Hammock Parties
09-22-2007, 12:38 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/285936.html
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star
Shortly after Chiefs practice Friday, a reporter approached Larry Johnson at his locker and asked him to rap.
Johnson just smirked.
“I don’t rap,” he said. “I crush linebackers. It’s what I do.”
Johnson’s football skills, however, were hardly the hot topic around this time last week, when someone posted a rap song on the Internet allegedly sung by Johnson that included some scathing comments about Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson and running back Priest Holmes.
In a statement issued Sept. 14, Johnson denied involvement in the song and said the voice on the recording wasn’t his. He declined to answer questions about the situation until Friday, when he discussed it at length.
“The whole thing was blown out of proportion,” Johnson said. “It’s just the way the media are today. They’re always looking for a story, looking for a come-up. Everyone wants to be the next ESPN anchor. You just roll with the punches.
“I’m still here. I’m still playing. I’m still a Kansas City Chief. Carl is still my friend. Me and Priest still talk. It was blown way out of proportion.”
Johnson, who again denied involvement in the song, said he’s well-aware that his high-profile status will cause him to come under scrutiny from time to time. He said he tries to ignore the personal jabs and criticisms that often come his way.
“It’s part of being a celebrity,” Johnson said.
“It’s part of being in the public eye. When you’re one of the bigger names in the city — when people are mentioning your name as far as football and holdouts and stuff — you expect people to take shots at you every now and then. You’ve just got to wipe it off and keep going.
“As many people as there are that may hate you, there are more people that tell you they like you, like that guy on Warpaint, and that they love what you’re doing in Kansas City. That’s what I really enjoy.”
Even the Chiefs fans that don’t like Johnson will probably give him a second chance if he performs well in Sunday’s home opener against Minnesota.
The Chiefs take a 0-2 record into their showdown against the Vikings, 1-1. Kansas City has scored only one touchdown in two games, and Johnson is averaging just 49 rushing yards a game.
Because Johnson missed almost all of training camp because of a contract holdout, the Chiefs have taken it easy on their All-Pro during the first two games. Johnson carried just 10 times in a season-opening loss to Houston. He had 16 carries in last week’s setback at Chicago.
“I’m definitely back to where I should be (physically),” Johnson said. “The Chicago game is where I really wanted to pick it up. I know I only got 16 carries, but I was still ready to roll (in the fourth quarter). I was still fresh. I could’ve kept going and going. But because of the point (differential), I had to pass.
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said Johnson told him he wanted 40 carries this week.
“I was just with him,” Johnson said. “But if we need that to win the game, yeah, I’d do it. I was cut short the last two weeks anyway. Hopefully we can (treat) those numbers like Cingular rollover minutes and roll them over to this game.”
Despite the Chiefs’ winless record, Johnson said it’s too early for fans to get discouraged. He hopes his teammates keep their spirits high, too. He said it’s pointless to start questioning the play-calling and the coaching staff this soon.
“Guys don’t need to worry about the play-calling right now,” Johnson said. “They just need to worry about their individual job. No one is playing a perfect game. I’m not playing a perfect game. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve missed schemes, calls, runs, that kind of stuff. You can’t bash what the play is, because no one is playing a perfect game.
“It’s a long season. When things are supposed to happen, they’ll happen.”
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star
Shortly after Chiefs practice Friday, a reporter approached Larry Johnson at his locker and asked him to rap.
Johnson just smirked.
“I don’t rap,” he said. “I crush linebackers. It’s what I do.”
Johnson’s football skills, however, were hardly the hot topic around this time last week, when someone posted a rap song on the Internet allegedly sung by Johnson that included some scathing comments about Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson and running back Priest Holmes.
In a statement issued Sept. 14, Johnson denied involvement in the song and said the voice on the recording wasn’t his. He declined to answer questions about the situation until Friday, when he discussed it at length.
“The whole thing was blown out of proportion,” Johnson said. “It’s just the way the media are today. They’re always looking for a story, looking for a come-up. Everyone wants to be the next ESPN anchor. You just roll with the punches.
“I’m still here. I’m still playing. I’m still a Kansas City Chief. Carl is still my friend. Me and Priest still talk. It was blown way out of proportion.”
Johnson, who again denied involvement in the song, said he’s well-aware that his high-profile status will cause him to come under scrutiny from time to time. He said he tries to ignore the personal jabs and criticisms that often come his way.
“It’s part of being a celebrity,” Johnson said.
“It’s part of being in the public eye. When you’re one of the bigger names in the city — when people are mentioning your name as far as football and holdouts and stuff — you expect people to take shots at you every now and then. You’ve just got to wipe it off and keep going.
“As many people as there are that may hate you, there are more people that tell you they like you, like that guy on Warpaint, and that they love what you’re doing in Kansas City. That’s what I really enjoy.”
Even the Chiefs fans that don’t like Johnson will probably give him a second chance if he performs well in Sunday’s home opener against Minnesota.
The Chiefs take a 0-2 record into their showdown against the Vikings, 1-1. Kansas City has scored only one touchdown in two games, and Johnson is averaging just 49 rushing yards a game.
Because Johnson missed almost all of training camp because of a contract holdout, the Chiefs have taken it easy on their All-Pro during the first two games. Johnson carried just 10 times in a season-opening loss to Houston. He had 16 carries in last week’s setback at Chicago.
“I’m definitely back to where I should be (physically),” Johnson said. “The Chicago game is where I really wanted to pick it up. I know I only got 16 carries, but I was still ready to roll (in the fourth quarter). I was still fresh. I could’ve kept going and going. But because of the point (differential), I had to pass.
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said Johnson told him he wanted 40 carries this week.
“I was just with him,” Johnson said. “But if we need that to win the game, yeah, I’d do it. I was cut short the last two weeks anyway. Hopefully we can (treat) those numbers like Cingular rollover minutes and roll them over to this game.”
Despite the Chiefs’ winless record, Johnson said it’s too early for fans to get discouraged. He hopes his teammates keep their spirits high, too. He said it’s pointless to start questioning the play-calling and the coaching staff this soon.
“Guys don’t need to worry about the play-calling right now,” Johnson said. “They just need to worry about their individual job. No one is playing a perfect game. I’m not playing a perfect game. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve missed schemes, calls, runs, that kind of stuff. You can’t bash what the play is, because no one is playing a perfect game.
“It’s a long season. When things are supposed to happen, they’ll happen.”