JOHNSON SEETHING OVER HIS SUCCESS - Q&A WITH LJ PART 2

[Hammock Parties]

For a player with such remarkable God-given talent and incredible accomplishments, Larry Johnson has never really been a football star. That was the second conclusion I reached after Johnson, his agent, Alvin Keels, and I shared lunch at the Hereford House early this week.

Thursday in The Star, during Part 1 of my Q&A with Johnson, I focused on the brewing training-camp holdout that Johnson may stage to leverage his way into a better contract. Today, we’ll focus more on Johnson as a person, not a football player.

But you have to understand Johnson’s football history to understand the brooding personality that he believes makes him a great player.

He didn’t catch a football break until his senior year of high school, and then he went to Penn State and got humbled by big-time football and bigger-time football politics. He rushed for 2,000 yards as a college senior and then ran into a legendary NFL coach who didn’t want him.

Now, coming off back-to-back 1,700-yard rushing seasons, Johnson found himself on the trading block this offseason. According to NFL experts, the Chiefs offered Johnson to several teams. The Packers expressed the most interest but eventually balked at a draft-day deal that would have cost the Pack their first-, second- and third-round picks.

“I think it made Larry realize how real the business side of football is in the NFL,” Keels said of the trade talks. “He saw firsthand that the Chiefs would do what’s in the best interest of the organization, so, therefore, it’s made him aware that in the future he has to do what’s in the best interest of Larry Johnson.”

Here’s the second part of my 150-minute interview with Larry Johnson. On Sunday, I’ll offer my opinion on Johnson and his contract situation. On Thursday, a spokesman for the Chiefs said the organization had “no comment” on Johnson’s statement that he’s preparing for a training-camp holdout.

Question: Larry, you do understand there’s a responsibility that goes along with being the highest-paid player?

Johnson: “Me and Herm talked about that.”

Question: Are you ready to accept the responsibility that goes along with being the highest-paid player?

Johnson: “I can adjust to it because there’s nothing left for me to fight for. There’s no sense in me fighting upstairs, no sense in me fighting coaches, ain’t no sense in me fighting other things that go on. Having this contract done, my future is secure now, I can play football, be a leader, try to get this Super Bowl ring, get into the Pro Bowl a couple more times and maybe get into the Hall of Fame when my career is done. After I get this contract, there’s nothing else to worry about.”

Question: You’re showing some maturity in recent months. Are you going to change again when you get your money?

Johnson: “Regardless of whether I get this money or not, I’m going to still be me. But I’m going to do it where I’m not embarrassing myself, I’m not embarrassing my teammates and I’m not trying to look like I’m after something once I get this money. The money is going to set me up for my kids and my future. Yeah, I’m going to buy me a nice toy, a new car. And that’s it. And then I’m going to set up for my family after that. Money doesn’t change me.”

Question: There’s a concern that some players play with less intensity once they get a huge contract. Will that happen to you?

Johnson: “Receivers can do that (stuff) because all they have to do is jog through some routes. I can’t do that because I have 10 other guys trying to hit me and kill for me to do that. I have too much pride. That’s embarrassing to me. At the end of the day, the media, Carl Peterson and Herm can say whatever they want to, but I gotta answer to my father. That’s the main person I’m trying to impress. I have way too much pride for that.”

Question: Are you angry about something, and if so why?

Johnson: “I’m always angry about something. My dad will tell you I was a moody kid when I was growing up. That’s just who I was — I was a moody kid. There was always something bothering me. When I was a kid, even if we won the game, if I felt like I didn’t do something right, he knew I would be upset the rest of the day. A lot of that comes from me always putting pressure on myself. I was always under that pressure as a child, and there was always that anger that was inside of me. It’s just something that can’t leave for me to always want to be the best.

“It always comes out in the worst times and at a time when it’s not appropriate. I know that part. It was just the way I was raised being in a coach’s household, everybody expects you to be better than your dad growing up or be just like your dad growing up. I had to live with that when I was 9.

“Then going to college, I had to bite my tongue on a lot of stuff because of my dad. I’m always going to be upset that I didn’t get to play four years at Penn State. I’m going to be upset that I had to switch high schools to try to be recruited, to try and pass my SATs and get into college. I’m always going to be upset that when I came to Kansas City I didn’t get to play. I’m always going to be upset about that.”

Question: You do realize that’s unhealthy?

Johnson: “I mean, yeah. I’ve been kind of doing better with that. A lot of people are surprised to see me smile more than I used to. My life used to be: what I wanted and what I was getting were miles apart. Now it’s like right here (very close). Now I can be a little more at ease about where I am.”

Question: OK, but I want you to understand that being angry is physically unhealthy and can affect your life expectancy.

Johnson: “I’m definitely a lot better than I was a year ago.”

Question: Leadership, what does it mean to you?

Johnson: “I’m not a talkative person. If anything I’d rather be a leader by example, as far as what I do on the football field. I’ve always been a leader by example. That’s the biggest thing to me. Guys can talk all day, but then go out there and drop 10 balls or miss six or seven blocks.”

Question: How come you don’t block well?

Johnson: “I have to watch three people on every pass play. That’s why when T. Rich was here they started taking me out on third downs, because I have to watch three people on every single pass play. When you look at San Diego, you barely see LaDainian Tomlinson pass-block. I can pass-block. Sometimes I’m going to mess up. DBs, I can block all day. Linebackers, that’s a different breed of animal. I can cut-block ’em.

“Really this (stuff) came from Dick Vermeil. When I first got into camp, he said the reason we don’t play him is because of my blocking. That stuck with me from then to all the way up to that Dallas Cowboys game when I — first time I ever tried to cut — tried to cut (Scott) Fujita. I tried to cut him on his wrong side. I tried to cut him with my left shoulder and all he had to do was sweep around me. I had bad technique, and Trent coughed the ball up. But nobody said nothing the same year when I had to block Shawne Merriman 100 times in a row, and he never once got to the quarterback.”

Question: Explain your relationship with rapper Jay-Z.

Johnson: “A lot of people don’t know that goes beyond me just wearing his clothes. I could switch to Nike tomorrow and Jay would be completely cool with it. There are only a couple of athletes Jay-Z was cool enough to let in his little small circle of people that he calls friends. It’s me, LeBron and that’s about it. It’s a real tight group. It goes beyond me just wearing clothes. We’ve become friends now. If I wanted to do Nike or Reebok or anything else, he would have input, but he would never say ‘OK, I can’t (mess) with you no more because of that.’ He’s never been that way. We just happened to hit it off.”

Question: How does your association with Jay-Z affect your vision of how you see yourself as an athlete and an individual?

Johnson: “I don’t think it really affects me other than the fact I just know him. If anything when people mention me, of course, they mention him.”

Question: Is Jay-Z a mentor, someone who shapes your view on how to conduct business?

Johnson: “He definitely did that. Between me and you, he definitely didn’t want me to do that Fantasia video. I definitely got cussed out for that one. He told me there were a lot of things he wanted to do, but he couldn’t do them. He said, ‘You gotta be able to look at yourself as a business, as stock, and the less things you do, the more people will have interest in you. The more things you do, you water down your value.’ ”

Question: What do you want to accomplish as a football player?

Johnson: “I’m not a numbers guy. I’m not trying to rush for 2,000 yards or score so many touchdowns. My whole thing when I started playing football is to try and bring the old-school-mentality guys back. When people mention me, I want them to mention Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, Walter Payton, Gale Sayers. That’s what I really play football for is the fun of that. I don’t really do it to be the richest, how many rushing yards I can get. I’d like to be mentioned with that group of guys.”

Question: What characteristics do the old-school running backs have that you respect?

Johnson: “Jim Brown was a player who didn’t take (stuff). Those guys really lived when racism was really around. Jim Brown stood up for Muhammad Ali. That’s what I like about old-school guys. You don’t see that anymore. They really stood up and did what they wanted to do.”

Question: What does Larry Johnson stand for?

Johnson: “I just stand up for people who want to be themselves. If you see something wrong, don’t be afraid to stand up and point them out. A lot of guys see what’s wrong, but they don’t say anything about it. People who stand up turn out to be the greatest people in this country — Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, guys who stood up for what they believed in.”

Question: Do you feel like you’re a part of anything bigger than just Larry Johnson?

Johnson: “Not right now. I don’t have that status to do something like that. It’ll take me a couple of more years, but I really want to point out the undercover racism that is everywhere.

“And I really like to help young black kids who really think it’s cool to look up to certain rappers because they think it’s cool at that time. They think it’s cool that they can’t put on a suit and tie. They think it’s corny to look nice. They can’t go to school without having a white T down to their knees. That’s what I’m really trying to fight as far as that image that they can’t dress up. It’s really black youths fighting ourselves. You know, when you’re a kid, be a kid. But when you’re 27 and you still wearing a white T and baggy pants, what does that say about your life and where you’re headed?”

SECOND OF TWO PARTS. FOLLOW-UP IS SUNDAY
This is the second of two parts of Jason Whitlock’s question-and-answer session with Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Whitlock will offer his opinion on the interview in TheStar on Sunday.

[Mr. Plow]

Nicely said Cocina.

[ChiefsfaninPA]

I totally feel better about signing him long term after this piece. As long as he is producing and doesn't have any off-field problems why wouldn't we sign him. Especially at his position, he is well aware of the dangers of not getting his payday now. He has earned it already. Pay the man.

[Buehler445]

First let me reiterate. Give him some money. Now. Shy of LT, but give him some damn money.

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Johnson: “Regardless of whether I get this money or not, I’m going to still be me. But I’m going to do it where I’m not embarrassing myself, I’m not embarrassing my teammates and I’m not trying to look like I’m after something once I get this money. The money is going to set me up for my kids and my future. Yeah, I’m going to buy me a nice toy, a new car. And that’s it. And then I’m going to set up for my family after that. Money doesn’t change me.”

I really like that

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Question: Are you angry about something, and if so why?

Johnson: “I’m always angry about something. My dad will tell you I was a moody kid when I was growing up. That’s just who I was — I was a moody kid. There was always something bothering me. When I was a kid, even if we won the game, if I felt like I didn’t do something right, he knew I would be upset the rest of the day. A lot of that comes from me always putting pressure on myself. I was always under that pressure as a child, and there was always that anger that was inside of me. It’s just something that can’t leave for me to always want to be the best.

“It always comes out in the worst times and at a time when it’s not appropriate. I know that part. It was just the way I was raised being in a coach’s household, everybody expects you to be better than your dad growing up or be just like your dad growing up. I had to live with that when I was 9.

“Then going to college, I had to bite my tongue on a lot of stuff because of my dad. I’m always going to be upset that I didn’t get to play four years at Penn State. I’m going to be upset that I had to switch high schools to try to be recruited, to try and pass my SATs and get into college. I’m always going to be upset that when I came to Kansas City I didn’t get to play. I’m always going to be upset about that.”

Question: You do realize that’s unhealthy?

Johnson: “I mean, yeah. I’ve been kind of doing better with that. A lot of people are surprised to see me smile more than I used to. My life used to be: what I wanted and what I was getting were miles apart. Now it’s like right here (very close). Now I can be a little more at ease about where I am.”

Question: OK, but I want you to understand that being angry is physically unhealthy and can affect your life expectancy.

Johnson: “I’m definitely a lot better than I was a year ago.”
.

This is the only part that sounds like he is trying to maintain his image. But I'm not really worried about that.

Realistically, I like this kid as a football player. I don't necessarily agree with him on everything, but he seems to at least be reasonable in public. We could have so many worse players (Shockey, TO, Nate Clements, "I was too busy thinking about New Years" Grossman, Moss, Warren Sapp, the list goes on), that I think the KC PR machine can overcome any shortfalls of LJ's character, especially if he does like he says and not let money change him.

As far as leadership, I liked his comments. He didn't feed us some BS line about developing leadership skills or trying to help the next RB. He leads by example and that's all I'm going to ask of him. Some people are not leaders. They haven't developed the skills, and don't have it in their wiring upstairs to do it. He realizes it, and doesn't BS us.

Article Approved

[dirk digler]

Another great article\interview by Whitlock. LJ is impressing more and more with his honest and candid interviews.

[noa]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Some folks felt better about Nixon when he said he was not a crook...

This kid plays the media like a fiddle. His actions and inability to become anything other than this "angry man" rapstar wrongheaded clown will eventually be his downfall.

Hes a great football player, whats sad is that he could be so much morew but chooses to have the behavior of a spoiled 12 year old.

Trade him. Trade him soon.

Um, Nixon lied when he said he wasn't a crook. This interview is about LJ owning up to his shortcomings, explaining why he behaved the way he did, and how he has grown. He could playing the media, but at least he's acknowledging his shortcomings, which you don't seem to recognize.

Originally Posted by jwhit

Do you think these interviews are more enlightening than this wonderful piece of journalism?
http://kcchiefs.com/news/2007/06/13/...words_from_lj/

Wow. I figured you had a higher opinion of yourself, Jason.

Gretz is a complete putz. I'm a complete amateur wannabe hack and I'd be insulted if somebody put one of my articles alongside an article belonging to Gretz.

Please don't ever do that again.

[GoHuge]

I think what he is trying to say about the racist thing is blacks are doing it to themselves. That is what I took from it. Especially when it ended with him talking about young black people dressing and looking like shit. I don't think about these things. When I look at people I don't see skin color

I really don't, but nobody believes you when you say that so the smiley was in order.

Originally Posted by GoHuge39

I think what he is trying to say about the racist thing is blacks are doing it to themselves. That is what I took from it. Especially when it ended with him talking about young black people dressing and looking like shit. I don't think about these things. When I look at people I don't see skin color

I really don't, but nobody believes you when you say that so the smiley was in order.

I see skin color when somebody is dressed like a punk thug. I know it's wrong but hopefully LJ will help me with that little bit of racism left from earlier in life.

[GoHuge]

I honestly think it's a socioeconomic thing. I've seen the white kids in these neighborhoods dressed the same way. They all look ridiculous.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

huh?

not seeing any connection

LJ is telling us he is all better now, all he needs is his money and everything will be fine. He has matured, blah blah blah. I think it is a very good connection.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

LJ is telling us he is all better now, all he needs is his money and everything will be fine. He has matured, blah blah blah. I think it is a very good connection.

huh?

this has what to do with Nixon lying about being a crook?

LJ admitted his mistakes...

[LOCOChief]

I find LJ to be extremely immature for a 27 year old. why does this "young man" carry a chip on his shoulders when he apparently came from a caring family, went to good college, and is playing football for a living? He just sounds spoiled. That having been said, I wouldn't care if we traded him, there are plenty of good backs out there whether it's by committee or single back. In the end this guy ain't going to get it done on his own, and I personally don't want to hear any more race bs, leave that shit to fatlock.

[jwhit]

bump

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by jwhit

bump

whore

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by jwhit

bump

I think this is great work, Jason. Maybe your finest hour in Kansas City. I'm really excited for part three.