“It’s business,” Johnson said. “I understand that side of it. I’m not angry about it. I knew at some point in time this day would come.
“If we were living in a perfect world, you know I’d want to finish my career here, but, unfortunately, that’s not what’s going to happen. You just have to move forward.”
Johnson, who turns 34 in July, had 85 catches for 936 yards (11-yard average) and three touchdowns last season when the Texans finished 9-7 in coach Bill O’Brien’s first season. Johnson wants to play at least two more seasons.
During a meeting with O’Brien last week, Johnson was told his role would be reduced next season.
“People try to picture it the way they want to picture it, saying that I asked for a trade (but), there’s a reason I asked for a trade,” he said. “I think if anybody else was in my situation they would have done the same thing I did.
“I don’t know how you tell a guy who catches 85 balls that he’ll only probably catch 40. I feel like the role they were trying to put me in I’d be held back from maximizing my talents. I feel like that was the best thing for both sides.
“Why sit there and be miserable when I can go somewhere else and be able to show my talents.”
The two sides didn’t get around to discussing a possible reduction in pay. Johnson has two years left on his contract, including a base salary of $10.5 million this season and a salary cap hit of $16.1 million. He also receives a $1 million workout bonus.
The Texans save $8.82 million in salary cap space by trading or cutting Johnson. They’ll have about $21.9 million in cap space.
“It never got that far,” he said about contract talk. “I don’t get how you can tell a guy that (he) wouldn’t start certain games, especially knowing the team and the talent.
“I don’t see why I wouldn’t be a starter in this league. It didn’t make sense to me. I’m pretty sure it won’t make sense to a lot of other people.”
In 2016, Johnson is scheduled to receive an $11 million base salary and the $1 million workout bonus.
McGuire probably will negotiate a new deal for Johnson with his new team.
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“I was just made aware of this whole situation today,” Johnson said. “I haven’t really had time to really find out anything else.
“My biggest thing right now is just trying to get everything finalized with the Texans and then move forward.”
Johnson is leaving Houston the same way he came to town – in a first-class manner.
“I’d like to tell the fans thank you for all of your support,” he said. “I love playing for them, playing in front of them in that stadium every Sunday.
“I’m going to miss them. Hopefully, one day I’ll get a chance to play in front of them again.”
