Mending Fences
 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3610994

Mending fences

I have heard of making peace with a player, but I've never heard of a NFL coach checking in with the player's father first. This happened recently when Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders visited with Penn State assistant coach Larry Johnson, Sr. to talk about his son, the Chiefs' backup running back to Priest Holmes.

You see, Saunders was never a big fan of Larry Johnson, the running back. He preferred Derrick Blaylock as Holmes' replacement and stuck to that judgment until Johnson was forced on him late last season. Johnson was drafted in Round 1 of the 2003 draft because GM Carl Peterson wanted a talented young back should Holmes not recover from a hip injury. The player was also threatening a contract situation at the time.

Well, we all know that Johnson finished the season with 11 touchdowns and 581 rushing yards in three late-season starts. After being told that the kid had nothing in his tank, the whole world discovered that maybe Johnson was worthy of being selected in the first round.

But for two years, Saunders and Larry Johnson didn't speak much to each other; the player knowing that Saunders didn't believe he was worthy of playing time. Those beliefs have to change now, especially with the Chiefs hoping to make another Super Bowl run in probably coach Dick Vermeil's final season. Apparently, the father told Saunders that he should be talking to his son. The word in K.C. is that the running back was in Las Vegas and would check in with Saunders the next time he's in town.

This was a big move on Saunders' part, trying to patch up a sour relationship. It was probably a smart move for an assistant who hopes to replace Vermeil some day as head coach of the Chiefs.

Good. Saunders is an interesting cat. You'd never ever guess he was the general of the most prolific offense in the NFL if you met him on the street.

Strange.

Saunders said on the radio that he plans on using sets with LJ and Priest on the field at the same time this year.

Thanks for the info.

Saunders could give LJ some tips on the offense and LJ could him some tips on slapping his woman around.

Everybody wins.

Let's see the Maryland I, baby

I really think that's huge if Saunders wants to have a chance to coach this team. The way LJ talks, he has had more problems with Saunders than Vermeil... and I believe it was Carl that was quoted as saying "Why don't you ask the offensive coordinator" when a reporter asked him why LJ wasn't playing. Sounds like something that would put a nice rift between Carl's ego and Al and lead to somebody else getting the job after DV.

I'm not even sure what to think about that. It was obvious that DV didn't want to play him and I know LJ said that him and Saunders didn't talk, but damn, that is screwed up. You are a coach, sure they have positional coaches, but you better at least be trying to work it out with players.

The bit about LJ's father saying Saunders needs to be talking to LJ is right on the money, though. LJ is an adult. Stop treating him like a child. The visit with "Dad" could easily backfire if Saunders doesn't handle that well. How many other fathers has Al Saunders visited over the years? This isn't college ball.

Maybe it was Carl's idea, it worked so well with Tait.

I agree, but I think that LJ's dad has some serious pull and insight on the guy. If Saunders approached his father asking him for advice on how to best patch things up, that's one thing. If he approached his dad asking his dad to help patch things up, that's another.

I was all over Vermeil and Saunders for their treatment of LJ last year, but I've heard enough second hand information since then to say that LJ has an attitude problem. Maybe it's deserved, I don't know. I don't really care, I just want these bastards to get things patched up and get that locker room chemistry going again.

I don't know, LJ is always talking about his dad... he seems to have a lot of say in what LJ thinks.

Can't wait to see that.

I'd believe it, look at some of the quotes he made after he was really starting to play well and they aren't real flattering.

I'm guessing that will be as wildly successful as the Marcus Allen/Bo Jackson and Tony Dorsett/Hershel Walker duos....Always sounds great in theory, always works like $hit on the field.