Chiefs Brass Didn't Make Decision on LJ Until Early This Morning

by Joel Thorman on Nov 9, 2009 4:21 PM CST in 2009 Campaign Comment 13 comments

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

Chiefs brass didn't make a decision on Larry Johnson until early Monday morning. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Todd Haley is just wrapping up his press conference with the media and had a few interesting nuggets regarding, what else, the Larry Johnson situation.

Per the head coach, owner Clark Hunt was involved in the discussions regarding LJ along with GM Scott Pioli.

After yesterday's 24-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hunt flew back with Haley and Pioli, which apparently isn't the norm. The three were able to discuss the LJ situation on the flight back and phone calls continued after they landed.

The decision to release LJ from his contract was not made until this morning.

Haley said he talked it over, presumably with Pioli, starting early this morning - around 6:00 AM. I imagine this had been one of the options for a while but Haley tells us that they did not make a final decision until after 6:00 AM. The Chiefs issued a press release around 9:30 AM.

In today's press conference, Haley used the words "totality of the situation" quite a few times when talking about the decision to release him. It's interesting use of words when you recall how Haley was adamant over the offseason that all players, including Larry Johnson, were coming in on a clean slate. Johnson himself previously mentioned one of the positives of his situation was that he was coming in on a clean slate.

Maybe that just meant as far as on the field performance meant. Or maybe Mr. Hunt pulled him aside and said, "Oh, about Larry..."

Quotes and more from Haley coming shortly.

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Ah Ha!

If Mr Hunt did get involved, then it is entirely possible that the petition did indeed have an affect on the decision making process.

by Spunky on Nov 9, 2009 4:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I Hope So

And I hope the conversation went something like this.

“Hey Scott…remember that crappy running back you should have cut before the season? I’m tired of him making you look like an ass while he’s taking my money and pissing off the paying customers. Either he’s gone today or you can go back to New England and carry Belichick’s water for another decade and I can find a real GM. And Haley, get me a fucking Coke.”

Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009

Fire Haley now.

by UCrawford on Nov 9, 2009 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was Hunt’s decision

LJ was not doing much on the field, he was alienating the fan base, and dissing the HC, fans, and reporters recently was the final straw.

I do not think Clark wanted a guy with his record of off field incidents to hold the all time KC yardage record.

by WarWolf on Nov 9, 2009 6:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I made my decision

Two weeks ago.

I am one of those who wanted to think this would be a good year for him, and that maybe he wasn’t the abuser of women and team cancer I thought he was.

Oh well, it shows my lack of judgment.

Here’s to praying for a way a way to improve o-line, linebackers, running backs, nose tackle, and safeties this off-season…

by kielcary on Nov 9, 2009 4:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was in the same boat...

by Bra on Nov 9, 2009 4:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I am happy to see that Mr Hunt will put his foot down if he has to with the team

Check out the gun show over here FIYA POWA

by redmedicone on Nov 9, 2009 4:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Apparently

That extra “a way” was Freudian – we’re going to need more than “a way” – we’re going to need two of them!

Why so sad?

by kielcary on Nov 9, 2009 4:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I hope Hunt flew back

because this was another game we should have won but showed up completely unprepared for. If I was Hunt I’d have some choice words for Scott particularly, saying “Hey man, the honeymoon is over”. This teams has got big problems and LJ isn’t even the start of them.

Welcome to Chiefs REBUILD - Version 2.0 /The Clark Hunt Edition
Chiefs will be lucky to go 4-12 in 2010

by KansasCityShuffle on Nov 9, 2009 5:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If they could've built on what they had, maybe it'd've been different.

All that 4-3 under talk was just talk. To continue the 4-3, the thing to do was add a true 4-3 DE, and keep the best of the interior d-line. That would’ve meant keeping Boone and Tyler, keep McBride and Hali beefed-up, passed up Vrabel, and brought in speedier LBs rather than bigger LBs.

And something NObody on AP, except maybe stagdsp and myself, would’ve predicted, were the growing pains from cover-2 to something more aggressive in the secondary. I’m convinced you need to BE that aggressive, but I’m not convinced KC has the d-backfield to pull THAT off. Hats off to Cunningham, who disguised the secondary weaknesses as much as he could – enough to fool US.

It’s clear that much of the O-Line needed turning-over. Most of us thought Sack’n’Toss needed to go (or be moved inside – that’s one I can’t figure out – to me he wasn’t a RT-or-nothing player. He was a mauling guard whom everyone gets pissed at because he isn’t a tackle…). I think AP’s split on Albert at left tackle. I’m on the fence, myself. But nobody’s been really satisfied with Goff or Niswanger, and maybe quite a few are thinking that Waters’s best years were playing beside Willie Roaf.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Nov 9, 2009 6:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

give it up already

too many people here are so quick to start slitting pioli and haley’s throats. people came in with unrealistic expectations because of the falcons and dolphins last year, but look at miami now. there is a right way or a wrong way to build a team. is their way right? it remains to be seen. does haley/pioli make mistakes? yes. haley is learning right along with players. it happens (see bellichick his first time as a head coach). haley might as well throw himself out there. try things. make mistakes (repeatedly). i believe many improvements will happen during the off-season when they have time to reflect and learn and grow.

now….when august and september 2010 gets here, and we see a repeat, then we can jump to judgment.

"We're not losers, we just can't win!"

by chief Stevie_k on Nov 9, 2009 5:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Miami and Atlanta went through their year of sucking, with a Parcells plan in Miami and a pretty sharp guy in Atlanta.

They were prepared to build on what they had. It’s clear that the Chiefs needed to do a lot more scrapping.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Nov 9, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope

that someone tweeted about his release this morning on his way into Arrowhead. Ah….the irony

by His Royal Greatness on Nov 9, 2009 5:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

about time

Thank God this cancer has been removed from KC. I know our struggles are not all LJ’s fault. But he had to go, his on field performance and off field issues were to much for this city to take.

by chief fan dad on Nov 9, 2009 6:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs