LJ Grievance Filed, But No 'Settlement' Progress with the Chiefs

by Joel Thorman on Oct 30, 2009 4:21 PM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

Steve Wyche of NFL.com reports that Larry Johnson has indeed filed a non-injury grievance with the Kansas City Chiefs. It had previously been reported that the grievance would be filed sometime today.

This may or may not mean anything (How's that for insight?). Here's what I mean:

LJ and the Chiefs are currently involved in talks about some sort of settlement as reported by Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star last night. The Associated Press reports this afternoon that LJ's agent, Peter Schaffer, said there has been no progress on those talks.

If a settlement is completed before the grievance hearing, which is reportedly expected to be expedited to as early as Tuesday, then the hearing would not matter.

If a settlement is not completed before the grievance hearing, then an independent arbitrator would hear the case and act as the judge and jury.

Wyche also reports via a league source that LJ does not want to miss the $600,000+ in game checks. He also wants to play, the source told Wyche.

The NFL and the NFLPA are currently involved this as well. Per Gregg Rosenthal of PFT, the union and the league are viewing this as a precedent-setting case, as it's the first Twitter suspension, and don't want to give either side any leverage months before talks of a new CBA heat up.

Here are the issues for each side via PFT:

"For example, the league could lose the hearing outright," Rosenthal writes. "There are potential first amendment questions that could be raised. Essentially, how far can a team go in restricting what a player says in the current collective bargaining agreement?

"From the union's perspective," he continues, "Larry Johnson's long history as a turd could influence the outcome. Johnson has been suspended by the league before, so he could be viewed as a repeat offender. The union risks losing a precedent-setting case because the player whose rights they are trying to advance is a royal pain."

So, it's not an issue between just the Chiefs and LJ.

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Comments

"Larry Johnson's long history as a turd could influence the outcome. "

LOL. I love they way he put that in there. My opinion is that of course he needs to be banned from Twitter. He obviously cant handle the strain of not blowing up at people when they make fun of him. He says too much stupid shit without thinking and it needs to cost him now, not just another slap on the wrist like the NFLPA wants him to get. Maybe GLAAD should get on their asses about it, not the NFL’s

Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!

by SuperTurtle on Oct 30, 2009 4:30 PM CDT reply actions

Unfortunately turds continue to stink until flushed

Do you think the current regime has the courage to flush this turd?

by MarkBoise on Oct 30, 2009 4:48 PM CDT reply actions

I think he'll float 'till Monday.

by idahochieffan on Oct 30, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions

What was it..

I think on Reno 911, the quote about the biggest turds being the hardest to flush. They just keep swirling around the drain…

by sayten on Oct 30, 2009 4:50 PM CDT reply actions

'Bout sick of LJ.

I’ve even had a change of heart. Drop his suspension, let him play, and give him his check. Just change his position to “help the team needs”.

Move him to NT in rotation with Ron Edwards and make him return punts. He may ask to be suspended after one game back.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Oct 30, 2009 5:10 PM CDT reply actions

Woot lets throw away what little is left of our season!!!!!!!

Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!

by SuperTurtle on Oct 30, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Send him across the middle on a slant,

Cassel can hang him out to dry.

by Bra on Oct 30, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Like Long

Cassel will hang him out to dry, not can.

by mcclanahanman on Oct 30, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I cant belive it

We have a gay coworker. one of the guys asked him what he had to say about L J. he said L J is gay. we asked him if we were talhking about the same person. we were. he said he could tell if someone was gay. he said L J always looks down, the way he walks and other things. I told him he was crazy. no way L J can be gay. I had to sit in my car for awhile and i still cant belive it.

by Charles # 1 chiefs fan on Oct 30, 2009 7:26 PM CDT reply actions