Trials and Talent: Larry Johnson's Legacy With the Chiefs
by Matt Conner on Nov 9, 2009 10:07 AM CST
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign
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PrintHe was a man both talented and trying, a back so capable of changing both the game on Sunday and your opinion of him by Monday. As a coach, he was maddening to handle - a Chad Ochocinco level of combustion. Yet on game days, that same coach breathed a sign of relief with Johnson's ability to place the Chiefs on his back and run the football.
Nearly 6,000 yards later, Johnson's legacy is over. And it's a tarnished one, for sure. The issues were many in the LJ years and made many within the fan base cringe with each statement to the press, each interview, each Tweet. From Dick Vermeil to Herm Edwards to Todd Haley, each coach had to deal with the baggage that came with one of the franchise's greatest running back ever. And up until now, it's always been worth it. It's a shame it had to go down this way.
Then again, the warning signs were always there - both with the talent and frustration levels. He became the first running back in history to post three consecutive 150-yard games to start his career. He also publicly pouted and complained given his status of sitting behind Priest Holmes, leading to the famous "diapers off" comment from then-coach Vermeil. Here was a back running for 2,000 yards his last year at Penn State and yet Vermeil made it clear he didn't even want to draft LJ in the first place. The situation, in other words, was birthed as a tenuous one.
If anything, Johnson was that challenging child for the Chiefs. He was socially awkward, didn't play by the normal rules and required special attention and needs. Yet he was incredibly gifted, a natural on the field with a rare combination of strength and vision and sheer determination to go where few backs have gone. He was a football prodigy who needed extra care - and the team that took him had to be aware of that.
How LJ will be remembered is a perplexing situation. With final memories like the ones he most recently made, with Twitter references making stabs at gays and the working-class fan, it likely won't be sunny anytime soon. It's not like a Brett Favre situation where he was heavily booed earlier this year, yet we all know the cheers and heartwarming greetings will await him in Green Bay when he's finally done in the NFL. For LJ, some are even already protesting his place in the Ring of Honor, even though those same fans enjoyed the success he brought on-field for the last several years.
Perhaps time will heal these wounds. And perhaps LJ will gain some perspective (or at least some PR advice) and say the right things once the tensions have settled. For now, LJ was a gift and a curse - to quote the philosopher Jay-Z - and that's something that Chiefs fans have always had to deal with.
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I Don't Think He Was Good Enough For The Ring Of Fame
Only two great years as a starter and three terrible ones. Along with all the off-field garbage and problems with every coach (especially the racial dig at Vermeil).
Priest Holmes deserves to go in the Ring twice before Johnson goes in once.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
by UCrawford on Nov 9, 2009 10:11 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
no way does a guy who gets cut right after being suspended for conduct detrimental to the team get into the ring
A man who says he can, and a man who says he can't are both right. Which one are you?
There was no honor in his tenure here
Now, if it were simply called “the ring” then maybe. “the ring of short-lived yet explosive performance”? Maybe. But the ring of honor? Nah, I think he’ll be waiting in line outside that ring indefinitely.
Yepp...We ran the wheels off this cry baby the year he has something like 243,052 carries....
We should have given JA the money Johnson got….fucking Carl Peterson
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Nov 9, 2009 10:12 AM CST reply actions 5 recs
JA and Carl didn't get along.
And Carl is an ego-maniac and decided not to pay him. Some of you still haven’t recognized that? JA talked out against Carl all the time (especially when it came to wanting a new contract). I think Carl didn’t want to admit he was wrong with LJ (if you remember Vermeil didn’t want him and Carl got him anyway), so he threw his money behind the wrong horse. It happens all the time.
We Realized That
We’re just saying that Peterson backed the wrong horse…same as you did.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
I agree
I’m glad King Carl is dead too. Who cares if JA and CP got along. This isn’t the Mickey Mouse Club—its a business.
If Vermeil had his way we might have Troy Polamalu. Who knows.
Let’s see what else King Carl has screwed up over the years
—John Tait
—JA
—T Rich
—You may be able to toss in Neil Smith
Not to mention a few draft busts
-Trezelle Jenkins
-Sylvester Morris
-Snoop Minnis
-Junior Siavii
-Ryan Sims
-Every other Defensive Tackle in the 1st round
Among others
by His Royal Greatness on Nov 9, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
Well-written post, Matt.
Sums up LJ’s legacy very well. As for the Ring of Fame—who knows?
"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"
-Marty Schottenheimer
There's two things that Johnson will never have.
1. Honor
2. A Ring
Yeah, let's just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys! ...
by oldchiefsfan on Nov 9, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
Let's be clear: there's a difference between clowns, jerks and criminals
Terrell Owens is a clown and a jerk but not a criminal.
Randy Moss WAS a clown and a jerk but was never a criminal.
Chad Johnson Ochocinco is a clown but not a jerk and definitely not a criminal.
Ricky Williams was a criminal but not a jerk or a clown.
Larry Johnson is a jerk and a criminal. Horrible combo.
See Data Differently.
beyondtheboxscore.com | Twitter: @ justinbopp
Randy Moss hit a parking cop, just as criminal, if not more, as spitting on someone.
"What?!?! I aint no Obama for the weed!"
-Turk McBride
Ok, Randy Moss is a criminal too.
I don’t think debating the degree of criminality is very important, though.
See Data Differently.
beyondtheboxscore.com | Twitter: @ justinbopp
Agreed
Randy Moss is really relevant to the discussion since he never played in KC.
He’s also been a far better player than Larry Johnson.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
actually
Randy Moss was caught with mari-jane and also assaulted an officer by running into her with his vehicle
What did Ricky Williams do....
smoke weed?…..that’s hardly criminal
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Nov 9, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions
+100000000
...no more explicit signature...
by GanjaChief on Nov 9, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
according
to our previous President of the US illegal drug activity is linked to Terrorism. I’d say it’s criminal
Haha...our previous president...
lol….so your the one that takes that guy seriously
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Nov 9, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions
and we have a better one now? roflmao
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
Stop
Seriously, stop…let’s just focus all our hatred on 2.7 for today. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
C'mon now
Sticky Icky Williams a criminal?! Just for a little bit of herb?!
I'd rather die on my feet than be living on my knees
I can't wait to hear LJ's rants now that he is off the team
I don’t expect him to hold anything back.
im sure his agent is talking to him about that at this very moment....
“Is this your homework Larry”
“This is what happens Larry….when you fuck a stranger in the ass.”
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Nov 9, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions
oh yeah i cant wait for it
he is going to bash us pretty bad but then everyone is just going to see what a detriment to the team he was and what a whiner he can be
A man who says he can, and a man who says he can't are both right. Which one are you?
Something tells me he won't just go after the team
How much you want to bet he trashes the city and it’s fans as well?
by RA_ChiefsFan on Nov 9, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
There will be silence
followed by an apology to KC, I think. He has to so he will be more acceptable to other teams.
The only way he goes off, is if his Agent totally loses control of him.
by NJ Chiefs Fan on Nov 9, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions
In an unsurprising turn of events
LJ has announced he has ended the relationship with his agent and will now represent himself.
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010
yes seriously
he is also in talks with PBS about remaking Painting with Bob Ross.
“And here we’re just going to put a happy gob of spit on this young lady’s cheek with a fan brush…”
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010
by sir eccles on Nov 9, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Whoa
Leave Bob Ross out of this.
That man’s show on Saturday morning nursed me through a lot of hangovers. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
by UCrawford on Nov 9, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Listening to his voice even with the volume on 10 was relaxing
…kinda like listening to Royals games when we were up to bat :)
No excitement
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
I'd Just Sit On The Couch At My Fraternity House
Rubbing my temples and listening to Bob. Sometimes I’d go back to sleep. Bob was the shit.
And I liked his personal backstory too (from Wikipedia)
After graduating high school, Ross had a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force as a medical records technician.[citation needed] Ross was living in Florida early in his military career when the Air Force transferred him to Alaska, where he first saw the snow and mountains that later became recurring themes in his artwork; he developed his quick-painting technique in order to be able to create art for sale in brief daily work breaks.2 Having held military positions that required him to be, in his own words, “mean” and “tough,” “the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being late to work,” Ross decided that if he ever moved on from the military, “it wasn’t going to be that way any more,” and “vowing never to scream again”.2 Ross discovered after beginning his sideline in painting that he was soon able to earn more from selling his work than from his Air Force position. After leaving the Air Force, he studied with William Alexander before becoming famous worldwide with his own television program.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
I'd never seen so many happy trees before
I bet he waked and baked EVEry morning.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
I'll Bet He Did
I seem to recall a story about how he did use pot.
And good on him if so…he apparently lived the extremely mellow life he always wanted and made a bunch of money doing it.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
You should try "Barbeque U"
Best hangover show EVER.
See Data Differently.
beyondtheboxscore.com | Twitter: @ justinbopp
And Happy Little Forests, And Happy Little Streams
If they released his show on DVD, I would probably buy it.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
Actually Looked For It
And they do have it on DVD (and VHS)…but $84.99 is a little more than I’m willing to pay for Bob on DVD. I’m not hung over nearly often enough to get that sort of value out of Bob.
So PBS re-runs it is. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
Ah, there it is.
Beat me to it.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
rec'd, very funny
Yeah, let's just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys! ...
by oldchiefsfan on Nov 9, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
I doubt it
it would all but insure he never works in the NFL again if he did
"There are few secrets in football. So execute." ~Coach Stram
"I think it's the fans. The place is crazy. It's a good crazy, if you're Kansas City." ~Coach Schottenheimer
by Bad Medicine on Nov 9, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
What are we on the hook to pay him for the rest of his contract?
How much $$$ do we need to shell out to him?
Worth Every Penny, IMO
To dump 2.7.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
IF he runs his mouth agains the Chiefs before anyone signs him...
…it won’t bode well. No one is going to want a player that runs his mouth BEFORE signing…except maybe the Raiders, but even then.
The best scenario is for him to keep quiet and sign IF possible.
IF he signs and produces excellent results, then he can pull a Pollard.
But them’s a lot of IF’s.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
From now on I will not refer to LJ as #27
I will refer to him as 2.7
- will be another player soon enough.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
by THE_TRUTH on Nov 9, 2009 10:41 AM CST reply actions 5 recs
haha
Please help send my girlfriend to Broadway! Visit http://magonbroadway.blogspot.com/
by Patrick Allen on Nov 9, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
hmmm...the post changed: It should have said #27 will be another player soon enough
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
How Appropriate
I’m jealous I didn’t think of that before you did. Man, that’s some kind of cosmic justice right there. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
if he signs with another team
his agent will want him to get #48 0r 49…lmao
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
....
BRILLIANT!
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
theee FUUUUTUUUREE??? hummmm???
youll see whats gonna happen next, hes obviously not the worst back in the league. he will be signed, he will play us, and he will fuck us again. fuck us for a 200 yrds. remember that. our o line is garbage, he gets a good front and he goes back to being productive larry. call it what you want. i dont give a shit. i would be frustratred too, we havent won a playoff game since ninteensixtysomeshit.
I Think You'll Be Wrong
But we shall see.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
I do think that if we do play him...
He’ll run with some added motivation. Does the talent still match that attitude? Probably not, but I think he’ll definitely have that chip on his shoulder.
And with how our defense makes not-so-great players look like superstars when WE play them? Its a definite possibility that he could put up a big game against us.
Just saying it’s possible.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
If He Signs With Washington
We don’t play them again, so that’s twice the reason not to care what happens to the douchebag.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
You know ...
I’ve never gotten why some people insist on typing a bunch of extra vowels and stuff in their words to make it sound like they’re being ominous or foreboding or something.
Sure. It might sound ominous or foreboding if I were having to listen to you in real life, but I don’t. I’m just reading your words on a computer screen.
And, at the end of the day, all of the extra vowels just makes you look dopey for trying to sound foreboding by adding a bunch of extra vowels rather than using an actual command of the English language to come up with something else.
Hey
If you don’t like what he writes, debate his points. Lord knows we’ve got plenty of commenters here who bring up great points while using less than the King’s English and good storytelling. He’s just using hyperbole and that’s fine.
Except for All Caps…feel free to unload on someone who uses All Caps. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
The problem is ...
You’d already pretty much covered all of the counterpoints.
I’m not picking on Servando, really. It’s more of an internet trend in general (like the All Caps thing you’d mentioned) that, now that we’re rid of Larry, I’d like to see abolished.
It Depends On Who's On The Throne
I don’t recognize the sovereignty of the Windsor family…the Stuarts or the Hanovers are the rightful heirs.
Just kidding…the Windsors are okay by me. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
First off, the 60's weren't shit, I grew up back then
Second we won two playoff games in 93.
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
finally - a Scott Pioli personnel move that I truly LOVE!!!
bye LJ … don’t forget to change your diapers every week
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!
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