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Chris Johnson, Devin Hester race a cheetah on cable TV

And now a story about the time Chris Johnson and Devin Hester raced a cheetah on basic cable.

The Tennessee Titans running back and Chicago Bears return specialist raced the great cat during a Nat Geo Wild special that will air in November during Big Cat Week, which in no way is attempting to co-opt the success of Discovery Channel's Shark Week.

"This is the most incredible challenge I've ever faced," Johnson told TheWrap.com. "I wanted to go up against the fastest in the world and test myself, and this was it!"

Johnson still holds the NFL Scouting Combine record in the 40-yard dash, running it in 4.24 seconds in 2008. He previously has stated he could beat record-setting Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt in a race.

We have serious doubts Johnson could beat Bolt in the 40, but we know he's not toasting a cheetah. According to people who knows these things, the cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in three seconds.

We haven't seen speed like that on a football field since Bo Jackson in "Tecmo Bowl."

UPDATE:Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson put his hat into the cheetah race ring Wednesday.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.