Day No. 8-Free Agent Update
A lot of things are changing in Larry Johnson’s life these days.
He’s going to be a Daddy in the coming months; it will be his first child. On Friday, he found a new football home, signing a three-year contract with the Washington Redskins where he’ll play for Mike Shanahan.
It’s also a chance for L.J. to return to his roots; he was born and raised in the state of Maryland and growing up, his favorite football team was the Washington Redskins.
The former Chiefs back signed for $3.5 million a year in base salary, with the chance to earn another $500,000 a season through incentives.
“It’s funny, the first baby outfit I ever was put in was a Redskins outfit,” Johnson told a Washington radio station this week. “And that’s all we watched, was Redskins and Cowboys in our house, so I grew up a Redskins fan.”
Johnson will give Shanahan a two-headed monster at running back with Clinton Portis.
“It’d be just like how me and Priest Holmes was way back in the day,” Johnson said. “It’d be nice to be able to play aside somebody like that.”
And L.J. says he’s looking forward to playing for his new head coach.
“I’ve known and have a lot of respect for Mike Shanahan and the things that he did in Denver,” Johnson said. “Of course I played against him numerous times, so I’ve been able to know that he comes with that fire and comes with that enthusiasm (about) turning this organization around. As far as me, just being some sort of local product a little bit and being able to be excited about the change that’s going on down here.”
Johnson’s signing highlighted the eighth day of free agency. Here were the other moves around the league:
- BENGALS – signed WR Chris Davis (Titans).
- BILLS – re-signed TE Joe Klopfenstein to a 2-year contract.
- BROWNS – signed TE Ben Watson (Patriots) to a 3-year, $12 million contract with $6.35 million in guaranteed money.
- BUCCANEERS – signed LB Jon Alston (Raiders).
- CARDINALS – re-signed C Ben Claxton.
- CHARGERS – signed CB Donald Strickland (Jets).
- COLTS – signed OL Adam Terry (Ravens).
- EAGLES – signed WR Hank Baskett (Colts).
- PACKERS – signed DT Ryan Pickett to a long-term contract; signed S Nick Collins to a 3-year, $23.4 million contract with $14 million in the first year.
- PATRIOTS – signed LB Marques Murrell (Jets).
- REDSKINS – signed RB Larry Johnson (Bengals).
- TITANS – re-signed CB Rod Hood.
“Johnson will give Shanahan a two-headed monster at running back with Clinton Portis.”
If it was a few years ago, and Washington had an O-line…I would agree with that statement. But since neither is true, I think Shanny is going to be disappointed in his running game.
I can’t believe how much money the Redskins plunked down for LJ. Guess it follows the trend of overpaying for mediocre talent. Glad to see our team isn’t doing it.
Mike can make small and innefective lineman zone block like no one else. His lineman just run one way together and then the back makes one cut and you’ve got about six yards.
So did the Chiefs sign Wiegman so he could retire as a Chief? I mean we are still going to draft some lineman even if we do pick up Lilja too arent we?
Pouncey, Okung, Iapupati, Asomaouh, some one to help that is a young stud right guys. I dont know I ‘m just getting a wierd feeling like were gonna be like we used to be and insert Kyle Turley and Chris Terry like athletes pull the blinder back down and say oh yes these guys will do just fine.
I mean we need to get O line in bulk if not in the first round thats fine. Get Berry, Spiller, McClain, whoever, but please dont wait until round five to pick up someone for the offensive line. There is some real starters out there that could be picked up in round two and three.
Two solid young studs away from contention on offense. Defense has had its turn. Okung or Bulaga, if not Berry or McClain in the first but if you go defense give me Vladimer Ducasse in round two or Charles Brown. If you go Oline in the first you could pick up Cody or Sergio Kindle or someother starter like Spikes in round two.
I guess if they really want to focus on Defense they could potentially go Berry, Cody, Kindle.
Offense. Okung or Bulaga, Ducasse, Osomuah.
Go Chiefs Thanks Bobby
One other thought on my Chiefs then I will go to bed. What happened to our youth movement. Wiegmann 37 Vrabel 36 Chambers Thomas Jones who I will not complain about but 32 Edwards McGraw 31 Mike Brown will be 32 just some food for thought.
Read this article from Washington…LOL, LOL, LOL
https://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/free-agency/a-clinton-portis-larry-johnson.html?hpid=topnews
He has to catch the ball first! LOL LOL LOL
I am looking forward to seeing the headaches of Mike Shannahan in Washington…LOL..LOL…LOL
Danny W, most teams are a mix young and old. Unfortunately, the Chiefs were so poor drafting for the last 6 years, there are no home grown vets and then add the coaching change. They have to go out of their comfort zone to add players.
Do not really understand the Weigman signing. I feel Nizwanger is substandard at starting center. Maybe he is the future Wade Smith to cover both center and guard as a backup. Back to Weigman, to darned old for me even as a “mentor”. But the Chiefs have done well in free agency, so their must be a plan. Also this does not mean anything about the draft, I HOPE. Still need OL, now today, building blocks for the future. If the Chiefs go ignor the Offense, that would be unacceptable. Still, they need the best player available at almost any position.
How about trade Cassel to Seattle for their 1st and 3rd and let Weis have Clausen? Love making you nutz.
“On Friday, he found a new football home”
I wish LJ 3.0 the best (he has to be given the benefit of the doubt of the extra 0.3 yds/carry since he’s a daddy now). I appreciate the fact he’s going to be playing for the Skins and not wearing Silver and Black.
elcid I like the last sentence …… but given his stats …….So Far……they may have trouble getting the 3rd .I well stir the pot a little to say we already have our starting QB on the bench behind the 60 million man. Let the inhouse monorator begin his reason for this folley.While he tells us what a greatjob they are doing. I Hope He Is Right……I’am just saying
“BROWNS – signed TE Ben Watson (Patriots) to a 3-year, $12 million contract”
Seems like a lot of money for a guy that doesn’t appear to be as good as the guy they let go of a year ago(Mr. Winslow).
Oh….. Some say they won’t over spend in free agency.That seems right …….but how do you explain Cassel’s money then. Ah…..they have learned from past mistakes.Just having some fun …..no need to throw the red flag for unsportsmanship.
I think Cassel will pan out the only way I think the Chiefs need to sign another quarterback is if we get Brady Quinn on the Cheap or we could actually land Sam Bradford. Jimmy Clausen does not seem mature enough to be a starter in the NFL.
Give Matt a chance get him a couple of stud O line man. You could pick up a nasty Nose tackle in the second and a OLB
…was it just me, or did LJ just say he looked forward to a situation like he had with Holmes here in KC? Funny how the grass is always greener. Maybe I’m delusional, but I seem remember him bitching and moaning about playing time in that scenario.
Maybe the Leather-faced one will be the one to finally get LJ potty trained.
el cid says:
“Also this does not mean anything about the draft…Still, they need the best player available at almost any position.”
I am beginning to think this is EXACTLY what Pioli is doing. Trying to fill holes, even if only temporarily with players like Jones, Weigman, possibly Lilja…so when the draft comes, he can take the best player available instead of “reaching” to fill a specific need. Am I making sense? (For example, if a good Center is there this year…take him. If not, we can probably get by another year with Weigman.)
And I still hope Pioli is looking at Andra Davis.
Said it because it makes the only sense on how to build a team. Last year, all we have to evaluate by, was not adequate by any explanation. I am atarting to like Pioli, but will wait and see. Still need more bodies that can play. With no cap do not care if Mr Hunt needs a loan to pay for them.
PS Am more than half serious about the Cassel thing, I like him but if Haley and Weis have a better solution, why not?
don’t let LJ take care of a kid…we don’t need him yelling at a baby telling the little one that “you don’t sign my paychecks” and “im cak’n partna”
im sorry, but there is a POOR argument above that we must draft OL because the D “had their chance”…yeah…that isnt how it works…in fact, I guarentee we take at least half of our picks and use them on defensive players…of the top 5, 3-4 will be on D…watch it happen…
this isnt about PREVIOUS drafts…its about what we have now, and if we can compete this year, WE CAN…ONLY IF WE GET A SAFETY, A NT, 2 ILB’s, a CB…what is needed on offense to hit the mediocre mark? a WR, and MAYBE less than 2 OL…
so exactly how is this the offenses’ turn?
LJ never bitched about being behind Priest Holmes. He Rightfully complained about being behind Derrick Blaylock as a #3 back, when he was infinitely better than Blaylock. But DV hated drafting him, and was sending a message to Carl by burying him early in his career. I hope LJ goes for over 1000 with the Skins, and proves a lot of folks wrong who think he’s done. The Rat doesn’t, and he has a stellar history with RB’s.
over at PFT, rin tin tin is posting as ICON, smashing all of pioli’s moves, using the ever so lame “egoli” and his 16 loss argument that seems to include preseason losses…
I just really wonder, why after being banned from multiple sites, would you still feel the need to bash anything the chiefs do….it used to be sad, now its almost like some sort of stalker that had a restraining order taken out on him and now is bitter…
actually he wasnt really that much better than blaylock in the big picture…blalock could block…play special teams…LJ could cry, spit on women and diss the people of kansas city.
sdalexk
Yah the Chiefs could use a couple of middle linebackers Corey Mays had 100 tackles and Williams had over that. We should cut those guys and draft some one else.
37 year old Wiegmann will do just fine at center with 34 year old Brian Waters and QUESTION MARK maybe Lilja at right guard?
We should’nt take care of two positions with one pick up by getting a left tackle who can fit in right away move Albert to guard Waters to center.
Clark Hunts highest paid guy is the Matt Cassel. I think it would be really smart to just throw some avg to below avg people in front of 63 million.
I love Eric Berry McClain is good and we do need a nose tackle and a better OLB than Vrabel. What I am trying to stress is something more than a fifth round pick on an offensive lineman. But I’m sure your way smarter than I am.
A LT at #5 would DOWNGRADE 3 positions, a rookie LT instead of Albert, whatever position has to move to and start all over learning again, and C where Waters hasn’t played in over a decade, and even then, hradly at all. A LT would rival the stupidest Chief drafts picks ever at #5, since we already have a good, young one.
Derrick Blaylock isn’t even on the same planet as LJ. Nice backup, that’s about all.
I could see the Chiefs taking safety Eric Berry, but doesn’t it make more sense to get some up front help before improving the secondary? Getting a first round safety will help with the back end of the defense, but getting a pass rush would help the front seven and back end of the defense. Also we see the big media names, but judging by last year who knows who we will pick.
I am just excited at the prospect that our offense could actually be really good if we can just fix the o-line and maybe get another reciever.
And give LJ a break, he isn’t the best role model but as far as his rushing skills, he did run behind arguably the worst offensive line of the new millenium
Mad Chief, I am starting to agree with your reasoned level headed look at how our coaching staff is proceeding. Lilja is still coming to K.C. for a visit, and I concede that the Chiefs have made reasonable acquisitions, however limited acquisitions at this point, but reasonable nonetheless. They have definetely seemed to fit the idea of the right 53.
The thought of a consistent competent coaching staff, with a cleaar vision, making pragmatic and well thought out decisions brings hope of another run like we had in the 90’s and Chiefs dominancy. I better not jump the gun on that one though….
Mark
How in the world is adding a Joe Thomas or a Jake Long type guy to your O line a solid left tackle for years to come and moving Albert to his college postion to guard in any way stupid for building a franchise in the long term? Brian Bulaga or Russel Okung there not going to have to learn the postion Mark. You dont forget how to play guard Mark that is stupid. Albert gave up nine sacks last year he is decent not outstanding ala Okung Bulaga.
Is anyone watching the same team as me? When you punt on over 80 percent of your possessions it does not matter if your defense is solid because they will eventually tire out. We will need a punter to spell Colquitt if we have another year of that type of offense.
Danny W.
Agreed. I think if our offense can stay on the field we improve on defense already. Draft the tackle…