Friday Morning Reading

by Chris Thorman on Jun 22, 2007 7:45 AM CDT in 2006 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Interesting read by Jason Cole from Yahoo! Sports on why trading Larry Johnson now is the smart move to make. He makes some logical points but in the end, like most of the trading LJ arguments, his comes down to the fact that "overworked" running backs in the NFL don't last. We get a list of the usual suspects in a national Larry Johnson article- Jamaal Anderson, Eddie George, Eric Dickerson. You get the point.

Does anyone think that this statistically insignificant trend will ever be broken? I liken this to the Madden Curse. Yeah there's some circumstantial evidence surrounding it but how much does it truly affect a player? I know that physical abuse is certainly different than a video game curse. Regardless of the forces at play, its a brand new season.

Right now, I'm firmly convinced that Larry Johnson will be another exception to the ~~400+~~ 370+ rule. The guy has made a physical commitment to destroying that rule.

Cole's final point is that one more reason to get rid of Larry Johnson is because of his contract demands. For some reason, the national perception is that these contract negotiations are going to be a bloodbath. There is no evidence pointing to that happening. At least not right now.

Keep Larry Johnson. Don't overpay him and create a salary cap issue. The guy could end up being the greatest running back in Chiefs history.

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Comments

Dickerson...

himself broke that "statistically insignificant trend." So did Earl Campbell, if we think back far enough, and Eddie George to some extent. L.J. is different than a lot of backs as he never quite absorbs full-on shots.

- Adam

ArrowheadAddict.com

by arrowheadaddict on Jun 22, 2007 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah I know

Now that I reread it, it came off odd.

by Chris Thorman on Jun 22, 2007 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Also

I think this "curse" also motivates the hell out of him.

by Chris Thorman on Jun 22, 2007 9:40 AM CDT reply actions

He hasn't been tested

One year as a started in high school. One year as a started Penn State. One year as a full-time starter for the Chiefs. Hopefully it helps that he doesn't have as many miles on him as maybe some other backs. It helped for Trent, he was productive up to his mid 30s b/c he spent so many years in a back-up role.

by Joel Thorman on Jun 22, 2007 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

keeping Larry Johnson

and not overpaying him

could be mutually exclusive

by sm7600 on Jun 22, 2007 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

larry still has plenty left in the tank

sign him to a 5 year deal. dont get too outrageous, i wouldnt make it as big of a deal as LT got, but just sign him up longterm. dont trade him, we need him longterm and shorterm if we want to be successful.

carl always talks big at the beginning, carl understands that we NEED LJ and we will sign him before the season. mark my words...

by rockchalk on Jun 22, 2007 5:42 PM CDT reply actions