Commish Docks L.J. One Game
Late Halloween afternoon NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell finally released his decision on discipline for Chiefs running back Larry Johnson.
Goodell has suspended Johnson for the Chiefs game on November 9th in San Diego. It’s a one-game suspension without pay at this point. That will cost Johnson approximately $150,000.
Here’s the statement from the league office:
“Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs was notified today that he is suspended without pay for Week 10 of the regular season for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. Johnson has previously violated the NFL Personal Conduct Policy and has since been involved in multiple incidents in which law enforcement was required to intervene. Johnson also was informed that upon the disposition of two pending law enforcement matters he faces the possibility of additional disciplinary action.”
The important words there are the last five “… possibility of additional disciplinary action.” The Commissioner has left himself the opportunity to slap further sanctions on Johnson if he’s found guilty of the two charges currently filed against him. Those will not hit the courtroom until December.
Here’s statement from Chiefs GM Carl Peterson:
“We respect the decision of Commissioner Goodell. The NFL player conduct policy sets forth a set of standards that all NFL players, coaches and staff members must abide by. Upon the completion of his suspension we sincerely hope that Larry will be ready to return to the field for the Chiefs determined to make a positive contribution to our team and, with the assistance of the people around him, turn his life around.”
Early reports are that Johnson does not plan to appeal the one-game suspension. Also, in his decision the Commissioner took into account the penalty imposed by the Chiefs on Johnson of deactivating him for three games.
That includes this Sunday’s game at Arrowhead against Tampa Bay. Johnson will be deactivated for that game.
Technically, Johnson’s suspension does not begin until Monday, November 3rd. He will not be allowed at the team facility for the next week, able to return on Monday, November 10th.
WOW! LJ got off pretty dang easy imo.
Does this mean the chiefs over-reacted? Or has herm decided he does not fit? Or what? Bob, how about some insider views on just LJ future with the chiefs or how much does the chiefs lose in throwing LJ to the side of the road? Will he not catch on with another team and the chiefs get nothing?
Looks like the Chiefs made the right move by sitting LJ on their on accord first. Hopefully when he returns, we’ll see more of the angry and aggressive running from him that made him one of the league’s best backs. If he can do that, then I believe that even with the possibility of continued punishment, the Chiefs could find a team willing to take a risk on him (provided he reworks his contract) and give us a draft pick.
The deal the Titans and Cowboys worked out for Pacman should be the model for the deal. Johnson for a pick….not sure how high, but a pick in 2009…..if he screws up again, the Chiefs give back a pick one round lower than the original pick in 2010.
I hope LJ will clean up his act and play harder from here on out, but that’s entirely in his hands now, no one else’s.
I agree Colby, Herm made the right call in dealing with LJ and I do think it was Herm’s call. IMO Herm has a great feel for his players and he knows what is in their best interest as well as the team’s. It would be good to see LJ after his suspension with that fire back, but like Colby said that will be up to LJ.
Larry is quickly closing in on 30 years old, an age when many NFL RBs hit the proverbial wall with their skills fading. Couple that with those two seasons averaging about 400 carries each and we’re looking at an actuarial table suggesting that his best days are behind him.
All that as a set-up as to why the Chiefs signed this guy to a high dollar contract last year? In the end, the Chiefs will have to eat much of that contract but the silver lining will be the hastening of Carl Peterson out the door.
The worst part is, LJ was one of Carl’s best and worst decisions. The Chiefs traded down in the 1st round in 2003 when they drafted LJ. Vermeil didn’t want him, Carl overruled Vermeil. Great decision. LJ eventually becomes a two time Pro Bowler. That was one of Carl’s greatest successes.
Then, during the offseason in 2007 when LJ wanted a new deal, Carl rejected the Packers offer of their 1st round pick (16th overall) and possibly another low round pick and opted to give LJ the contract he wanted. He also shunned Jared Allen’s request for a long term deal and signed him to the one year, restricted free agent tender. That was one of Carl’s biggest blunders.
Add unique circumstance to shades of failings and you get a disaster off the field as well disgrace on…I’m only talking about Johnson in the former.
Johnson, for all the reported trangressions his (if true) desrves to be punished, including and up to being waived by the Chiefs, jail, etc. He will have proven to be a failure off the field, as such.
I don’t wish to make light of the severity what a Johnson ‘may’ have done to any victims including his teammates, so I’m prefacing said in order to segue into what yet another guy has demonstrably done – or more accurately has ‘not’ done now, in 20 years. The disgrace on the field ours is Carl Peterson.
CP- “with the assistance of the people around him turn his life around.” And you CP? Who is it will save us from you? The Hunts? That hunt won’t dog, apparently. Where our assistance, our turnaround?
Difference Carl to Larry being perhaps, the one has made the Chiefs money, whilst the other has cost them same; both have cost them positive PR.
The measure a man being in the eye the beholder, by what football hieroglyphics has Peterson not been failure? That several hundred million have witnessed the carnage his reign both as captive audience unwitting, and from afar via the other magical medium of TV, speaks to the degree nee level that while suckers are born every minute, in Kansas City they are bred for life, appears.
Here’s to Johnson and Peterson both leaving & the sooner the better, for both in their own way have embarrassed a once proud franchise…distinction being that via hindsight, both will have screwed the other – the other being you & me, at minimum.
If you could have a say today, which one would you more like to see go, or stay? If both were drowning & you had but a single life preserver, would it get wet?
Six of one, half a doz- er, 20 years the other.