Chiefs Should do to LJ What Chargers Will do to LT

by Joel Thorman on Mar 28, 2009 2:51 PM CDT

By next Wednesday the Chiefs (and all of us) will have an idea of Larry Johnson's future in Kansas City. If the events following next Wednesday's grievance hearing transpire so that Johnson stays in Kansas City, then the Chiefs should do what the San Diego Chargers will likely do with LaDainian Tomlinson.

Run him into the ground (so to speak).

"(Tomlinson) had 290 carries last season. I'd expect him to have more. I'd expect him to be in the 320s. That's what he does. He can handle it, and he'll be prepared to handle it."

The Chargers didn't come right out and say it, but I suspect they're trying to get whatever's left out of Tomlinson. After a down year by his standards (1,110 yards, 11 TDs), Tomlinson probably doesn't have much left in the tank. By the start of the 2009 season he'll be on what history says is the wrong side of 30 for a NFL running back.

So by increasing Tomlinson's carries instead of giving a heavier load to newly extended Darren Sproles, the Chargers probably aren't preparing for several more years of LT. If he's already begun his decline, then the team wants to get one last great season out of him before it's too late.

The Chiefs should do the same with Larry Johnson if they choose to keep him. Even with a bounce back season, I don't see LJ being in Kansas City at the onset of the 2010 season.

So why not run him into the ground and extend the lives of our other running backs like Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith?

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Comments

HOPE HE IS GONE

Watching him hesitate to the line and then falling into the fetal position won’t work for the Pioli/Haley team.

since63

by since63 on Mar 28, 2009 3:00 PM CDT reply actions

Amen, brother.

I’ve been saying the same thing all off season, run the fucker until the wheels fall off.

by HIV 2 Elway on Mar 28, 2009 3:11 PM CDT reply actions

If we choose to keep him

Which I think is becoming unlikely.

by Joel Thorman on Mar 28, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Anybody think....

That the court issues will get to him and allow him to pull his head out of his a$# and actually try? I think there was a quote of him saying he is here to do what he can and try and help the Chiefs win games. Maybe, just maybe (and trust me this is a huge maybe) he will shut up for one year and produce so we can trade him like he wants. Pioli can use this to our advantage and allow him to have a big year so we can get rid of him next year!

by Primmtime on Mar 28, 2009 3:25 PM CDT reply actions

I would have taken this approach

After the first run in with the law…

by Joel Thorman on Mar 28, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Revenge is ridiculous

The Bengals could have had 2 1sts for Chad Johnson but they showed him didn’t they? No they didn’t. It was dumb. He got worse. You want to run LJ into the ground? And how did that work when Herm did it with a lousy line? But you’re right, let him disrupt the team and poison the locker room and claim a hamstring and sit out half the games. Thankfully Pioli and Haley are smarter than that.

by FrankPitts on Mar 28, 2009 3:27 PM CDT reply actions

It's not about revenge

It’s about maximizing our investment and using what little value he has left.

by Joel Thorman on Mar 28, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

And if you cut him?

Who is going to run the ball. If you use one of our few draft picks on a RB do you do so at the expense of our lousy line? No one is going to give us shit for LJ, maybe a 5th or 6th rounder. He’s worth more to us in the backfield.

by HIV 2 Elway on Mar 28, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I completely agree

with this post IF Johnson is effective. Unfortunately, as since63 stated, the chances are minimal that this will even happen. Johnson looked pathetic running the ball last year, and I don’t really see that changing.

by KCMizzou on Mar 28, 2009 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

Looked pathetic?

He was #10 in the league in yards per carry. Better than Portis, Turner, Lynch, Jones-Drew, Brown, and Gore.
LJ is not the reason this team one 2 games last year. We can thank porous offensive and defensive lines for that.

by HIV 2 Elway on Mar 28, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000

4.5 YPC is pretty good for an aging RB running behind a crappy line.
With some improvement from the o-line LJ is still a valuable weapon. I think they are stupid if they release him. We have too many holes to fill already now, we would have to spend a high pick to get a decent RB. One that wont even come close to replacing LJ.
Run him into the ground!

by Chiefsfan1970 on Mar 29, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions