing official (Kristian Dyer) Metro New York April 16, 2014

http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nfl/2014/04/16/jets-make-chris-johnson-signing-official/

The Jets got their big-play threat as running back Chris Johnson signed a multi-year contract with the team on Wednesday.

The team made official the capture of Johnson on Wednesday afternoon, following a meeting with the All-Pro running back at the team’s facility the day before. Johnson is one of two big names hauled in by the Jets this offseason. Former Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker signed as a free agent in March.

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Metro New York reported on Tuesday Johnson had left the team facility following a meeting with Jets management and had an offer on the table for a multi-year deal. At the time, the team source said “a contract was offered to Chris that was attractive and certainly at his value.”

The New York Daily News reports Johnson signed to a two-year contract. The Jets confirmed the signature late on Wednesday afternoon.

A team source tells Metro the Jets plan to utilize Johnson like they did LaDainian Tomlinson, a free agent who signed with the team in 2010 and rushed for 914 yards in his first season with the Jets.

Given his decline in production last year, including a lack of big plays, the crowded Jets backfield might be a good place to keep Johnson fresh. Chris Ivory performed solidly last year in a battering-ram role, so Johnson could be a good fit as a change of pace. Johnson is known as a home run hitter who hits the hole hard and has explosive speed to turn a routine gain into a touchdown.

Johnson ran for 1,077 yards last season — the second-lowest tally in his six-year career. But the Jets know his big-play ability up close and personal. Johnson unfurled a 94-yard touchdown in a 14-10 win that eliminated the Jets from playoff contention on Dec. 17, 2012.

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USA TODAY

Chris Johnson reaches two-year deal with New York Jets (Jim Corbett) USA TODAY April 16, 2014

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jets/2014/04/16/chris-johnson-agrees-two-year-deal-new-york/7428319/

It didn't take Chris Johnson long to receive a fresh start.

Now that new beginning is all about how much the former 2,006-yard Tennessee Titans running back and one of the league's fastest tailbacks has left when the lines up in the backfield of the New York Jets this season.

The Jets' website confirmed Johnson signed a contract with the team more than a week after being cut by Tennessee.

Johnson's two-year deal is worth a base value of $8 million with yardage incentives that could add $1 million to the package, a person familiar with the deal told USA TODAY Sports. That person requested anonymity because the team has yet to announce the terms of the deal.

The three-time Pro Bowler who blazed a 4.24-second, 40-yard dash during the 2008 Indianapolis scouting combine has fallen off in terms of production since emerging the sixth back in league history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark.

That magical 2,006-yard, 16-touchdown 2009 season earned Johnson the nickname "CJ2K.'' But Johnson, 28, has been fading ever since.

Johnson, who received a six-year, $54 million extension in 2011, is coming off January surgery to repair a torn meniscus that contributed to his career-low 3.9 yards rushing average in 2013. Johnson played through the knee injury last season when he rushed for 1,077 yards and six touchdowns.

He did pass his physical with the Titans before being released. However, his days as a focal-point feature back seem to be in the rear view mirror.

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Johnson was scheduled to earn $8 million in base salary for the 2014 season. He was released after the Titans failed to consummate a trade despite interest from the Jets, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, according to The (Nashville) Tennessean.

Without the pressure to carry his new franchise, Johnson will have a chance now to stay fresh and threaten defenses with his still dynamic game-changing speed in a complementary role. He joins a Jets backfield where Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell combined for more than 1,500 rushing yards in 2013.

Despite the steady dropoff, Johnson is the league's lone back to register 1,000 yards rushing each of the last six seasons. He has also shown impressive durability, averaging 4.6 rushing yards while scoring 50 rushing touchdowns in starting 93 of 95 career games.

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Ex-Titan: Chris Johnson 'has something to prove' with Jets (Jim Corbett) USA TODAY Sports April 16, 2014

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jets/2014/04/16/chris-johnson-future-brad-hopkins/7793985/

So what version of Chris Johnson did the New York Jets just acquire?

Apparently a highly motivated tailback still capable of hitting the home run for Rex Ryan's beloved "Ground and Pound" attack, according to former Tennessee Titans left tackle and current SIRIUS NFL Radio analyst Brad Hopkins.

Hopkins says Johnson, who was released by the Titans last week, remains a dynamic playmaker with the ability to change games on any given touch — especially now that he'll have fresher legs in an expected tag-team role with power back Chris Ivory and backup Bilal Powell.

"This is the best Chris Johnson you're going to get since that 2,006-yard season in 2009," Hopkins told USA TODAY Sports. "He has something to prove now. ... Here's a guy likely to take a $5 million reduction in pay from the $8 million he was supposed to make with the Titans this season.

"He'll be upset by that and out to prove people wrong. ... And that can only help him."

It might also help that Johnson will get the chance to prove his doubters wrong against his former team as the Jets are scheduled to play in Nashville next season.

The Jets, who ranked 29th in scoring last season, sorely needed players capable of producing more points. So it was no surprise they wrapped up a two-year deal for Johnson on Wednesday before he could make any more free agent visits.

Hopkins, who said Johnson played with more determination late last season after Titans quarterback Jake Locker went down with a Lisfranc injury, should benefit from the platoon system the Jets use in their backfield.

"Let's think about when Chris was his most productive," says Hopkins. "It was when he shared the workload with LenDale White early in his career. The plan going into last year was to share the load with Shonn Greene. But Shonn got hurt (a knee injury cost Greene five games last season).

"So there was a lot of volatility with that offense last year."

Hopkins said Johnson figures to thrive now that he will not be asked to be the offensive focal point as he was the last five seasons in the Music City.

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"People always talked about whether Chris Johnson with his size (5-11, 195 pounds) was an every-down back," Hopkins said. "I don't know if there's such a thing as an every-down back in the NFL anymore.

"The thing that will motivate Chris Johnson is being wanted. At some point in your career, you've made the money. You're good. ... You just want the franchise to appreciate you.

"And what really drives a player is the love of the fans."

Hopkins added that Johnson may have created unrealistic expectations given how his pro career started.

"Chris was like lightning in the bottle with him breaking the combine record by clocking 4.24 seconds for the 40-yard dash and running for 2,006 yards in 2009, that put him on that star platform," Hopkins said. "But Chris needs space to make guys miss.

"He just needs to be in an environment where he's not in an adversarial situation."

Hopkins, who also does local sports radio in Nashville, says Johnson received a bad rap among some disenchanted Titans fans, who accused "CJ2K" of being selfish when he signed a six-year, $54-million extension in 2011.

"He was asking the fan base to be patient when he was negotiating for that extension," Hopkins said. "That is when the bottom fell out of the market for him with fans. ... He wasn't saying, 'I'm trying to break the bank.'

"There is one thing that rings false when it comes to Chris Johnson — people should stop reading body language when it comes to him.

"They say it looks like he doesn't care. Just because he doesn't show you a lot of emotion doesn't mean he's approaching the game with any less effort than anybody else.

"Chris Johnson is a guy whom his teammates believe in."

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ESPN.COM

Imagining the Jets' 2014 offense (Field Yates) ESPN Insider April 16, 2014

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10791976/nfl-new-york-jets-offense-look-chris-johnson-michael-vick?refresh=true

The New York Jets' offense had a lot of room to improve coming off of a forgettable 2013 season, but with the most recent addition of running back Chris Johnson, who will sign a two-year deal with the team according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the group is suddenly rounding into form.

A major question remains as to who will win the starting quarterback job, as Michael Vick was signed to a one-year deal that at least gives him the chance to unseat Geno Smith. While the offense won't be dramatically different from a schematic standpoint with Smith or Vick under center, the two have varying skill sets.

Nothing has been established, but for the sake of this piece, let's examine the possibility of what the Jets' offense could look like in 2014 if Vick winds up under center.

What they do

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The Jets run a West Coast offensive system. That's a term that's probably overused in today's football discourse, but the basis of it is that it's predicated upon a reliance on the underneath and intermediate passing game through crossing patterns and other horizontally stretching route concepts. They also happen to be among the most run-heavy teams in the NFL, finishing fifth in overall attempts last year and sixth in overall yards.

The system won't undergo wholesale changes, but the personnel upgrades open up new possibilities, especially down the field.

What they can do now

Vick has struggled with consistency in his most recent seasons as a starter, particularly from a decision-making and ball-security standpoint (he's combined for 37 interceptions and fumbles over his past 30 games played). But his strengths are unique, as he offers arm strength to drive the football down the field, elusiveness to break the pocket and hurt his opponent with his legs as well as the zip to fit the football into tight windows. These strengths could potentially add a new dimension to the offense, particularly down the field, but a lot of that will be dependent upon whether they can add a deep threat between now and the start of the season (more on that later).

We saw some of this production when Vick ran a very similar offense during his time with the Eagles. There will definitely be a higher ceiling for this offense with Vick under center, albeit without a dramatic change in philosophy.

Johnson, meanwhile, is still among the fastest players in the NFL, though he must be used properly to maximize his effectiveness. He's no longer an every-down back who can carry the heavy load. He hardly breaks tackles, aims too often for the home-run play and is a liability in pass protection. There were games in 2013 when Johnson was more frequently a detriment than a positive for Tennessee, running away from contact and taking far too many negative runs.

But where he still excels is in space, something the Jets need to try and manufacture for him in 2014. With Chris Ivory as a hammerhead lead back and Bilal Powell an effective complement as well, the Jets will be best-served to lean on Johnson in a reduced role compared to what he's had in recent seasons.

Johnson has exceptional natural hands, terrific downfield vision (he still struggles to properly identify the hole near the line of scrimmage) and an array on open-field moves that make him slippery against second- and third-level defenders (including one of the most efficient spin moves in the league). I could see them using him in a similar role to how the Bengals use Giovani Bernard, only on a slightly smaller scale. If they use him on 25 snaps a game, they might send him out on a pass pattern on eight to 10 of them, taking advantage of his pass-catching and open-field abilities. There's no question he makes this offense more explosive; the Jets had the fewest rushing touchdowns of 20 or more yards in the NFL last season.

At the receiver position, the Jets added a dependable player in Eric Decker on a five-year contract. He has very good speed, is a proficient route runner and can win against man coverage. While he's not among the top tier of wide receivers, he's a major upgrade over anything the Jets had last season. The addition of former Raider Jacoby Ford gives the Jets world-class speed in the return game, but Ford's injury history makes him far from a lock to make a major impact this season.

What they still need

The Jets' offense has improved, but plenty of holes still exist. The team needs to add at least one wide receiver in the draft, the tight end position could be upgraded (though Jeff Cumberland was a quality re-

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signing this offseason) and the offensive line remains good but not dominant (upgrading either guard spot makes sense).

A perimeter receiving threat that can dominate with size and speed would give the Jets more of a downfield presence in the passing game, even if their system will feature less of it than other vertically stressing attacks. A middle-of-the-field tight end with the ability to create separation at the top of his routes, such as North Carolina's Eric Ebron, would present significant value in the first round.

Above all else, the quarterback position is a major question mark. Be it Smith or Vick, there's legitimate reason to wonder if the Jets have their long-term starter on the roster.

The bottom line

Johnson's name trumps his value at this point in his career, but he has a chance to be a much more effective player on a per-play basis in New York than he was in Tennessee (yes, he surpassed 1,000 yards in six straight seasons, but those numbers can be misleading).

The Jets can't call upon Johnson to work against his strengths, something it felt like the Buffalo Bills did with C.J. Spiller last season. They must highlight his areas of proficiency -- getting him on the edge in the running game and utilizing him as an outlet in the passing game (the same can be said for Spiller in Buffalo this season). We wouldn't count on a bell-cow role for Johnson. And that's how it should be. He's a change-of-pace back who can strike quickly with an open lane. He's not a power plunger who will chew up tough yards. But durability and speed matter at running back, and Johnson has both.

If the Jets can address some of the above-mentioned needs in the draft, this offense will have come around enough to the point where the team can compete for a wild card in the AFC playoffs next season.

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WEDNESDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

Associated Press March 16, 2014

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=141&sid=29513327

BASEBALL

American League

HOUSTON ASTROS — Selected the contract of OF George Springer from Oklahoma City (PCL). Reinstated RHP Scott Feldman from the bereavement list. Optioned OF Robbie Grossman to Oklahoma City. Designated RHP Lucas Harrell for assignment.

NEW YORK YANKEES — Recalled RHP Shane Greene from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL) and will option him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the April 16 night game.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Claimed RHP Marcus Walden off waivers from Toronto and optioned him to Sacramento (PCL).

SEATTLE MARINERS — Recalled INF Nick Franklin and OF James Jones from Tacoma (PCL). Placed OF-DH Logan Morrison on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 15 and RHP Blake Beavan on the 15-day DL.

National League

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NEW YORK METS — Selected the contract of RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka's contract from Las Vegas (PCL). Sent LHP John Lannan outright to Las Vegas.

American Association

ST. PAUL SAINTS — Released RHP Kyle Morrison.

WICHITA WINGNUTS — Signed 1B Chun-Hsiu Chen.

Can-Am League

NEW JERSEY JACKALS — Signed RHP Salvador Sanchez. Traded INF Rob Benedict to Traverse City for a player to be named.

QUEBEC CAPITALES — Released OF Royce Consigli.

ROCKLAND BOULDERS — Signed C Billy Alvino and C Joe Maloney.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

NBA — Suspended Los Angeles Clippers' F Blake Griffin a one game after receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2013-14 season.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS — Announced owner Herb Kohl will sell the franchise to New York investment firm executives Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens.

Women's National Basketball Association

MINNESOTA LYNX — Traded G Sugar Rodgers to New York for the rights to swap third-round picks in the 2015 draft.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

CINCINNATI BENGALS — Signed P T.J. Conley.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Agreed to terms with QB Matt Flynn.

NEW YORK JETS — Agreed to terms with RB Chris Johnson.

Canadian Football League

OTTAWA REDBLACKS — Released WR Limas Sweed, WR Paul De Pass, WR Eric Rogers, DB Justin Ferrell, DB Bo Smith and K Derek Schiavone.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS — Signed QB Darian Durant to a multiyear contract extension.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

BUFFALO SABRES — Announced goalie coach Jim Corsi will not return next season and the contract of assistant coach Teppo Numminen will not be renewed. Announced assistant coach Joe Sacco and Jerry Forton have been offered jobs within the team's hockey department.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Recalled G Mac Carruth from Rockford (AHL).

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS — Signed D Viktor Loov to a three-year entry-level contract.

WINNIPEG JETS — Signed coach Paul Maurice to a four-year contract extension.

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American HOCKEY LEAGUE

ABBOTSFORD HEAT — Announced D Keegan Kanzig has been assigned to the team from Victoria (WHL).

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE — Announced D Josh McFadden was recalled from Cincinnati (ECHL).

ECHL

STOCKTON THUNDER — Added F Mathieu Gagnon and D Andrey Pedan to the roster.

MOTORSPORTS

INDYCAR — Fined driver Sebastian Saavedra $10,000 and placed him on probation through the Indianapolis 500 for a rules violation at Long Beach on April 13.

SOCCER

MLS — Awards an expansion team to Atlanta.

COLLEGE

ARIZONA STATE — Announced sophomore G Jahii Carson will enter the NBA draft.

CINCINNATI — Named Matt Cosinuke women's assistant soccer coach.

KANSAS STATE — Signed men's basketball coach Bruce Weber to a one-year contract extension through 2018-19.

KENTUCKY — Announced junior QB Jalen Whitlow will transfer.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE — Named Tom Hodges women's assistant basketball coach.

POST — Announced the addition of women's bowling and women's golf, beginning in the 2014-15 academic year.

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