Don’t Believe The LJ Hype
 

http://chiefs.scout.com/2/637402.html

Nothing gets Chiefs fans worked up like trade rumors surrounding running back Larry Johnson.

If I had a dime for every time someone has called Johnson a “malcontent” or a “locker room cancer,” or stated that he hates Kansas City and wants to play on the east coast, I’d probably have amassed riches approaching the value of his upcoming contract.

So when Warpaint Illustrated’s Nick Athan reported on Friday that the Chiefs are seriously shopping Johnson around the league, the resulting fallout among fans was both predictable and discouraging.

Why are people so quick to cast aside the finest player this franchise has seen since Derrick Thomas? It’s almost like Chiefs fans don’t feel they’re entitled to a player with Johnson’s talent.

Fortunately, I think there’s very little chance of LJ being shipped out of town anytime soon. The whole idea that General Manager Carl Peterson would dump one of his greatest draft picks in the prime of his career is completely ridiculous.

Let’s examine the facts.

Is Johnson a malcontent? No. As Athan reported Friday, Johnson is working out with the team, has not threatened a holdout and hasn’t demanded a trade (unlike some other players).

Why is it seemingly impossible for Johnson to shake this “cancer” label? Some people simply can’t forgive or forget the past. LJ’s 2003 domestic incident may end up haunting his entire career – even if he continues to keep his nose clean, as he’s done since his rookie season.

Compared to a legitimate cancer like Baltimore’s Willis McGahee, Johnson is an angel. Bills fans, almost across the board, despise their former running back for his behavior off the field, his lack of effort on the field and the way he shunned the city of Buffalo.

So far, Johnson hasn’t come close to demonstrating any of these character flaws. He hasn’t even disparaged Kansas City restaurants (I know you’re reading, Steve).

The Chiefs aren’t going to trade Johnson. As I pointed out before, he’s one of Peterson’s best draft picks. If you look at Carl’s history with players like Thomas and Tony Gonzalez, he holds on to his biggest hits.

It took a coaching decision to get Donnie Edwards out of town, and Carl snapped him up via free agency as soon as he was available this offseason. I realize that Neil Smith wasn’t re-signed in 1997 and left for Denver, but that was a money issue. The Chiefs have no other big superstar at the moment competing for money with Johnson, as Smith was with Thomas. Furthermore, the Chiefs’ cap situation is in great shape, especially after the bargain contracts they wisely handed out in free agency this offseason.

Now look at the Priest Holmes contract situation following 2002. Priest was a 30-year old running back coming off a major injury. But once he proved he was healthy, Carl gave him a big contract with a $10 million signing bonus.

Johnson has no such hang-ups. He’s in his prime, has had no injuries, and after carrying the load as the starter in 2006, has absolutely nothing to prove. My gut feeling says Carl will pay up.

LJ is KC’s meal ticket. Without him, they’ll be lucky to finish 6-10 next season. The same couldn’t be said of Holmes and the Chiefs in 2003, when the offensive line was so dominant it allowed Derrick Blaylock to flourish and Trent Green to post Pro Bowl numbers.

When you really examine the situation, there’s just not a whole lot of good reasons to ship Johnson out of Kansas City.

So what’s really going on? This is all one big smoke screen for the draft. The Chiefs are doing an excellent job of concealing what players they’re interested in, and with an attention-grabbing story circulating - like the possibility of trading their star running back – their true intentions are even better masked.

Of course, this could be about money. Athan reported that Johnson possibly desires a contract close to the value of the eight-year, $60 million deal Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson signed in 2004.

You can’t make a serious argument that Johnson doesn’t deserve a comparable contract. The Chiefs are being cheap if they don’t give him a deal that makes him the highest-paid player in team history.

Guess what? The Chiefs aren’t cheap and, despite their hang-ups, the fans will forget about all this nonsense when Johnson scores his first touchdown of 2007 – in red and gold.

I'm guessing you're "paid per article"... they need to focus on the quality over quantity theory.

I knew Dan Snyder was up to something. :banghead:

"Why are people so quick to cast aside the finest player this franchise has seen since Derrick Thomas? It’s almost like Chiefs fans don’t feel they’re entitled to a player with Johnson’s talent."

yes
Priest Holmes and Tony G
are/were just trash

There are several good reasons to look to trade the guy, however he'll play here until he can't move anymore because Carls bad drafting record states that if any of his picks turn out good he will refuse to make moves on them.

Good article, Mr. GoChiefs. Very good. I'm concerned about one of your statements, though.

LJ isn't worth anywhere near the kind of money LT received. Not unless or until we have an o-line that can block for him. Having a great, high priced RB with no o-line is like having a great, high priced car and no gas.

FAX

Where's the nipples, Mr. FAX? Where's the nipples?

this reminds me about so called draft plans
a rb waiting in the wings will make LJ angry

Johnson is better than both of those players.

Ok wait a minute.........Gonzalez is going to the HOF......Larry Johnson hasn't been considered the best player at his position yet either.

FYP
he needs a few more years
injuries have ruined promise

You know Mr. Fire Me Boy!, after all that effort, I haven't received a PM, email, FedEx, or any other form of invitation, epistle, or notification of the rookie mod training schedule from the powers.

I don't think I'll ever be a mod, after all.

FAX

You're saying LJ isn't worth big money because we don't have an offensive line? Shit, why did we bother to sign Tony Gonzalez then?

LJ is worth every penny of LT'S contract considering what he did last year with our pathetic O-line.

No offense but Larry Johnson isn't as good as Tomlinson and he never will be. He doesn't have near the versatility.

Elite running backs automatically take precedence over elite tight ends. It's just a fact of life. Now pipe down before LMFJ squashes your nuts into oblivion.

Yea considering RB has become the most expendable position in the league.......

Last time I checked, Mr. GoChiefs, the TE and RB positions have different roles on the team. I'm not fussing. I actually understand your point of view. I really do but, if we're going to run him up the center's ass 416 more times next year, we can find a less expensive RB who can do the same thing.

FAX

Ask the Chargers if they think LT is expendable.

That's an elite RB, that is HOF caliber and is extremely versatile.

Let's ask the Colts if they think RB is expendable, or the Bills. Fact is RB is the most talent rich position in all of football, they are there in the draft every year. It's become an expendable position just due to how talent rich it is.

Is LJ a strong receiving threat? If your answer is no... then, he's not worth the LT contract and he's not better than Priest.

Will he eventually sign for more money than any other RB? Quite possibly, that happens all the time as the caps increase.

It's a decent article, GC, but right now, you're wrong. LJ is not on the same level of LT. LJ is the second best RB out there. AS a pure runner LJ is better. But when you consider blocking, running in space, and catching the ball LT is significantly better.

I could argue Steven Jackson is better......if you wanna be dead serious about it.

I'm not going to debate LJ's versatility on THIS BB, but I believe he showed improvement in those areas last year and will continue to do so. I don't believe there's the ENORMOUS gap that some of you are implying between the two running backs.

Steven Jackson is a better "all around" RB than LJ in my opinion and no I'm not just referring to fantasy football.

LJ has been a phenom, no doubt... but he had 80 more carries in 2006 than in 2005 with only 39 more rushing yards. LJ's receiving skills are average.

I'm not hatin' on the guy.. just saying that he is NOT the midwest's version of LT.

:LOL: ROFL

Steven Jackson caught 90 balls last year......

See, that shows maturity... you're learning when to back out of a losing battle. Bravo.

The O Line had nothing to do with that of course.

Hell put Jarrett at RB problem solved and have you seen his zany receiving skills!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Go pull up his stats and watch him play......he's every bit as big and talented and actually has more versatility.

4321

I've watched him play. I disagree. This is an opinion and simply not going to be changed on either of our parts. The ONLY back in the league who I think is better than LJ is LT.

Consider the system. LJ would be scary with that much talent around him.

You guys must really not pay attention Steven Jackson is a great player.....he may not be as naturally gifted as a runner as LJ is but he's a better player because he's made himself good at more things.

I'm not sure that, when it comes to LT's payday, the talent difference between the two backs is the main issue. My question is, why would you pay premium money for a back to run behind an o-line that can't block pop-ups?

FAX

LJ isnt there yet. Gonzo is heads above him. LJ needs to be great for about 3-4 more years, then you can compare. Right now, he's just a good running back.

Beat me to it. It's comparing Apples to Oranges. I think LJ would make Stephen Jackson look silly if they both played for the Rams.

Last 2 seasons when both LJ and SJ were full time starters...

LJ
| 2005 kan | 16 | 336 1750 5.2 20 | 33 343 10.4 1 |
| 2006 kan | 16 | 416 1789 4.3 17 | 41 410 10.0 2 |


SJ
| 2005 stl | 15 | 254 1046 4.1 8 | 43 320 7.4 2 |
| 2006 stl | 16 | 346 1528 4.4 13 | 90 806 9.0 3 |


LJ obviously owns him on the TD production, but Jackson is in what cannot be argued now as the better overall offense. And, if you think that will not help Jackson really explode in 2007... you're nuts.

The offensive talent around LJ is not what it was just a short 2 years ago and the offense around Jackson is improving. I think you're kidding yourself if you don't think Jackson is going to light it up in 2007.

LJ will be solid, but barring immediate improvements... I see his production declining in 2007.

Actually, I'm Flopnuts. Seriously though, I think the Rams have much more talent around SJ than the Chiefs do LJ. If they were both on the same team I don't think there would be any argument as to who would spell the other.

At least no one's talking about grammar in this thread.

Good Article. i've read far worse on the major sports networks.

BTW, i find it amusing how all the football "experts" on CP compare stats straight up of different backs in different systems.

Apple and oranges.

For example, how has Portis done since leaving DEN?

I don't think Larry Johnson could catch 90 balls in a year......

I do. Penchief needs to get his ass in this thread.

I'm not saying he could either. What I am saying is LJ would be running the ball. SJ would be catching them if they were on the same team. The only true comparison you can make is if you have 2 guys with the same surrounding personnel.

Maybe if he tried he could, he's run some really ass pass routes.

It's like I said I think LJ is more naturally gifted than Jackson but I think Jackson works harder and has made himself better at more things and is a versatile player because of it and is a better football player at this time.

My grammar is not as good as I once believed it to be. As the old adage goes "Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house."

excuse me, what makes you qualified to make that statement?

Ever watch him run a pass route........it's about like him trying to pick up a blitzer.....

I think it's because that's the number of passes Downfield Damon gets knocked down at the line of scrimmage in a season, Mr. chris.

FAX

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/t...player?id=7078

Very good hands. Versatile halfback who catches the ball well and returns kickoffs.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ayers/323.html

Effective receiver out of the backfield and has also been used to return kicks with a good degree of success.

Because there's only so many third and longs one can have in a season?

You know... run, run, pass, punt... rinse/repeat as necessary.

It wasn't a statement at all. It's an opinion. By starting the sentence with "I don't think...." that should have been clarified. Most of us here aren't sportswriters but we all state our opinions.

Sadly, here in Springfield i have to watch a lot of Steven Jackson. His hands are marginally better & he's no top blocker either...Bulger gets dumped at an alarming rate.

Furthermore, SJ isnt NEARLY as physical as his size would indicate & he simply does NOT have the leg drive & pure power that Larry possesses.

I'll take LJ any day of the week.

Like I said.......if he'd show some desire to do it he probably could. Which leads back to me saying I think LJ is more talented but Jackson works harder, I think LJ runs lazy pass routes.

He's a greater injury risk, too. He runs way too upright.

LJ is also more photogenic...

Jackson has cooler hair......

And he's smarter...and better looking...and smells better.

true.my apology.

Sometimes my engineering mindset slips in; the need to verfiy everything.

I had this same arguement last week over beers about who is the best 2nd back in the NFL

I'll go back to my lurking.

LJ gargles glass and he once kicked Asphaltzan's ass in a fair fight.

FAX

No problem, Mr. chris. Actually, I thought your point was a good one. Mr. Mecca needs to back up those outrageous claims with some facts and stuff.

FAX

I dunno man....Steven Jackson never got arrested for brandishing a weapon or domestic violence.....

No, no, no, no, no, no. I was ABSOLUTELY NOT trying to flame on you. I'd like to hear some of your opinions too. I was just trying to say that his statements weren't anything to be angry over. That is all. I encourage everyone to post.

This is also true.

ROFL I meant his opinions. :LOL:

...better bone structure. More literate.

Like I said.......if he'd show some desire to do it he probably could. Which leads back to me saying I think LJ is more talented but Jackson works harder, I think LJ runs lazy pass routes.

That was what I said.......anyone who's watched him run a pass route can tell you LJ runs pretty shitty ones and half the time looks like he could careless about it. I don't dispute that he's more talented then Jackson but I will dispute that he works as hard or tries as hard to be a total player.

..cooler tattoos...

Mr. FAX, you're woefully forgetting the time he bent Chuck Norris over a bar stool and had his way with him, then said, "Bitch, go get me a beer."

And you better believe Chuck got him that beer.

Regrettably, I don't have a link.

Why spread your lies? LJ only drinks the blood of his enemies.

Cool.

I know you weren't.

I jumped in without adding to the discussion.

This thread died.

As I told you in your rep, this place is full of assholes, I don't desire to be one of them.

'Cause LJ killed it with his mind.

FAX

... :LOL: ...

Hey people can pile on me if they want, I know on this board I'm going to get some shit for saying that but I do think Steven Jackson is as good right now.

...doesn't snore...

He does snore, but he's just sucking in the world's pollution. And breathing out a sweet smelling fragrance.

...better singer, tells better jokes...

I really don't disagree with this, Mr. Mecca. When it comes to Jackson, I haven't watched him a lot, so I'll have to take your word on him.

However, I've long suspected that LJ would rather work on his pouty face than his blocking and receiving skills. He's actually pretty hard to figure out. He excels at times and appears disinterested at others. Like when he's making a half-ass effort at catching a pass.

FAX