Thanks to the generosity of the Tennessee Titans, running back Chris Johnson never again should have to go through the mundane drudgery of holding down a "regular job."
Nashville's NFL franchise took care of that Thursday when it signed the previously disgruntled Johnson to a four-year extension worth $53 million ($31 million guaranteed) that will make him pro football's highest-paid running back.
So that seemingly ill-advised tweet he sent out Wednesday to what he termed "fake fans" that read, "I don't have a regular job so don't compare me to you and I can care less if you think I'm greedy," apparently didn't alter negotiations one bit.
Or did it? Was this long-term commitment to Johnson by the Titans an act of desperation or inspiration?
Having come off a 6-10 season, having drafted a possible risk at quarterback in Jake Locker and having stayed within the organization with new coach Mike Munchak, did the team believe that calling Johnson's bluff would have been a public relations nightmare with ticket holders? Especially with his backup Javon Ringer already banged up?
After all, however selfish and self-centered Johnson seems, he does have ridiculous talent when healthy. His 4,598 yards through his first three NFL seasons ranks third all-time for running backs in that time span, trailing only Eric Dickerson (5,147) and Earl Campbell (5,081). And both of those guys are in the Hall of Fame.
Beyond that, if quarterback Matt Hasselback can perform in the regular season as he has in exhibition play, and if rookie reserve Locker's occasional flashes of NFL-level skills through the preseason morph into consistent performance by sometime next year, the mere threat of Johnson could give the Titans one of the better and more balanced offenses in the AFC.
As for Johnson's holdout, other than the insensitive tweets, you can't blame him. Running back careers can end with one knee injury. You've got to get it while you can if someone's willing to pay it.
And the Titans know well that once the playoffs arrive, a bold running game is far less dependent on the whims of the weather in January than a passing attack.
One other thing about that "regular job" tweet. It didn't take long for Johnson to feel the backlash of a fan base fighting 9 percent unemployment, the frustration of the lockout and a sense that the players care less and less about those who support them on Sunday afternoons.
Johnson's long-term health and his ability to understand that the Titans have now made him the face of their franchise -- which heightens his responsibility to be both a good citizen and more sensitive multimillionaire -- will prove the ultimate gauges as to whether this was a good deal or a bad deal for the organization.
But at least now all those fans with regular jobs know the Titans front office is committed to attempting to win both now and in the future. If its star player is now similarly inspired, the Titans should return to the playoffs sooner than later.