As The L.J. Turns … Thursday Cup O’Chiefs
Somewhere under the bad boy façade he loves to wear, Larry Johnson is a very intelligent young man.
So why does he keep doing stupid things?
There are dozens of coaches, counselors, psychologists, friends, teammates and family members that have pondered this subject for years. They haven’t come up with any answers.
Just listen to what Larry Sr. told the Kansas City Star after the most recent La Affaire Larry:
“That’s just not who we are and not what we believe. It’s not how he was raised. It’s tough for me as a father. He does not hate gays. That’s not Larry, and that’s not our family. He’s my son. You can’t disown him. We just talk to him, listen to him, and help him move forward.”
That’s what everybody has said for years with Johnson and his stumbles – we are going to help him move forward. Eventually, however, L.J. ends up going backwards. It’s happened again, and again, and again. Yet I’ve seen so many times when he’s spent extra time signing autographs, intent on making sure everyone got what they wanted or came for. I’ve seen him do things like this while teammates, some with far better public perceptions, snuck out the back door to avoid the fans.
In case you’ve been incommunicado over the last 48 hours, L.J. shot off his mouth and twitter, said several things that were very inappropriate and was suspended Wednesday evening by the Chiefs for two weeks. He’ll lose two paychecks and a game bonus, pushing his loss on this case to right around $600,000.
But Johnson is not going down without a fight. His agent Peter Schaffer out of Denver says they will file an appeal challenging the suspension on Thursday. Schaffer said they will seek an expedited hearing. Any appeal would be heard by an arbitrator. Obviously we’ve not heard the last of this one.
Which brings us back to Larry Alphonso Johnson, Jr. … it’s hard to understand why this young man has been so angry for apparently so long. He grew up in a two-parent family of educated parents. His youth was not spent scrambling in the streets to survive. He got a college education and he’s not a dumb jock. In fact, he’s very smart, too intelligent to keep screwing up like he has. This young man had role models to follow; like most they were not perfect, but they were not gangsters and drug dealers and the like.
Obviously there must be part of this picture that we’ve never seen that may explain what goes on with Johnson and his behavior.
Let me tell you about a scene that played out about three weeks ago with Johnson. Former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil held a dinner at the Plaza III restaurant for his new line of vino under the banner of Vermeil Wines. (We’ll write more about Vermeil’s grapes and wine later this week.) He invited various friends and acquaintances that he made during his five years in Kansas City to enjoy some nice food and his wines.
There were quite a few former and current Chiefs players who attended, guys like Priest Holmes, Trent Green, Eddie Kennison, Dustin Colquitt, Eric Hicks and a few more.
And who should walk in the door but L.J. Now let’s remember that Vermeil was the guy who called out Johnson and said it was time for him to “take off the diapers” when an injury to Holmes pushed L.J. into the starting role halfway through the 2005 season.
But there was Johnson with a smile and a hug for Vermeil. And then there was a hug and a smile and conversation with Carl Peterson, who was also in attendance.
This was the same Peterson who took money out of Johnson’s pocket last year when he was suspended. This was the same Peterson who L.J. has tread on with comments about the new regime at Arrowhead, and how they do things immediately, and how they care about winning, and so forth. Many times Johnson has talked about how much better things are around the Chiefs now.
How do we balance those visions, with his jabs at the qualifications of Todd Haley to be the head coach of the Chiefs? Talk about different ends of the spectrum.
Whether it’s been teammates, coaches, front-office types … everyone involved with the Chiefs over the last seven years has tried to work with Johnson. Like a lot of guys with his kind of talent, there were some who coddled the guy. Obviously, the big contract extension he got in 2007 was a mistake, but at the time the Chiefs would have been roasted if they had let Johnson get away.
Let’s be honest here – throw out all the behavior issues and off-field problems – let’s focus on what has happened on the football field. The results are mixed. The team’s record in his seven seasons in a Chiefs uniform is currently 46-59, with two trips to the playoffs. L.J. wasn’t even on the active roster for the post-season game in ‘03 against Indianapolis. All that can’t be pinned on Johnson, anymore than the fact the Chiefs had a losing record over the 12 seasons that Tony Gonzalez was on the team.
Johnson needs just 75 rushing yards to become the franchise’s career leader. When it comes to running with the ball, L.J.’s pretty darn good. When it comes to catching the ball he was spotty at best. It’s only been in the last year that he’s learned to be an effective blocker in the backfield.
That career rushing record is unlikely to broken in Jacksonville on November 7. We are left to ponder now how many more carries he may get with this team in the final eight games. Kolby Smith is coming back and Todd Haley is warming to the idea of Jamaal Charles getting more touches. Only three other backs have more carries at this point of the season than Johnson.
It’s hard to believe that after the end of this ‘09 season the Chiefs will have many more issues involving Johnson. He’s scheduled to make $5 million next season and he’s due a $1 million bonus if he’s part of the Chiefs roster on March 1, 2010. It’s hard to imagine he’ll see any of that money.
The clock is ticking on his time at Arrowhead. It will play out for the next two months and then he will be gone.
Larry Johnson will leave as the biggest enigma in franchise history.
SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- AFC – Bengals QB Carson Palmer named offensive player of the week, Patriots S Brandon Meriweather named defensive player of the week.
- BUCCANEERS – announced that Josh Freeman will be their starting quarterback when they return to play the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 8.
- CHIEFS – suspended RB Larry Johnson for two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team.
- EAGLES – placed LB Omar Gaither on the injured-reserve list; signed RB P.J. Hill.
- 49ERS – signed CB Tarell Brown to a three-year contract extension.
- SEAHAWKS – will place LT Walter Jones on the injured-reserve list.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On October 29, 1961, the Dallas Texans lost to the Boston Patriots 18-17 in front of 20,500 fans at the Cotton Bowl. Down 17-7 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots scored the game’s final 11 points to earn the victory. The Texans grabbed the lead on a pair of QB Cotton Davidson TD throws to WRs Chris Burford and Max Boydston. K Ben Agajanian had a 25-yard field goal for the other Dallas points. It all came down a 24-yard FG by Boston’s Gino Cappelletti on the final play of the game.
On October 29, 1967, the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 52-9 in front of a crowd of 44,002 at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs offense was on fire against the Broncos, scoring six touchdowns in the first half. QB Len Dawson threw three TD passes, going five yards to RB Gene Thomas, 14 yards to TE Fred Arbanas and 30 yards to WR Otis Taylor. RB Mike Garrett added touchdown runs of eight and 20 yards, and RB Bert Coan scored on a 15-yard run. Garrett finished the game with 101 rushing yards. Dawson was 12 of 18 for 222 yards and three TD passes. The Chiefs defense had three interceptions, as S Bobby Hunt, S Johnny Robinson and S Fletcher Smith all grabbed Denver passes.
On October 29, 1972, the Chiefs beat the Chargers 26-14 at San Diego Stadium. In front of what was a then record San Diego crowd of 54,533 fans, the Chiefs defense led the team with three interceptions of Chargers QB John Hadl from LB Bobby Bell, S Jim Kearney and CB Nate Allen. They also got two sacks from DT Curley Culp and one from DT George Seals. RB Ed Podolak led all rushers with 71 yards on the ground, while WR Otis Taylor caught five passes for 86 yards. Former Chiefs RB Mike Garrett had a pair of touchdowns for San Diego.
On October 29, 1973, the Chiefs lost 24-13 to the Buffalo Bills in a Monday night game at the new Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The KC defense was unable to contain Bills RB O.J. Simpson, who ran 39 times, an NFL record at that time, for 157 yards. He passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season during the game. Simpson scored on two short TD runs and the Bills got three FGs from K John Leypoldt. The Chiefs got a one-yard TD run by RB Wendell Hayes and a two-yard scoring run by QB Pete Beathard. Overall, the Chiefs had just 104 yards in total offense and eight first downs. They turned the ball over four times.
On October 29, 1978, the Chiefs lost to the Steelers 27-24 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Chiefs harassed the Steelers offense all afternoon, forcing a pair of interceptions and a fumble by QB Terry Bradshaw. But Pittsburgh got a pair of TD runs from Franco Harris and a 23-yard TD pass from Bradshaw to WR John Stallworth. The winning score came on a 17-yard fumble return for a TD by SS Donnie Shell, who scooped up the ball after it was lost by RB Horace Belton. The Chiefs got a pair of TD runs from RB Tony Reed and another from RB Anthony Morgado.
On October 29, 1989, the Chiefs lost 23-17 to the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. When DE Bill Maas returned a fumble four yards for a TD in the third quarter, the Chiefs held a 17-16 lead. That was built on the running of RB Christian Okoye, who ran for 101 yards on 23 carries, and on the catching skills of WR Stephone Paige, who caught seven passes for 163 yards. The Chiefs offense scored its only TD on an eight-yard pass from QB Steve DeBerg to WR Pete Mandley. K Nick Lowery had a 50-yard FG on the final play of the first half. Defensively, LB Derrick Thomas and DE Neil Smith had sacks of Steelers QB Bubby Brister, who threw a pair of TD passes to WR Louis Lipps.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on October 29, 1955 in Leonard, Texas was KR-PR J.T. Smith. He joined the Chiefs in 1978 after playing six games with the Washington Redskins out of North Texas State. Smith ended up spending seven seasons with the Chiefs (1978-84), appearing in 83 games with 48 starts. He led the Chiefs in receiving (1981), punt returns (1979-81, 1983-84) and kickoff returns (1984). He scored four punt return TDs among his 220 returns for 2,322 yards. He returned 21 kicks for 414 yards and he caught 167 passes for 2,273 yards and eight TD catches. Smith played 13 seasons in the NFL, finishing his career with six seasons with the Cardinals, in St. Louis and Arizona.
Born on October 29, 1977 in Spanish Town, Jamaica was FB Omar Easy. He was selected in the fourth-round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Easy played in 37 games with the Chiefs, contributing mostly on special teams. He ran the ball four times for one yard and caught six passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Easy finished his career with a season in Oakland.
Over the year’s , this and a lot of other team’s have played someone that has prevented the expourse of talent that was not uncoverd , from having sat on the sideline .
There is one thing that can only be solved properly , that is to play in the game . Pratice will not let the real cat out of the bag .
There is only so much time on a game clock and once you start the ” best ” man , it’s hard to switch.
What do you do as a HC ?
Good reading Bob .
Jason Whitlock says LJ is Scott and Todds most valuable player .
Is there anyone on this planet that can confirm this or agrees ?
Bob said: “Johnson needs just 75 rushing yards to become the franchise’s career leader. When it comes to running with the ball, L.J.’s pretty darn good.”
Well….the vast majority of those rushing yards he has accumulated happened in his early years with the Chiefs when he was younger and we had a great O’line. In recent years he has not done squat. He only gets 2 or 3 yards most of the time when he gets the ball…..and sometimes he gets hit for a loss. He rarely gets more than 5 yards. Yes the O’line can be blamed for some of that but Larry has to take some blame as well. I don’t think he has it anymore….not without some supreme powerhouse of an o’line in front of him anyway. Everybody is tired of this nonsense. It’s time for him to go. I hope he never shows up in a game as a Chiefs player again.
LJ has worn out his welcome so many times, the mat is barren. Not only is he a cancer, but he’s taking valuable carries away from other backs that can actually catch and block. I hope they cut him like a piece of steak.
Jack Danials says:
“Jason Whitlock says LJ is Scott and Todds most valuable player .
Is there anyone on this planet that can confirm this or agrees ?”
Agree…with Whitlock? You’re joking, right? If JW told me at 11:59 that it would be 12:00 in one minute…I’d have a hard time believing it.
Maybe Johnson COULD have been “Scott and Todd’s most valuable player”. He totally wasted the opportunity. And make no mistakes, people…LJ HAD the opportunity. He just blew it.
I agree with Harold, MahiMike, and many other Chiefs fans. I would prefer not to ever see him in our uniform again. He doesn’t deserve it.
Bob, you are way over thinking this. Yes, he is a smart guy. Yes, he spews hateful speech. No, it’s probably not what he really thinks or feels. It’s called a temper. LJ has and can’t control his temper.
Its pretty simple to me: he was raised in the right environment in the right way but he longed for the “street” life, or the illusion of it, he was around but rarely got to “touch” because of the close supervision. Once out on his own, he’s acting out. He’s spoiled in the sense he feeels he has the education, the money & the fame. As a result, he keeps doing this stuff because deep down inside HE FEELS HE CAN with minimal repercussion – in his own mind. To this point, he has been correct. Yes, he’s served suspension & missed a couple of paychecks, but his repressed desire to experience what he couldn’t is too powerful…like a drug. He hasn’t hit bottom.
Its sad because of the talent & intelligence, but most of all for his father who tried so hard.
Hey Bob–good to see your posts–I’ve always enjoyed your takes and really never saw you as spouting the company line when you worked for the team. LJ is not an enigma though…he is a spoiled brat. Although he likes to hang with JZ and sport that “tatted” look that is so popular in young urban culture, he is a product of an upper middle class home–one that provided him with everything he could have ever wanted. He has always felt people don’t appreciate his talent, and when he hears negativity he takes it as hating on him. This is a common problem with privileged young people today–they can’t take criticism and instead of shutting up and proving themselves, they have the outlets in Twitter, Facebook, cell phone conversations, etc. to make their complaints known to a wide audience. A few drinks and a healthy dose of anger makes the inhibitions even fewer. I don’t believe LJ’s talent is gone. The line the chiefs field weekly is one of the worst in the NFL. Only Brandon Albert can legitimately be called a starter in the NFL. How many holding penalties has Brian Waters been called for this year? Give LJ a hole and he can get started. Get him started and he can run over people, but like a Jerome Bettis or an Eddie George, a bad line shows his weakness–lack of elusiveness. Again, thanks for your posts, Bob. Keep em coming.
Looking back a couple of years, after 700+ carries in 2005-06, who thought at the time that LJ’s best days were behind him? I was one and thought the big dollar contract given to LJ prior to the 2007 season was a huge mistake.
Now, with the team struggling to remain competitive, the LJ chickens have come home to not only roost but crap down all over the franchise. How nice would it be to unring this bell?
Depending on how the other RBs take up the challenge for the remainder of 2009, we could be in the off-season market for a featured back along with all the other dire needs in need of upgrades at other various positions.
When I think of LJ, I visualize two guys in a boat…and they’re facing one another. They’re both rowing, but obviously in different directions. As soon as one starts making too much progress, the other one rows harder. He’s working against himself, instead of for himself. He has everything in the world except self-understanding. In my opinion, Larry’s looking for the “real” Larry. He has everything that he once thought would bring him happiness, but he’s obviously not really fulfilled or enjoying his experience and it could be he’s little ticked off about it…taking it out on the world, instead of seeking to gain the understanding that would put the pieces of the puzzle called his life back together…again, that’s just my opinion. He seems to be ticked off because he’s unhappy and unhappy because he’s ticked off! Unless you’ve been there, you’d be wise to observe without judging.
It will be very interesting to see how us fans react the next home game against the steelers. Maybe in 3 weeks things will calm down and maybe he be cheered if he has a good run, or maybe we will here the famous booooooo…, or even better PRIEEEEST! ? what you guys think that will REALLY happen?
Well, with all of this, one thing we need to keep mind of. Our o-line. Don’t get me wrong. Glad to see LJ gone. At least for the short period. I think, and as has been demonstrated, Charles can move the ball with this line as it is. Will he be able to maintain that with getting the ball more often? Only time will tell.
I think that Haley is smart enough to realize that he will need to lean on Kolby to get the majority of the carries and utilize Charles as the main change of pace back.
I can’t remember how good of vision that Kolby displayed. Does anybody else? Reason I ask this is because with the zone blocking scheme, if Kolby doesn’t have good vision and patience for a hole to open, he will just end up running up the backside of the blocker just like LJ did. Then we will all be ready for him to go away as well.
As I have been bitching about most of the season so far…there is only one way to see if any of the other RB’s on the team can have success. Play them. They may or may not do any better than LJ. Hard to say. But, there’s simply no other way to find out.
If you missed it on nfl network, go to website and watch trent greens comments, he has a different side of the whole lj saga.
No im not taking larrys side, but does give ya a little something to think about, or just atleast hear
I agree with aPauled. LJ simply has a bad temper.
He can’t stand to be nagged at and I also think that he is mad at himself & the world. I don’t think there is any cure for that.
He probably has a kind & gentle soul, he just can’t mask that anger on the surface.
As far as I’m concerned, he is no longer a Chief.
I’m done talking about him.
Go Chiefs…
That could be said for some other positions as well. PnS
LJ has always seemed articulate and has not been one to hide his feelings.
But just what is it about the folly of making boneheaded, career threatening moves that he doesn’t get? There is something there that just doesn’t compute.
If the O-line were better his rushing average would reflect that.
Is it impatience and frustration that causes these brain farts?
He probably has less physical wear and tear than other RBs his age as his college career was essentially that one great senior season and his work in the NFL has essentially been the two years when he was most of KC’s offense.
He may well be Jim Brown redux but it looks like he will have to prove this elsewhere.
He needs help or counseling of some kind; otherwise his NFL career is kaput.
Tracy says:
“But just what is it about the folly of making boneheaded, career threatening moves that he doesn’t get?”
On the contrary…this whole thing is just a way for him to get what he wants.
The Chiefs options in this whole thing?
#1 – The Chiefs release him. He gets paid by the Chiefs…and is free to sign with another team, who will also have to pay him.
#2 – The Chiefs deactivate him for the rest of the season. He get paid for doing nothing.
#3 – The Chiefs keep him on the active roster. He gets paid, whether he rides the bench or plays.
It’s really a no-win situation for the Chiefs. They’re going to have to pay LJ, no matter what.
So do you guys think lj will start again, will haley start him against the steelers? will he be on the bench?
I have a bad feeling that he will be playing alot of downs still because it doesnt benefit the club any to release him, as of right now now anyway. next season he will def be gone
Useless headcase. Let him go play wanna-be thug elsewhere. The only plus side of not having him score this year is not having to watch him give that goofy thug triangle thing. Grow up already.
gorillafan says:
“So do you guys think lj will start again, will haley start him against the steelers? will he be on the bench?”
Not a clue. If there is one thing I can say about the 2009 Chiefs…they are not easy to predict. Unless, of course, we’re talking about the play-calling.
The Chiefs cannot do much else. Bad decisions were made by management both carl and Pioli, now the team gets to live with it. Just like everyone chose to ignor retirements on the OL. Will Shields’ replacement has never been addressed. Why? says I and wait till next year says you. What year are we talking about? 2012
There are a couple Tight End’s on this team , due to their size , someone said that if you could get Neil Smith and hand him the ball , he would blow his way for 10 yard’s everytime .
2 of those TE’s are mamonth !
they would be no okoya!!!
Mad Chief says:
On the contrary…this whole thing is just a way for him to get what he wants.
I have to disagree. There is no way LJ’s antics have been a calculated move by him over the last few years. Yes, he may be educated…but he’s a little child that throws a temper tantrum when things aren’t going the way he wants them to go (aPauled hit it on the head). He can’t control himself…ask the women in the nightclubs.
Behind Enemy Lines says:
“There is no way LJ’s antics have been a calculated move by him over the last few years.”
I’m only referring to this latest incident. I think he knew that if he threw a “temper tantrum”…he would either get released, or benched. Either way, he gets paid and dis-associates himself from the Chiefs losing season.
Enemy Lines
These Mobil phone’s++ are keeping him up to date.
You don’t have to be sharp if you can get all the advice from ton’s of folk’s .
I get new’s on what he say’s to so and so , there’s that much of it !
No way in hell should LJ be in our record books. Please don’t let this idiot take another snap as a Chief.
sorry to say, but its going to happen baby lj
“•CHIEFS – suspended RB Larry Johnson for two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team.”
I think we should take the coach’s approach – talk about the guys that are actually going to be on the field the next time they play. Let’s omit discussing troubled suspended players and discuss the guys who are looking like they could have a real impact on helping this team win.
Problem with LJ is he doesn’t know how to handle adversity. You take about how he had both parents and he had such a good life and he didn’t come from a broken home Bob. Maybe thats why this guy is the way he is. His whole life he never knew what it felt like to face adversity. He’s use to have things go his way. He’s use to getting his way. He never knew what it felt like to be raised by a single parent. Or what it is like to not know what you’re going to eat from one night to the next. Or even if when he gets home will he still have somewhere to lay his head because his mom or dad couldn’t make rent this month. The guy may just haven’t faced life challenges enough and when he does he blows up because he’s use to things going his way.
Lets look at the situation with the female he spit the drink on. He got rejected and got upset spit on the girl. He’s not having a good yr running the football so now its Haley’s fault he no longer has the explosion he possessed 3 yrs ago or the offensive line.
The true character of a man is shown when he faces adversity not when things are going well. And what Larry has shown for years is he doesn’t have good character when faced with adversity. He cracks every time.
This is the perfect time to release LJ. With Kolby Smith coming off the PUP list. Pioli doesn’t need to release anyone else. On top of that, next year is going to be uncapped. So really releasing him won’t cost anything against the cap. I would be surprised to see 27 on the field on red and gold again.
Agree to disagree Mad Chief. I don’t think he’s that smart…even if he’s “educated.” He’s losing $600,000 for his suspension and credibility in the league which impacts future paychecks…here or elsewhere. In my opinion, he was simply throwing a temper tantrum or else he would have stood by his comments about Haley.
ED you’re right to a point about LJ not knowing how to handle adversity but his basic problem has stemmed from being spoiled. He has always complained about playing time or about the way he has been used from high school until the present. He’s happy during his good times but when the bad times occur he goes off the deep end.
For everyone who says that the Chiefs should release him now that means they would be responsible for his salary for the rest of the year and he would be free to sign with someone else. Depending on whether or not the league decides to suspend him for a period of time, the Chiefs could list him as inactive for the rest of the games which would mean they would be off the hook for his salary. They could cut him before the start of the 2010 season and be free of LJ and his salary. LJ and his agent would probably file a grievance but the Chiefs could argue they felt Smith, Charles, and Savage were a better fit for their offense than LJ.
Larry may have a way out . there would be no draft pick’s involed .
The team has some big TE’s and they arn’t doing anything , they may love the chance to run the ball ? No Christran Okeay , but maybe some chance of some first down’s . 20 hand off’s a game and no first down’s , what could be worse .
There is no type of blocking for 200 lb -RB’s .
If they could cut the 3&ot’s down to 2 to 4 per game + this would have to pull more def.up & open some passing lane’s ?
Cottam and Pope both have Repuation’s of being HARD to bring down .
Mike Shanahan was alway’s finding RB’s that were on the team but in other position’s .
Just need that little extra for first down’s , If you had a 6′8′- 270 lb RB hitting that line , what it would be like is adding extra Octane to a weak blocking , whatever .
Well written Bob. But I don’t expect LJ to play another down as a Chief.
Johnson may be intelligent as demonstrated by completing college, but he is not necessarily smart, witness is continuing problems. For sure, he is not mature – maybe this is the source of his problems. Or maybe, with all the $$$, he just doesn’t care what happens anymore. I don’t believe Johnson brings anything positive to the Chiefs and hasn’t for some time. Whenever he departs the KC scene, it will not be too soon. Want to bet the Chiefs starts doing better when he’s not around? Any takers????
Like LJ or not, love the Chiefs or not. The LJ situation is about MONEY and CONTRACT. Do not be supprised if it is not all forgotten about and he plays. The Hunts do not waste money, he has money coming and will get it either way.
Sorry dusty, the Chiefs will be no better without LJ (and no better with LJ). This is not a one man team and what is left is not any good.