Andre Johnson's offseason-long standoff with the Houston Texans is over.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per a person who has seen Johnson, that the star wide receiver has shown up for the opening of training camp.
Johnson actually passed his physical a few days ago, a source informed of the situation tells Rapoport. He's ready to go after missing the entirety of offseason practices.
"I just love playing the game of football," Johnson told reporters Friday. "It's my job to make up for the time that I missed. I'm gonna work my butt off, like I always do."
Key among the issues that led Johnson to show up were the rapport he built with coach Bill O'Brien and the new staff. The organization learned Thursday that Johnson would show up, but didn't fully believe it until he arrived today.
Rapoport reported that there were no monetary promises to get Johnson to show up, which indicates he was not paid his $1 million bonus that he missed out on by not taking part in OTAs.
Johnson also received assurances about his own future in Houston relating to 2015, Rapoport reported, per a source briefed on those meetings. It was one of Johnson's desires to retire a member of the organization.
The franchise icon had been conflicted about the state of the Texans on the heels of a 2-14 season, now with a journeyman starter at quarterback.
"I feel very comfortable in where the organization is going," Johnson said.
Despite his unhappiness about the organization's refusal to pay his workout bonus, Johnson must have realized that reporting to camp was his best option.
The Texanswere not going to trade him, which left the 33-year-old with no leverage unless he was willing to walk away from $10 million and a chance to bolster his Hall of Fame résumé.
With Johnson returning, DeAndre Hopkinspoised for a breakout season and Arian Foster back to full health, Bill O'Brien's offense is poised to surpass expectations in 2014.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" offers up team-by-team training camp previews of the NFC East and NFC West.
