Do they have to put him back into the starting lineup? I mean if he is carrying 2.7 yards per carry, can’t they just say they are benching him for his poor performance or something along those lines?

One play he’ll look like the LJ of old and plow ahead for 4-5 yards, the next he sees that there isn’t a hole and just quits on the play. One minute he’s Mr. “Clean Slate” who is doing everything the coach asks, the next he is bashing the coach, the fans, and homosexuals online. There’s no point in keeping the guy around. Let’s at least see what we have in Charles, Smith, Savage, and Williams. If none of them are up to the job then at least we know that we need to look for someone new for next year. My final argument for Charles would be that he has the agility to cut back when the o-line doesn’t open the hole where it was suppose to. As opposed to LJ who is a straight ahead runner.

All they have to do is point to his 2.7 YPC and tell them it is performance based…The other backs have outgained him behind the same O-line…

According to the OP, THEY say it’s the coach’s decision. THEY say they won’t fight deactivation. It’s the union that concerns me.

I agree that it’s ridiculous to think that the union could (or should) second-guess an NFL head coach about who plays and who doesn’t. But the fact is that Johnson averaged 2.7 YPC for seven games, and still remained the starter. Furthermore, the two games prior to the bye were among Johnson’s better performances of the season – which I know isn’t saying a lot, but there it is. So if Johnson doesn’t return to that role after the suspension (whether by deactivation or a depth chart change) everybody’s going to know the decision isn’t based on his performance… UNLESS a Chiefs RB steps up against Jacksonville.

Without the suspension, the union wouldn’t give a rat’s patootie if Johnson gets demoted or not. But you can’t get around the fact that the suspension has happened.

Look at this from the union’s perspective – and remember… they don’t have Chiefs season tickets, or care one whit about who holds the Chiefs all-time rushing record. They already see this as an unprecedented penalty for an off the field issue. The last time a player received disciplinary action for something he said, the player was fined $10,000. Johnson will lose 30 times that amount of money from the suspension alone – and that’s after the union neogtiated it down to half what the team wanted. If he’s deactivated for the last eight games, he’ll lose another half a million bucks. The union has already fought the Chiefs over $300 grand. Why wouldn’t they fight for $500 grand?

Perhaps the union will recognize this is someplace they shouldn’t go. But I’m not counting on it. So I say again: let’s hope the Chiefs find someone else who can carry the rock this Sunday.

Unreal. Charles already has proven statistically that he picks up more YPC than LJ does. Go back and watch every game this year again. Watch really really close. Notice Lj can’t break a single tackle. Now flip over and watch Chris Johnson and Rice from Baltimore.

Notice how they throw off 3 or 4 defenders and EARN yardage. That is a running backs job. It’s not just to run through holes all the time. It’s not about how good you can be if only no one tries to tackle you. For God sake’s people. Wake up. LJ is on pace to have the worst season EVER in the entire HISTORY of the NFL for a starting running back.

What the hell does it take for some of you to wake up to what’s in front of your face?? LJ can’t break a single tackle. He could get tackled by a cheerleader. He’d probably get up and beat her for it, but none the less I believe he would fall first. All you need to do is watch him. Now I can’t wait for the rebuttals to this comment.

Cause I know none of you LJ supporters have a single stat to point to. He is the worst running back in the NFL presently in every category and hasn’t scored a rushing TD all year. And you still think they need to find a way??!! Your delusional. If you think that then you deserve a 2-14 team every year, because that is what your content with.
Not me. I want a Priest Holmes back.

Not because he ran behind a better O line, but because he could break tackled all on his own without help. He did his job. Always. LJ is washed up and he sucks and he doesn’t care. Stop worshipping the guy. He’s a scumbag and he’s a liability. Good riddance.

that it is the oline’s fault without rebuttal for JC’s numbers.

if that’s all it was, i’m sure a bunch of teams would’ve offered a 7th-rounder for larry…. al davis and jerry jones are still owners in this league aren’t they??