Flanagan: LJ rips Vermeil in HBO interview

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16118327.htm

JEFFREY FLANAGAN TOP OF THE MORNIN’
Kansas City Star

Johnson tuned out when Vermeil talked

Larry Johnson, appearing in a feature with Cris Carter on HBO’s “Inside the NFL” this week, makes it clear again that he really wasn’t all that interested in playing for Dick Vermeil.

“I wouldn’t pay attention,” Johnson said of playing under Vermeil. “My eyes, I would be up in the sky. You know, I would be sleeping in my locker. I wouldn’t carry my playbook because I was just trying to get away from this building, you know, when Dick was here.”

(It should be interesting when Vermeil calls the Chiefs-Oakland game for NFL Network Dec. 23.)

Carter’s interview with Johnson, which appears at 9 tonight, also focuses on LJ’s relationship with Herm Edwards.

Carter asked LJ, “Do you think Herm Edwards, being an African-American and you being raised, of course, by an African-American, that you see a lot of similarities in Herm that you saw in your dad that made you open up to him?”

LJ’s response: “I think so. I could relate to Herman. I couldn’t do that with the other coaches I had because they had not done it. You know, they haven’t put those pads or they haven’t been in the situation as a young black athlete and know what we had to go through.

“You know, when we go out, you know, we like to go out. You know, we like to hang out. We like to have fun. But then you got to worry about the guy around the corner with the gun. You got to worry about this girl on the block. You got to worry about, you know, your parents. You got to worry about your homeboys taking advantage of you.

“There’s so much things you got to worry about being a young black athlete. And to be able to have a father like mine and have a coach like Herm, I was able to escape a lot of those realities and find myself in a new ray of light.”

Edwards also contributes to the show.

“First time I saw (Johnson), I said: ‘Are you ready? Are you ready to touch the ball 30 times a game?’ ” Edwards said. “And he kind of looked up at me, and he probably thought, ‘I haven’t even met coach yet, and he’s — what, is he messin’ with me?’ ”

[burt]

Originally Posted by milkman

So what does that make him?

African Caucasian?

If my mother was from the Big Island of Hawaii, and my dad was Caucasian, Would I be referred to as "Big-cauc-ed"?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

****ghhaaa, pleeeeeeeeezze....." as you and da homeboys might say--but, of course, us "crackas" aren't allowed to say....

No no, HolmeZz told me the other day it's OK for white people to use that word, as long it's the one that ends with an "a". He says it's not a derogatory term.

[milkman]

[QUOTE=Dale "Fat Fingers" Mercer][QUOTE=milkman]pussy Dick.

Isn't that an oxymoronism?

Your point?

Dick is the perfect example of a she-man.

[jynni]

Originally Posted by milkman

I didn't say he was smart or mature.

I'm saying the wrong person is being accused of making it about race.

Carter made it about race.
LJ just wasn't smart enough to deflect.

That's what I was gonna say. It seems LJ relates to Herm more because he's a former player not because he's black.

[bringbackmarty]

L.j. has about as much business criticizing vermeil as Kotter does saying the N-Bomb, even if they are both just playin.

L.J. was not ready to start when Vermiel was coach, he is barely ready now, other than being the best pure back with the ball in his hands. (See Fujita Dallas, Fumble in Denver)

L.J. Needs to keep working hard on his pass protection, and catching the ball out of the backfield, and protecting the football.

He has all the moves he needs once he gets the ball, and the line is good enough. He has to get even more unpredictable, and better at the other areas of his game.

The offense under Vermiel mandates that l.j. do these things, that is why he didn't start sooner. He simply couldn't do them, and he showed signs of immaturity, such as losing his playbook, etc.

He has no one to blame but himself.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by FAX

...If I had been treated like DV treated LJ, I'd feel the same way he does. I don't know how DV worked with LJ behind closed doors, but in public he was handled with almost 0 respect, in my view.

FAX

You know, I've been back and forth on this. I agree that it appeared the DV was showing no respect for LJ. But then I read this piece about how he was sleeping in his locker (btw, how did he fit inside his locker to sleep?), not carrying his playbook (apparently didn't care to learn), etc. Sounds to me like perhaps he really did need to take off the diapers. It appears to me that DV may have been right about that. But I'm still not sure that saying that in public was the right thing to do. I'm thinking that both guys were wrong in the way they handled the situation.

[dtebbe]

I really want to like LJ outside of football, but it's just really hard when you read crap like this. Poor baby, the diaper comment may still apply. Maybe the diapers go on right after the jock comes off.

I'll cheer for him on the field, but let's just say I won't be buying his jersey any time soon.

DT

[Redrum_69]

Well, DV told everyone he would bring a Super Bowl win to KC...that didnt happen.

The only thing I give him credit for was making the Chiefs an offensive juggernaut....if he'd only cared about a defense and let gunther bring in his own guys...

[Frazod]

My thoughts on this:

1. I don't blame him for hating Vermeil. I hate him too.

2. Carter kind of led him down the race path. It is ever possible for one black man to interview another black man and NOT mention race? Sure doesn't seem like it.

3. That said, it's not like Larry grew up in the projects dodging machine gun bullets. Give me a fucking break.

4. I love Larry as a Chief. If he played for anybody else, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by bringbackmarty

L.j. has about as much business criticizing vermeil as Kotter does saying the N-Bomb, even if they are both just playin.

L.J. was not ready to start when Vermiel was coach, he is barely ready now, other than being the best pure back with the ball in his hands. (See Fujita Dallas, Fumble in Denver)

L.J. Needs to keep working hard on his pass protection, and catching the ball out of the backfield, and protecting the football.

He has all the moves he needs once he gets the ball, and the line is good enough. He has to get even more unpredictable, and better at the other areas of his game.

The offense under Vermiel mandates that l.j. do these things, that is why he didn't start sooner. He simply couldn't do them, and he showed signs of immaturity, such as losing his playbook, etc.

He has no one to blame but himself.

There is no doubt that LJ has a lot to learn, and needs to grow up, but Dick doe share some of the blame.

He made it clear that he didn't want LJ, and he treated him like an unwanted step child.

I wouldn't have blamed LJ if he ran Dick down like a LB standing in his way.

In fact, I would have applauded.

[Rain Man]

I think we can all agree that Johnson was drafted into a bad situation, coming to a team with the best back in football at the time. He also came in over the objections of his head coach, and apparently he also didn't handle it well. The whole thing was a mess, and I'm just glad that it appears to be straightened out now.

I had nothing against DV, but his leaving was a bit of a blessing in this respect.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by JBucc

If you got to worry 'bout your homeboys taking advantage of you, you need new homeboys. And that's all I have to say, about that.

When there is money like LJ is making at stake, Its a whole new ball game. Money changes everything. Even some of yoru best friends would use you if you started earning millions a year. And if you think not, then your kidding yourself.


Lj just answered how he felt about DV. He didnt like him, its not a big deal. Carter is the one that turned it into a racial thing. LJ just answered how he felt.


I dont see to much wrong with this, other then people are going to interpret it how they want.

The little i remember of highschool, You can see the Jocks bieng treated Differently. Hel, truth is most star jocks at any school are usually black guys, It was at my school. And everyone did treat them different.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Africasian? Caucafrican?

Duh, Macaca.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by bringbackmarty

L.j. has about as much business criticizing vermeil as Kotter does saying the N-Bomb, even if they are both just playin...

Apparently you missed the memo: it's only offensive if it ends in "r;" if it ends in "a" it's permissable....


Got dat, Cracka?!

[leviw]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

No surprise here but LJ ran his butt off the last nine games for himself.

More accurate.