Beating a dead horse

**Bowser** · 12-26-2007, 10:52 AM

I know this is one of those ad nauseum subjects, but every time I see another article and revisit it, I get more confused/infuriated with our front office. Seriously, WTF were they thinking with this crap? Was it just a move to keep the interest of fans, or did they think LJ would play the last two games of a potential 4-12 season?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The broken foot Larry Johnson sustained on Nov. 4 turned out to be season-ending after all.

Kansas City coach Herm Edwards confirmed Monday that Johnson would not play in the season finale at the New York Jets, meaning the two-time Pro Bowl running back has lost the better part of an entire season in the prime of his career.

Week after week, the Chiefs refused to disclose the nature of the injury and were hoping, they said, that Johnson would get back on the field.

It wasn't until several weeks after he got hurt that Johnson revealed on a teammate's radio show he'd broken a bone in his right foot.

After doing individual work for more than a month, he tried to return to practice last week, but apparently suffered a setback.

"Larry's gotten a lot better, but it's not to the point where we feel he can play," Edwards said. "It's not good for him not at 100 percent trying to play football. It's to the point now where you have to protect the player."

Edwards also said quarterback Brodie Croyle would be questionable for the season finale. The second-year pro, who has made five mostly disappointing starts, bruised his hand while trying to stop a Detroit defender from returning an interception for a touchdown on Sunday. He will be replaced by Damon Huard if Croyle can't play.

Johnson hurt the foot late in the fourth quarter of a 33-22 loss to Green Bay. The Chiefs (4-11) then lost their next seven and will take an eight-game losing streak into their game against the Jets, ending what is certain to be their worst season since Carl Peterson arrived as president and general manager in 1989.

Edwards agreed that, in retrospect, it would have been better to put Johnson on injured reserve and give his roster spot to someone else.

"But when he got hurt, you're always looking at if you win some games, then all of a sudden you could be in position to make a playoff run, or you get in the playoffs, you want your best players available," Edwards said. "It didn't hurt us."

For the season, Johnson had 158 carries for 559 yards and three touchdowns, and also caught 30 passes for 186 yards. He carried an NFL-record 416 times in 2006 while rushing for 17 touchdowns and a team-record 1,750 yards. But he may have been rusty after missing almost all of training camp and having only a handful of carries this preseason.

Even though the Chiefs eased him into action, he never seemed to get right. He was slowed by a hamstring pull for a while, then had two good games, but got hurt again and never came back.

"It's always hard when players miss time and when they're not around and miss training camp," Edwards said. "But you never feel that a guy can't survive that. The difference between Larry and (defensive end) Jared Allen is Jared missed two games and still had a great year. But Jared Allen was around. He was in training camp. He was there. He was working. You need to work. You really do. You need to be around your teammates."

Johnson will be 29 before next season is over. Will the Chiefs ever see him run with the speed and power they saw in 2005 and 2006?

"The good thing about it is now he'll have the whole offseason to get it healthy," Edwards said. "He wants to be a good player. He'll come back. He'll be ready to go next year. He'll be fresh. He's only going to be 29 next year. He didn't carry the ball a lot. He didn't carry it 416 times."

I've asked it beofre, and I'll ask it again - why wasn't LJ put on IR the very second we were out of the playoff race? Could you imagine Pioli and Belichick pulling this act?

Zouk · 12-26-2007, 10:57 AM

I think LJ just wanted to play - he wanted to show his teammates that he was fighting to come back even in a lost season. That means a lot to players.

But in the end - does it matter? No one from the practice squad that we would have promoted to take his roster spot was signed by another team anyway.

StcChief · 12-26-2007, 11:03 AM

LJ has heart. but just cruise in the Maybach... and rehab

Agent V · 12-26-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

"It's always hard when players miss time and when they're not around and miss training camp," Edwards said.

Yeah, Herm, kinda tough when a player just doesn't give a sh*t, huh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zouk

I think LJ just wanted to play

Then it would have been wise of him to NOT hold out with a year left on his contract and miss both training camp and preseason.

blueballs · 12-26-2007, 11:16 AM

This one has been placed on LJ's head
he did not want the condition of his injury known
Carl hater like 99.5% of Chief fans -but buy it

Eleazar · 12-26-2007, 11:38 AM

It was a freak injury, it didn't have anything to do with his physical condition. He wanted to play because he's a football player. Jeez

Deberg_1990 · 12-26-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

Was it just a move to keep the interest of fans?

DING, DING DING!!! We have a winner!!!

Dont even get me started on the Priest Holmes Public Relations farewell tour.

FringeNC · 12-26-2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romo_2007

DING, DING DING!!! We have a winner!!!

Dont even get me started on the Priest Holmes Public Relations farewell tour.

Priest is one thing...LJ is another. Do most Chiefs fans care about LJ?

blueballs · 12-26-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Priest is one thing...LJ is another. Do most Chiefs fans care about LJ?

I do
LJ may have a bit of a attitude
that's good in a d player and LJ plays like a d player when healthy

Mr. Laz · 12-26-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueballs

I do
LJ may have a bit of a attitude
that's good in a d player and LJ plays like a d player when healthy

LJ's attitude disappeared real quick after he got popped in the mouth a few times.

tough guy ran like a real possy when things got rough

stevieray · 12-26-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romo_2007

DING, DING DING!!! We have a winner!!!

Dont even get me started on the Priest Holmes Public Relations farewell tour.

ya, don't...'cause it's nothing but speculation.

**jAZ** · 12-26-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

After doing individual work for more than a month, he tried to return to practice last week, but apparently suffered a setback.

Seems pretty straightforward.

**Dylan** · 12-26-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Do most Chiefs fans care about LJ?

I do.

I think it was a strategy move by the HC to keep opposing teams thinking, Is this the week LJ comes back to play? j/m/o

Mr. Laz · 12-26-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

I do.

I think it was a strategy move by the HC to keep opposing teams thinking, Is this the week LJ comes back to play? j/m/o

more likely that it was a strategy move by the GM to keep fans brief hopes alive for a dying season, maybe this is the week LJ comes back and helps our offense? j/m/o.

**Dylan** · 12-26-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

more likely that it was a strategy move by the GM to keep fans brief hopes alive for a dying season, maybe this is the week LJ comes back and helps our offense? j/m/o.

ya'll know better than me...

12-26-2007, 10:52 AM
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3211616	Beating a dead horse I know this is one of those ad nauseum subjects, but every time I see another article and revisit it, I get more confused/infuriated with our front office. Seriously, WTF were they thinking with this crap? Was it just a move to keep the interest of fans, or did they think LJ would play the last two games of a potential 4-12 season? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The broken foot Larry Johnson sustained on Nov. 4 turned out to be season-ending after all. Kansas City coach Herm Edwards confirmed Monday that Johnson would not play in the season finale at the New York Jets, meaning the two-time Pro Bowl running back has lost the better part of an entire season in the prime of his career. Week after week, the Chiefs refused to disclose the nature of the injury and were hoping, they said, that Johnson would get back on the field. It wasn't until several weeks after he got hurt that Johnson revealed on a teammate's radio show he'd broken a bone in his right foot. After doing individual work for more than a month, he tried to return to practice last week, but apparently suffered a setback. "Larry's gotten a lot better, but it's not to the point where we feel he can play," Edwards said. "It's not good for him not at 100 percent trying to play football. It's to the point now where you have to protect the player." Edwards also said quarterback Brodie Croyle would be questionable for the season finale. The second-year pro, who has made five mostly disappointing starts, bruised his hand while trying to stop a Detroit defender from returning an interception for a touchdown on Sunday. He will be replaced by Damon Huard if Croyle can't play. Johnson hurt the foot late in the fourth quarter of a 33-22 loss to Green Bay. The Chiefs (4-11) then lost their next seven and will take an eight-game losing streak into their game against the Jets, ending what is certain to be their worst season since Carl Peterson arrived as president and general manager in 1989. Edwards agreed that, in retrospect, it would have been better to put Johnson on injured reserve and give his roster spot to someone else. "But when he got hurt, you're always looking at if you win some games, then all of a sudden you could be in position to make a playoff run, or you get in the playoffs, you want your best players available," Edwards said. "It didn't hurt us." For the season, Johnson had 158 carries for 559 yards and three touchdowns, and also caught 30 passes for 186 yards. He carried an NFL-record 416 times in 2006 while rushing for 17 touchdowns and a team-record 1,750 yards. But he may have been rusty after missing almost all of training camp and having only a handful of carries this preseason. Even though the Chiefs eased him into action, he never seemed to get right. He was slowed by a hamstring pull for a while, then had two good games, but got hurt again and never came back. "It's always hard when players miss time and when they're not around and miss training camp," Edwards said. "But you never feel that a guy can't survive that. The difference between Larry and (defensive end) Jared Allen is Jared missed two games and still had a great year. But Jared Allen was around. He was in training camp. He was there. He was working. You need to work. You really do. You need to be around your teammates." Johnson will be 29 before next season is over. Will the Chiefs ever see him run with the speed and power they saw in 2005 and 2006? "The good thing about it is now he'll have the whole offseason to get it healthy," Edwards said. "He wants to be a good player. He'll come back. He'll be ready to go next year. He'll be fresh. He's only going to be 29 next year. He didn't carry the ball a lot. He didn't carry it 416 times." I've asked it beofre, and I'll ask it again - why wasn't LJ put on IR the very second we were out of the playoff race? Could you imagine Pioli and Belichick pulling this act?
Posts: 101,040

12-26-2007, 10:57 AM	#2
Zouk Veteran Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: DC Casino cash: $10004900	I think LJ just wanted to play - he wanted to show his teammates that he was fighting to come back even in a lost season. That means a lot to players. But in the end - does it matter? No one from the practice squad that we would have promoted to take his roster spot was signed by another team anyway.
Posts: 1,454

12-26-2007, 11:03 AM	#3
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	LJ has heart. but just cruise in the Maybach... and rehab
Posts: 25,901

12-26-2007, 11:16 AM	#5
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	This one has been placed on LJ's head he did not want the condition of his injury known Carl hater like 99.5% of Chief fans -but buy it
Posts: 14,233

12-26-2007, 11:38 AM	#6
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	It was a freak injury, it didn't have anything to do with his physical condition. He wanted to play because he's a football player. Jeez
Posts: 80,659