If you’re wondering why the Chris Johnson camp is so adamant about striking it rich with guaranteed money well into eight figures, consider this quote from a story that was about to be written last week:

“The new coaches, they realize what I’m good at and that’s what they want me to be good at. They don’t want me to be anything I’m not. They told me, ‘You’re a run stopper. Be a run stopper. Be good at it,’ and I’ve taken that on my back.”

That quote was given by defensive tackle Jovan Haye, who was talking about his new role with the Tennessee Titans.

By Monday afternoon, Haye no longer had a role with the Titans and, perhaps, nowhere else in the NFL. The former Vanderbilt star was among nine players cut by the Titans as they made league-mandated roster reductions and wiped the $3 million Haye was scheduled to earn this year – plus $3.6 million for 2012 – off their books.

“It’s very tough. It’s very unfortunate. He’s a good friend of mine and it’s going to be very different in here without him,” said end Dave Ball, who had the locker next to Haye and has been on the scrap heap a time or two himself.

“That’s what this league is all about: Here today, gone tomorrow. He’s not the first friend I’ve had to be released or had to move away from.”

Haye did what was asked of him by the Titans, as coach Mike Munchak confirmed after releasing the seven-year pro.

“Since he has come in he has done anything we have asked for,” Munchak said of Haye, who signed a four-year, $16 million package with the Titans in 2009 after leaving Tampa Bay.

That included losing weight to fit the scheme of former defensive line coach Jim Washburn, then gaining 45 pounds – 270-315 -- this off-season to better fit Tracy Rocker’s system.

“He came in initially and lost weight to fit into that scheme, and then he came back this year and gained weight because he wanted to be part of this scheme,” Munchak said.

“So he is a true pro, and unfortunately, he has been through this before and I’m sure he will be playing again this year.”

Doing all that was asked of him wasn’t enough in a league in which younger and cheaper often trump a veteran who is due a big salary.

It didn’t matter that Haye had been running with the starting unit for a good bit of camp. The Titans found capable replacements in rookies Karl Klug, Jurrell Casey and Zach Clayton.

And if Haye does catch on somewhere, it will probably be for the veteran minimum of $810,000 – good pay but well short of $3 million.

“A coach I had once said, ‘Cuts are never final. If it’s week three and they feel like they can find someone who can do a better job than you, they will get rid of you,’” Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck offered. “It’s just a tough business. It’s unfortunate, but that’s how it goes.”

Those same rules apply to Johnson. This is not to say that one side or the other is completely right or wrong in the matter.

But just as Haye learned how fleeting an NFL payday can be, Johnson and agent Joel Segal know this is his one chance to cash in and set Johnson and his family up for life.

The win––dow of opportunity only stays open for so long, and even with a contract with plenty of zeros attached, bonuses, incentives and base salaries can quickly disappear.

Being the consummate professional on the field is an admirable quality. Conversely, you can’t always fault a player for trying to be the consummate businessman off the field.

Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com and is the AFC blogger for National Football Post.