Larry Johnson...one more time

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 11:03 AM CDT Comment 39 comments

Washed up" running backs don’t average 4.5 yards per carry behind Rudy "M.D." Niswanger, Adrian "Thanks, Herm!" Jones and Damion "Thanks, Carl!" McIntosh. It’s simply not logical, at any level, and we really don’t even need to get into the absurd way LJ was under-used in the "Pistol" offense. If the Chargers can commit to LaDainian "3.8 yards per carry" Tomlinson after 2,657 career carries, then it makes complete sense for the Chiefs to at least keep featuring Johnson after 1,243 carries.
warpaint illustrated

I know were all sick of talking about L.J.

I just cant see how people really do think he has "so much milage" when he really doenst besides two 300+ carry seasons then having only played 20 games over the last two seasons i would say his body is well rested and should be ready for a another great season. That is if he stays with K.C.

With Albert, Waters, Goff at C or RG and maybe one of our yonger RT's can break the starting line-up, I can see the L.J. of old returning.

I have to disagree with people who say L.J. would be a non-factor in Haleys offense. Edge Rushed for 1200+ yards in 06 and 07. Edge missed 3 games and honestly does have "a lot of mileage". The guy was 32 last season.

Regardless of his recent stats L.J. demands respect from D's and gets it with 8 in the box. With L.J. on the field it will open up that pass happy offense for Haley. Without L.J. I dont see anyone else strikning fear in opposing D's.

your thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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This is like beating a dead bronco

But Once again I dont think johnson fits our scheme anymore he is a back that demands carries he wont get them with this offense and if he cant catch or block out the back field he is really useless to us. I still say trade him away try to get some picks if possible.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Apr 9, 2009 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That would be more enjoyable...

by woodman212 on Apr 9, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LJ not only won't but CAN'T open up the passing game

Maybe if he could catch or block but he can’t do either. Sure, LJ probably has another good season or two left in his legs but not on our roster. His skill set is outdated. Sure, he put up some decent numbers with an undeniably atrocious O-line but that doesn’t mean he’s the best option for our running game. Offenses without a proven franchise QB (which Cassel still isn’t, no matter how much I like him, he’s got to prove he’s not a fluke) rely heavily on balance to win because that’s the most efficient means of “surprising” opposing defenses.

Put LJ on the field and we’re going to run the ball. Just stack 9 guys in the box (why stop at 8 when any DC with half a brain knows LJ can’t block or catch and is thus either 1.) a wasted body to try and throw off the read or 2.) we’re running the ball.

The same reasons no one else wants him apply to why we shouldn’t either. Just because he can still run doesn’t mean he should be.

by JHWK on Apr 9, 2009 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to disagree

any back that runs all over defense has to focus on the run game thus opening the pass game. Now your right L.J. cant block for shit. He can catch though maybe no westbrook but ive seen plenty of screens to L.J. or passed that have a good result

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing

"There are two armpits in America. Oakland and New Jersey."- Warren Sapp

by Dustin SLO,CA on Apr 10, 2009 1:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I agree! Our best shot is to have a threat of a running and our other option do not provide it. Charles is unproven and Smith is Smith. LJ is still a more than servicable back. The threat of him breaking into the second level is a block. With Cassel at QB he may become a serviicable reciever. In his own way LJ could make all his team mates better.

Jerome

by easyjb on Apr 9, 2009 11:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He doesn't catch, he doesn't block and most importantly....

He’s one minor offense from being suspended the entire year by the NFL….if he’s not already partly there.
Let me explain:

Here’s an interesting note from Teicher…you want to take the risk of paying and him sitting out?

Now, the other thing about Larry Johnson is remember that when the commissioner suspended him last year for the one game, he said, hey, if Larry Johnson gets convicted on any of these things there’s probably going to be a further suspension, so I think Larry Johnson’s going to get a further suspension.

Speculation?, sure it is, but until this is addressed, he’s a risk for ANY team to take on board.

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 Apr 9, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No Trade Value

That means he has no trade value. So why not keep him and take the chance that he won’t be suspended. Our options are keep him or cut him period. Nothing else is on the board. He doesn’t get paid if he is suspended. I don’t know how that effect our cap

Jerome

by easyjb on Apr 9, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You take the chance...

…and the team then has to pay him the 3.75Mil. they won back in arbitration? Not to mention the salary as well.

I don’t see it. I was all for Jared getting das’ boot due to his legal problems regardless of his playing and he’s still drinking in Minn. btw.

LJ has had 3 incidents with abuse and continued.

To use the infamous Al Gore quote: “A zebra can’t change his spots” -yes, he really said that.

LJ hasn’t learned after 4 incidents and his mentor is Jim Brown as he’s mentioned, there’ll be a 5th. Sooner or later.

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 Apr 9, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought we

just dont owe him the money, but his base salary would stay the same….or wouldnt they try to restructure his contract….then I think we will run into problems with that b/c of his ego.

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

If he’s on the roster opening day…he gets his 3.75Mil which was part of his contract. The Chiefs won the fact that since that money was guaranteed and he had legal problems, they wouldn’t have to pay it if he was traded or cut.
IF we retain him…they pay him the 3.75.

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 Apr 9, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there is no way pioli

reaches back in his pockets and pays this guy after he just got his money back. LJ doest want to be here he wants to go somewhere else time to look for the future we need a all around back charles is a start we need to get another back like him with a little more bulk that can block and catch and we are good.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Apr 9, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with the last part

of your statment…but thats the thing we dont need to open up another hole on our roster this year….wait till next year, let his stock rise/fall/or hell if he gets suspended well then he did it to himself.

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It won't be opening up another hole on our roster

It’s alreay a hole right now. You just refuse to open your eyes and acknowledge it.
An 875 yard seasons with only 5 TD’s and 4 games worth of suspensions is a hole. A RB that has publically stated on several occations that he does not want to be on the team, play for the Chiefs, or respect the fans is a hole. An “every down bruiser” that can’t play every down, can’t block, and has questionable pass catching and route running skills that is going to be paid $3.5m is a hole. A RB who has already been warned that a conviction on the charges brought against him will most likely result in further league suspensions is a hole.
Worse yet, a player that doesn’t want to play for your team and is only now saying that he does because he knows that no other team in their right freeking mind is going to pay him $3.5m at 30 yrs old with a looming suspension, a history of off the field abuse issues, a history of “phoning it in” when he doens’t agree with how the coach chooses to use him , and poor production for 2 consecutive seasons due to injury and off field issues is so much worse than just being a hole. He’s a puss oozing, organ infecting, bone destroying team cancer.

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on Apr 9, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea

I didnt understand the whole money issue at first….but I can see where your coming from, i just dont want us to waste a pick on a RB this year, and that without him our RB corp is pretty thin

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

waste?

a pick of a RB this year wouldn’t be a waste even if LJ sticks around.

we’ll need depth and a future at RB.

there are guys in the draft that can give us that

by stagdsp on Apr 9, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by CPT.Caveman on Apr 9, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes Waste

We need depth on the Oline and LB CB Dline QB(even though i like cassel and thigpen)

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With both Cassel and Thigpen on the roster

we need a RB a heck of a lot more than we need a QB. The waste would be to spend a pick on a QB and let our obvious hole at RB remain.

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on Apr 9, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree to disagree lol

My post was really just indicating L.J. still has a lot of life I bet we’ll trade him draft day….things get crazy

by DT58forever on Apr 9, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

some good points

LJ should be fresh. He took last year off by running into the backs of the o-lineman and falling down. He doesn’t take too many big hits either, because a good arm tackle has him looking for the ground. He quit on us. It’s hard to give up on a player we drafted, but
it’s time to say good bye. Trade him for a box of doughnuts if we have to.

by 12t on Apr 9, 2009 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I've never said the guy couldn't run

He’s a decent RB… theoretically could put up 1200+ yards in a FULL season.

But, that’s the issue… he’s not going to give you a full season…
with suspensions and injuries, he’s not going to be able to stay on the field.
he hasn’t done it in the last couple of years, and he’s clearly showed that he doesn’t WANT to do it anymore in KC.

I’m not buying the “i’m happy to be here now” BS… that’s posturing to keep a job, or make some other team less afraid of him.

If I were the Chiefs, (or any sucker team they try to trade with) I’d run from him like every girl at every bar in KC should do.

by stagdsp on Apr 9, 2009 12:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

But, that’s the issue… he’s not going to give you a full season…
with suspensions and injuries, he’s not going to be able to stay on the field.

That is a fair bit of speculation.

He’s been seriously injured one time in his pro career, so I don’t think you can argue from an injury history standpoint.

He has faced problems with suspensions, but that was before he was on probation – I think the threat of actual jail-time may cause him to think twice before spitting alcohol at someone =)

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Apr 9, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, that’s the issue… he’s not going to give you a full season…
with suspensions and injuries, he’s not going to be able to stay on the field.

That is a fair bit of speculation.

I think the threat of actual jail-time may cause him to think twice before spitting alcohol at someone =)

That’s an even bigger bit of speculation. At least stafdsp’s speculation would be in line with the past actions of teh individual. Yours would require an out of character change in LJ.

And it’s not the drink spitting I’m tat concerned about. It’s grabbing a woman by the face and shoving her out of the way. I spent a few years as a bouncer / doing contract personal security work. If you spit a drink at someone I would ‘ask’ you to leave and walk you to the door. It’s just a bit of liquid, not really a big deal. The minute you lay a hand on someone (especially someone that is in no way your physical equal, that has no chance of defending themself against you) you have crossed a serious line. If you are a man and that other person is a woman you can bet your ass I won’t be ‘asking’ you to leave or ‘walking’ you to the door. I will be treating you the same way that you saw fit to treat someone else. You will be drug out and tossed on the street like the evenings trash into the waiting arms of a patrol car to be taken to jail.

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on Apr 9, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

when was his last 16 game season?

how many arrests has he had?
what are the odds that he’s ALREADY going to be suspended in 2009?

by stagdsp on Apr 9, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, hopefully this will be the last time we comment on this, but apparently, the powers that be (Hunt/Pioli/Haley) have a different view of things, and its a good thing they have the power and the sense to “NOT” listen to fair-weather Chiefs fans!

If they were to listen to the fans, we would trade Cassel, TG,BW, cut LJ,Hali,Dorsey, and re-sign Jared Allen(who by the way was given $74 million when it was a possibility that he could be suspended if he got into any more trouble)…………way to go JA for proving the fair-weather Chiefs fans wrong, PEOPLE CAN CHANGE!!

Although you say LJ has no trade value, lets release him and see how many teams go after him. The NFL is full of bad-boys, I’ll bet most of you forgot about Ray Lewis’ incident @ the Superbowl, well I remember, hell, I was @ the seen of the crime!! Or what about the newest bad-boy Marshawn Lynch!!

Get a clue folks, professional athletes are human too, and we(the fans) will continue to support them by buying tickets to come watch them perform. I’ll agree, LJ needs to clean up his act both on the field & off!! But if the powers that be are willing to give him another chance(clean slate) , guess what…………………..we’ll be @ arrowhead cheering him on!!

If you don’t like the bad-boys of pro sports, STOP buying tickets!!

by T MO 5 on Apr 9, 2009 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great comment. I agree whole heartedly

Every single team in the league has a guy who is kept on the roster solely because of their talent. TO, Lynch, and many others are guys who would not have jobs if they couldn’t play because they are such assholes. LJ is still a valuable asset because the guy can still play even though he fits into that asshole category.
I trust Piolis judgement on this. I don’t think he will cut LJ outright. I think he will find a way to get decent compensation for him. If not, he will keep him.There are a lot of teams that would be willing to take on a guy like LJ as long as it is not too expensive. If Pioli decides to cut him, LJ will have another gig within a day I guarantee it. I can think of a bunch of teams who would gladly take him…especially if he was a free agent. Denver is one of them and I would hate to see LJ running angry all over our porous defense.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Apr 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You cant compare LJ to JA

Allen was in his prime and just came off a monster season, LJ hasn’t done a whole lot in the last couple seasons and he is on the down hill slope of his career.

Don't blame me, I voted for content of character.

by paratrooper on Apr 9, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they are humans...

True. they are human, they do make mistakes.

BUT, the most successful organizations don’t allow themselves to be held hostage by idiots that give the team a bad name.

LJ’s off the field problems are ONE reason I think he needs to go…. “humans” that “make a mistake” … don’ t do the same thing 5 TIMES.

LJ’s attitude with demanding trades and complaining, etc… is ANOTHER problem

His inability to block and adapt to a new offense is another possible problem

his age is going to be another problem

his declining production is going to be another problem

his possible suspension could be another problem

Bottom line… one of these things could be overlooked. All of them together make for a guy the Chiefs don’t NEED.

AND, again, they just went to all the trouble to get his guaranteed money back… they ARE NOT going to keep him, in my humble opinion.

by stagdsp on Apr 9, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I feel like we cant.........

let L.J go for nothing either even if he is a punk! If we cant get any trade value out of him we should just keep for at least this year! I also think you’re right about lot’s of team’s that would give L.J a shot if we just released him! Noway im for that!! We also need to keep in mind that with the pass oriented offense we will now be using, that you need a back that can catch the ball and block! IMO we already have that on this team J.Charles and M.Cox! Maybe we should really be looking for a better FB. To have a good running game you have to have a FB who can run/pass block and also catch the ball! IMO the FB position has almost been forgotten.

by CPT.Caveman on Apr 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just a note

and re-sign Jared Allen(who by the way was given $74 million when it was a possibility that he could be suspended if he got into any more trouble)…………way to go JA for proving the fair-weather Chiefs fans wrong, PEOPLE CAN CHANGE!!

Not Even Close — to being the same situation.

One was a 26 year old league leading QB sacker (read: in his prime) whos issues were drunk driving.

The other is a 30 Yr RB (read: on the downslide)who has failed to produce for the last 2 years due to injury and multiple off field isses of assault that have been ple-bargained down to misdimeanors.

Even taking that into account I do not own a Jarred Allen jersey because I had a fiance killed by a drunk 1 month before the wedding date. I refuse to support any person that has MULTIPLE drunk driving charges agaisnt them. You get ONE chance to prove you have changed, not 2 or more. I do not support Jarred Allen, and will not in the future.
My ticket purchase is not in any way to be confused with supporting LJ or JA’s actions. In fact, I’m advocating the dumping of LJ because I don’t think he should be rewarded $3.5m for his piss poor attitute and disrespect of woman on the hole.
My ticket purchase is my way of showing my devotion to the TEAM and my love of the sport. The game is about the team for me, not individual players. Once the players have shown they no longer deserve my respect I am perfectly capable of supporting the team while at the same time calling for the heads of the assholes.

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on Apr 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thats what i said!

Don't blame me, I voted for content of character.

by paratrooper on Apr 9, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I win

by paratrooper on Apr 9, 2009 12:47 PM CDT

by Texas Chief on Apr 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT

Great minds think alike? However, I said it FIRST, so I win ;)

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on Apr 9, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn you!

Can’t win them all. And thats ok!

Don't blame me, I voted for content of character.

by paratrooper on Apr 9, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still say we restructure his contract to a lower price

we trade him to another team and pay the contract ourselves. We have $30-50million in cap room right?

A player of his ability that costs nothing, a lot of teams would give higher draft picks for that.

On a side note, if something like this is done, are the Bills a potential trade partner since Lynch is suspended or would that make them shy away?

by Your_Moms_Boyfriend on Apr 9, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dude, you need to watch those highlights Larry can still ball.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Apr 9, 2009 3:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I just know things are changing we will not be a ground and pound team any more

if we had mike singltary as a coach i would be ok with larry coming back i just dont see us poounding the rock anymore and its sad cause i love pounding the rock and playing tough d. But its just not in our cards in the future haley loves to throw the rock.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Apr 9, 2009 5:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs