Saturday 14 February 2015 20:46, UK
The New York Jets will not be exercising their option on running back Chris Johnson, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The 29-year-old struggled in his first year with the franchise, rushing for 663 yards and scoring only one touchdown on the ground despite playing in all 16 regular season games.
They had until Monday to decide whether to stick with Johnson, who was due a $500,000 option bonus that would have kicked in if he remained on the roster past that date.
Johnson, known as CJ2K after breaking the 2,000 yard rushing barrier in 2009, was signed to provide a veteran presence in the Jets backfield but he ended up on the wrong end of a job split with Chris Ivory, who rushed for 821 yards and six touchdowns.
The franchise said Johnson's impending release had nothing to do with him being arrested last month on weapons charges.
It saves them $3.5m against the salary cap next season and might leave them open to signing another free agent running-back, perhaps Buffalo Bills' star CJ Spiller, who has worked with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey in the past.
But linebackers Jason Babin and Calvin Pace will be back with the Jets next season after their contract options were exercised.
