Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson says he can run with Usain Bolt.
Despite being wowed by the Olympic champion, Johnson believes he would be up to the challenge against Bolt if they were face to each other in the 40.
"I feel like if I would have kept training for track I'd have a chance, but I play football and he runs track, so it's totally different," Johnson told the Tennessean. "I think I could still probably beat him in the 40. If I actually trained for the distance he trained for, I think I'd have a chance."
Even with his proclamation, Johnson has the utmost respect for Bolt, who is considered the fastest man in the world.
"He is a great athlete," Johnson told the newspaper. "I think he'll be the best track athlete to ever compete in the Olympics."
After setting world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, Bolt broke his Olympic mark in the 100 by running 9.63 seconds in London. Bolt is also the world-record holder (9.58).
Johnson does have a running pedigree to at least offer a challenge to Bolt. He was a high school track star in Orlando and clocked at 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 2008. It still stands as the fastest time ever at the combine.
While Johnson has said he wouldn't mind running against Bolt, the Jamaican track star told a British newspaper earlier this week that he'd like to play for soccer giant Manchester United.
"People think I am joking, but if Alex Ferguson called me up and said, 'OK let's do this, come and have a trial,' it would be impossible for me to say no," Bolt told the Sun on Monday. "I would not take up the challenge if I didn't think I was good enough. I am a very accomplished player and know I could make a difference."