Larry Johnson - this is just all too weird
NFL Football at its best. NFL Football at its craziest.
Odd, most of the time Larry carries the Chiefs with his carries, but it appears that the Chiefs are carrying Larry
Larry Johnson set an NFL record for carries last year with 416. Larry did this while the Chiefs were struggling with their offensive line and their quarterback was knocked out for almost half the season with a severe concussion.
The result was a stellar 1789 yards and 17 touchdowns. (Squibster full disclosure - Last year Larry was the top dog of my Fantasy Football Team)
Now those were rough circumstances and the Chiefs were still able to make the playoffs. Larry put the team on his back and they rode him home.
The dream ended in the first round of the playoffs, yet Larry knew he would be rewarded.
This year started and there were some differences of opinions that caused a 25 day holdout to get Larry signed and now he feels he won’t be ready for the opening game of the season. That is the bad part. The good part is that he will need some help carrying his wallet.
The 27-year-old Johnson signed a five-year contract extension on Tuesday, taking him through 2012. The deal includes a guaranteed $19 million and he will receive $27.7 million in the first three years of the extension. source
Now this is where it all begins to get weird. Larry is not playing until maybe after the opener and there is a certain branch of thought that thinks this is a good idea.
Wait a minute here, bucko. You want your star running back to sit out games after holding out for more cheese?
Yes, some people think the time off to get his legs back to a fresh state would be good for Larry.
Even Larry, thinks of himself as the ultimate slow starter.
“What I know about myself is I’ve never been a fast starter coming out of the blocks in a season,” he said. “I’ve always been — the last eight games is when I really turn it on. So I’m going to push myself as hard as I can to try to even it out.”
Now the money can do funny things to your mind. Think back to the last time you inked a multi-million dollar contract and what it did to you personality. Oh, you never did that? Well, pretend then.
Making big money will mean a bigger responsibility. Often in his first four years the 6-1, 235-pounder has been described as moody and uncommunicative. Those days are over, he said.
Yeah, right.
Now the total deal worked out to around 45 mill, but then you have to subtract the fines for the holdout, because he essentially missed practice.
After practice, Johnson quickly dressed and left without speaking with reporters. A team spokesman said he would hold a news conference Wednesday morning. Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson said a fine of $14,280 per day for missing 25 days of training would be paid, meaning the holdout cost Johnson about $357,000. source
Those pesky 357,000 dollar fines just ruin my day. Big money sports contracts are so laughable sometimes.
Anyway, there is no doubt that Larry is one of the bright young star running backs in the league with a nose for the goal line.
He better be, because the offensive line is weaker and the qb will be Brodie Croyle, who has a lifetime QB rating of 11.9 and no that is not a misprint.
Larry is happy and rich. The Chiefs are happy and probably will get richer. The fans are happy. Now all that has to happen is for Larry to put the team on his back again.
NFL Football Fan Question Is Larry the number 3 back in the league?
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POSTED IN: Kansas City Chiefs, Larry Johnson, NFL Football
1 opinion for Larry Johnson - this is just all too weird
Calvin Johnson is rich, Larry Johnson is poor, well, sort of
Aug 24, 2007 at 1:27 am
we looked at Larry Johnson’s new deal and examined all the ramifications as far as the Chiefs …
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