L.J.’s Grievance Decision In
Special Master Richard Burbank released his decison Monday on the grievance filed against the Chiefs by the NFL Players Association involving guaranteed money in Larry Johnson’s contract.
Burbank ruled in favor of the Chiefs who removed the guarantee on base salary money for the 2009 and 2010 seasons after Johnson was suspended for one game by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The contract contained specific language that would remove that guarantee. One part of the clause was forfeiture of guaranteed money with an NFL suspension. It does not mean Johnson can’t earn the money by making the team, but it’s no longer a guaranteed payment.
But Burbank did have something in his ruling for Johnson on his signing bonus. At the time of his suspension, L.J. forfeited a pro-rata portion of his signing bonus for missing that game. The Special Master ruled that money could not be taken by the Chiefs.
The question now is just what the Chiefs plans are for Johnson. There have been published reports that if the Chiefs prevailed in the grievance they would release the running back. That’s not necessarily the next logical step, however. Releasing him now wouldn’t accomplish anything but get him out of the building. If that’s what the Chiefs want, then he should be released by sundown. If not, then there is no reason to make a move at this time.
Johnson can also expect further sanction from the Commissioner on the two charges where he pled guilty last month. Goodell said he would revisit the issue after the cases were completed.
Last week, Johnson’s grievance was presented by the players association along with one for New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who was docked $1 million from his signing bonus after he shot himself in the thigh at a New York City nightclub last year. Burbank ruled in Burress’ favor on that one, saying a team could not withhold or dock signing bonus money for a suspension.
Yipeee!
now Chiefs have all the leverage. They can:
1. trade or cut him
2. keep him, and release him at the 1st sign of trouble.
It’s 12:30 p.m. the 6′th .
There is no real good reason to do any thing now ?
I say keep him, atleast for awhile this off season. If we release him now we get nothing.
If we keep him, just for a bit, or after the draft, maybe we get an offer of somekind. And if he actually is still hear at the start of the season, maybe he will have a chip on his shoulder and actually start running again. but i doubt it.
Will be interesting to see what happens.
If they keep with their recent trend of players getting into trouble…LJ is history.
Of course, none of those players were as good as LJ is. Or WAS.
On the other hand, none of the others made the kind of money LJ does, either.
And I don’t see any team seeking a trade for him…when there is a really good chance he’ll be released.
I don’t know why you wouldn’t keep him through training camp,play him during pre season games and hope that someone will want him. Or keep him if he shows that he is the running back that he was two years ago. I don’t think we gets any pay until the season starts, so it is really a free look.
So, if LJ is with the club in 2009 and 2010, he gets the 3.5 mil (barring a renegotiation)? What do the Chiefs pay him, if he is not cut? If he is traded with this contract, is the team LJ ends up on responsible for the $$– even though it is not guaranteed?
If so, I don’t see how any team benefits. The only cost savings to a team is if LJ is cut. Is this interpretation correct?
The Chiefs are right where they want to be….the drivers seat. Now they have nothing really to lose…they can keep him for now and work on a new contract (less money) or release him and look elsewhere. LJ has not shown he is the stud player he once was and teams are not falling all over themselves ready to throw giant wads of money his way. He knows it too….just like he knew he was going to lose this case….as evidenced by his sudden change of attitude saying that he is open to staying with the Chiefs. The Chiefs should be able to work out a good deal for his services if they think it is worth it. I think if they work out the right contract then the Chiefs should take the chance on him for another year….see how it goes.
The only way the Chiefs save the $3.5 million is if LJ restructures or is cut.
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https://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4046548
As for Johnson, Burbank ruled that if the Chiefs cut him, they do not have to pay him a $3.5 million guaranteed salary next season because he breached his contract after being suspended last season, Berthelsen said.
So the question will be is how soon will the chiefs have to restructure/trade/cut him before the money is due?
Yes….that’s what I was saying….restructure or cut. One of those two things should happen. I wouldn’t keep him for the full 3.5 million.
findthedr.. I’d expect the answer to that being:
till the final cuts to get the team to the 53 player limit.
Of course.. were he to be cut then that would be bad for LJ cause he’d have to scramble for a job at that point. That’s the only leverage the Chiefs have to push for a restructure agreement. LJ is best served being cut asap or restructure. If he really wants to be a Chief.. I’d expect a restructure coming with an incentive laden contract. If he doesn’t.. he still cant be a major disruption because he’d hurt his bargaining value with any new team; they’d see him as a high risk attitude with legal problems.
First of all the Chiefs don’t have to do anything right now.
I’m pretty sure everyone in this forum doesn’t care for L.J., and that’s fine, but what is there to gain by cutting him right now??
I don’t care what anybody has to say, L.J. is a good athlete, a good runner and extremely powerful. The negative…he is…how do I put this…a bitch.
Okay, now we get down to business. The ball is in the Chiefs court. To trade him right now would not be fair to the chiefs. His legal issues, attitude, will make teams offer less. If we cut him, we save money under the cap but that we have plenty of.
I may be wrong, but why not keep L.J. right now, make him go through training camp, letting him know that the only way he is going to play football this season is through the chiefs. He is going to want his money and will have to make a decision. Does he waste another year of youth, energy or does he try to go all out and make his money?
The ball is still in the Chiefs court but lets see how L.J. reacts when he thinks that the only way to play football is through the chiefs. Let’s get his stock up and then if his attitude hasn’t changed then we trade him.
Jorge says:
“lets see how L.J. reacts when he thinks that the only way to play football is through the chiefs.”
I’m pretty sure he’s already figured that out. Not so much that the only way he’ll play football is with the Chiefs…it’s that the only way he’ll make $3.5 million playing football is with the Chiefs.
As I remember he was always good with those passes in the flat and— and up and Blocks like Tony Richardson then all of a sudden —- .
That too Scott. 3.5 million should be a good incentive.
L.J. needs a fullback. He will always need that jersey to lead the way. When Tony left so did L.J.’s running.
Jim, he was good with passes in the flats right after Priest got hurt, but he could never block worth a damn. His nonblocking, actually is the reason for Trent Green’s concussion… forced trent out of the pocket
If anyone wants to trade for LJ now, they won’t have a contract with a bunch of guaranteed money to take on. That should drive up his value. Bill Williamson (for what it’s worth) estimated LJ’s value in a trade at a 4th round pick, provided he lost his grievance which he now has lost.
If anyone can get good value in a trade, it’s Pioli, and the Chiefs need more picks in this draft; especially if they can’t/elect not to trade down from pick 3.
However, if they move LJ in some shape or fashion, they need a good plan B. Jamaal Charles is good, but is more of a 5-8 carry, 2-3 reception per game type of player. Add much more to his touch total and he’ll wear down and not be as explosive. Kolby Smith may not be 100% by the start of the year and may even be placed on the PUP depending on his recovery speed. That leaves us with fan-favorites-with-awesome-names Jackie Battle and Dantrell Savage as the other backs on the roster. I like both of these guys as they are nice special teamers and decent role players but I’d be nervous if we open the season with Charles starting and Battle and Savage the only backups. We may need to toss around some names of current free agent RBs who could come in here and play a role while lessening the load on Charles. Also, find some nice mid-to-late round guys in the draft who could contribute immediately.
I personally like Warrick Dunn and Rudi Johnson. Either could come in and contribute as a solid role player and both have proven themselves to be stand up guys and unselfish team players. I’m also a big fan of Colorado State bruiser Gartrell Johnson and the tiny speedster Marcus Thigpen out of Indiana.
Finally, maybe we should ask the Jets about a trade that would bring Thomas Jones in here. Jones gets it done every year and would seem to be a better fit with Haley’s offense than LJ.
When Toni left, thanks King Carl, so did our entire running game, not just LJ. We have not been the same since.
IMO we screwed up when he left as a FA I think.
T Rich was and has been a badass in my book!!
i think we should keep lj if we cant get a 2nd rounder for him hes a good player all u guys r talking bout how hes not any good anymore the guy was injured the yr b4 and last year we hardly played him when he was here its not like he cant play remember the first denver game b4 all the suspensions
Can you hear it? I can, sounds like:
SEE YA!
“THE RIGHT 53″
Not a LJ fan but you have to admit it will be interesting how this all plays out. Keep him, cut him, or trade him, may be the talk until the start of the season. If the moneys right,ok, if not, do what you have to.
If it looks like a turd………….
and it smells like a turd……………..
THEN FLUSH IT!
It is all about the TEAM……….and……….
THE RIGHT 53 2009
In Pioli I trust!
If LJ is ALL IN, as he appears to be, then keep him, as he’s BY FAR our best option at RB. If he’s a problem at all, he can be cut easily.