Chiefs Still Waiting For Commish
On Thursday, the Chiefs were still waiting for word from the NFL league office in New York on the Commissioner’s decision on discipline for Larry Johnson.
It was Tuesday when Johnson met face to face with Roger Goodell in New York to discuss his off-field problems of late, specifically the two charges that have been filed against him. Goodell has established during his time as Commissioner that he does not have to wait for the legal system to run its course before he hands down disciplinary measures against players. Johnson will not be in court on the charges until December, but the NFL can act long before that.
For the sake of the team and Johnson, the Commissioner should make his decision as soon as possible. Heaven knows, by the time this is posted at 2:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, a suspension may already be decided. There seems little question that Johnson will be suspended and fined in some fashion. Players are not called to New York for meetings with the Commissioner just to chat.  It’s doubtful he’s going to be as lucky as New England DT Vince Wilfork, who was fined but not suspended for actions on the field.
The Chiefs plan to sit Johnson again this week, deactivating him on Sunday. That would be three consecutive weeks where they’ve taken that approach. Under the rules and regulations of the agreement wit the NFL Players Association, they can only hold him out of participation for a maximum of four games. Those are rules that came down in the aftermath of the Eagles problems with WR Terrell Owens several years ago.
Here is one man’s prediction on the direction the Commish decides to go: I believe he will suspend Johnson without pay for four games and he will take the two games he’s already missed and this Sunday’s game as time served. So he would also miss the San Diego game on November 9, but he would then be eligible to return for the final seven games of the season.
No matter what he decides, Goodell needs to make a decision and do it now on this discipline so the Chiefs and Johnson can move on.
agreed. great post
there’s a story on 810’s site that talks about the 5.5million the chiefs could save if the commishn suspense LJ. Bob, have you got anything on this?
sorry about the spelling. I got off work an hor ago , so I’ve had a few cocktails
http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7748527&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
According to this it says that the chiefs can void $5.5 million in unpaid guarantees in LJ’s contract if he is suspended.
It also appears there wouldnt be a cap hit if LJ was cut before the start of the next season.
Bob,
can you confirm this?
Bob, thanks for the info as currently as we know it regarding LJ. Not to dinigrate the content of the report but in the larger scheme of things, does it really matter at this stage as to whether LJ is in or out?
On some scale, it very well might be a difference as in last week’s thin margin of loss to the Jets. In the overall picture, given the circumstances and attitude of LJ, perhaps the Chiefs and Herm might be better off without the guy lurking in the shadows waiting to play?
I don’t know the answers to these questions but my sense is, LJ’s absence is not that big a deal.
LJ better learn how to function running out of the spread or he won’t get playing time even AFTER all this mess is over.
Bob Gretz says
“Here is one man’s prediction on the direction the Commish decides to go: I believe he will suspend Johnson without pay for four games and he will take the two games he’s already missed and this Sunday’s game as time served. So he would also miss the San Diego game on November 9, but he would then be eligible to return for the final seven games of the season.”
That seems fair. I wish you were the guy making the call Bob. Goodell is sure taking his sweet time!
If your guess is correct Bob, that would make the move to deactivate him a very shrewd one. If he is able to come back and make a contribution. After a few more games though, many on team and in the stands may be ready to move on without him.
[...] On Thursday, the Chiefs were still waiting for word from the NFL league office in New York on the Commissioner’s decision on discipline for Larry Johnson. It.Chiefs Still Waiting For Commish | Chiefs Football at BobGretz.com [...]
Since the Chiefs are merely deactivating Johnson and not suspending him, don’t these games NOT count towards the maximum of 4 games a player can be suspended for conduct detrimental to the team?
I hope you are right about the games the Chiefs are volunrily de-activating LJ counting in the NFL sanctioned suspension, if it comes, as time served. The quicker we get LJ back, the better.
Time for a quick update because there have been several questions about money.
LJ will forfeit some of his guaranteed money if he’s suspended by the NFL for his behavior. How much I’m not sure and my feeling is from the Chiefs they aren’t sure either, because it depends on what the suspension is for and how long it might be.
He will be out the paychecks for games that he’s suspended for and he will be out guaranteed money that will be paid out in the future.
The Chiefs also may be within their rights to go in and get a portion of the actual signing bonus, although that has become problematic these days due to court challenges by the players association.
Make no mistake, L.J. is going to lose millions in this situation.
thanks for the update Bob!
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Chiefs | Johnson parts ways with agent
Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:09:01 -0700
Adam Schefter, of the NFL Network, reports Kansas City Chiefs RB Larry Johnson has parted ways with agent Alvin Keels, an NFL Players Association spokesperson confirmed.
Let Herm deactivate Johnson for the maximum of 4 games (one more game vs San Diego aft this one v Tampa Bay), then let Goodell sit on his decision till Mon. Nov. 17 the week of the NO Saints game. Thus, Johnson is then ’suspended’ for 4 games on top of the 4 already deactivated for.
He will’ve missed half the season, be (Corporal) rusty and likely take perhaps another 2-3 games to get back to his mediocre self afield.
Then with 6 games left in the season activate him if that be the only legal way to comply under NFL NFLPA dictum, and:
a) sit him on the bench to make (even more of) a spectacle out of him.
b) let him play, whereby he will either shine (KC can trade him for a song or perhaps more), or he falls flat onto his face on the field which makes his hopes for continued NFL career iffy.
Is this being too hard on him? And would the guy know the difference between an opportunity and a persecution complex?
if we end up cutting the guy the team would look foolish for passing on a 3rd rnd pick before the trade deadline.
LJ needs to follow Bob’s advice and work on making himself a better back as well as a better person. Thats advice we can follow in each of our own lives.
Thanks for the update Bob. I wonder if this “behavior pattern” has any affect on the remainder of his contract? Is there a clause that gives the Chiefs an option to void his remaining years based on off-the-field problems? It wasn’t like there wasn’t already a pattern…
Hopefully we will hear Godell’s decision some time tomorrow, I think a fair punishment would be 3 game checks, (games deactivated) and a 3 game suspension would be sufficient, and the same kind of probation that SUPER PUNK (pac man) is subject to.
^ 6 game checks in total.
Holy Crap Rin tin tin!!! Hate to get your your bad side or (annoyed side) as it may be now. I’m guessing this will be his last year with the Chiefs. Guessing is one thing, hoping is another. Hopefully he’ll some how find in himself to take Bob’s advice.
Constant spankings growing up are the reason I turned out so well (or, to borrow from the guy running for Prez with the Dumbo-sized elephant ears: ‘just trying to spread the wealth around, as it were.’)
If LJ were a movie, he’d be both the protagonist and antagonist…we could call it ‘It’s My World and You’re Only An Irritant In It’ (adapted from an idea first presented in 1981’s flick ‘Stripes’ via the character Francis – LJ for our purposes.)
“I don’t want any of you homos touching me…any of you homos touch me (or look at me…or breath my air…or don’t notice my bling) I’ll kill ya.”
Give the man a little time for the leagle to finish. was there any intent harm someone , its all minior . Too much for what ? Time out.
does anyone think that a trade in this off season, larry johnson for chad johnson, is fair compensation? chad doesnt have many years left and larry is a better overall player but the removal of the larry johnson contract and the addition of a deep threat player would be nice, plus i can root for ocho cinco…. can stand that LJ with his mike tyson voice
Dean,
They’re both high maintenance players. I think we could do without either. I’d rather take our lumps now and get this losing crap overwith asap!
By the way, I think we should all be rooting for good ole Daunte Culpepper. If he can earn Detroit a couple wins it would make our next draft pick that much easier. Cinci doesn’t need a qb, Detroit does.
And please God, don’t let us take Tebow! Stafford or Bradford would be a Godsend!
GO CHIEFS!!
Johnson for Johnson??? Yikes! Last thing we need to inject is a “me” guy and his sideshow.