Morning Brew: Johnson’s days in KC numbered

Column photo

By Corey Thibodeaux

Friday, October 30, 2009

Larry Johnson has the diaper back on.

The Kansas City Chiefs running back’s latest outbreak didn’t just separate him from the team for one week — his time in Kansas City might be up for good.

Calling out Todd Haley on his Twitter was childish. Has he not seen the trouble other tweeters wound up in? Did he think no one would see them? Regardless of the issue, fans, coaches and players have had enough.

For those who did not see Johnson’s tweets after the 37-7 manhandling from the Chargers, he had this to say about head coach Todd Haley:

“My father got more credentials than most of these pro coaches...google my father!!!!!!!”

“My father played for the coach from ‘remember the titans’. Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefly. Our coach. Nuthn”

He followed those posts by posting a gay slur at a Twitter follower and later spewed one in the locker room. He is not allowed to be part of the team for two weeks — the team’s bye week and a trip to Jacksonville. The NFL is looking into the matter and could make the punishment longer.

The Chiefs are 1-6. Johnson ranks just 19th in the league in rushing yards. Is there really any need to spark a controversy? The team is terrible, and maybe this is Johnson’s excuse to abandon ship.

Johnson gets a bonus from his contract every time he plays, so the Chiefs could yank him from the squad to save some money. But if the league steps in to suspend him, then he wouldn’t get paid at all for however long he is out.

Whatever the case, the Chiefs are looking at Jamaal Charles, Dantrell Savage and Kolby Smith to back up Johnson. For the past year and a half, experts have built up Charles’ impact as a breakout player for Kansas City and even fantasy owners. None of the players listed has done anything to prove they are worth their potential, but maybe it’s just too early to tell. At this point, as long as they aren’t knocking their head coach, we’ll take them.

This season was going well for Johnson from a legal standpoint. He has been arrested four times since 2003 for altercations with women. We didn’t hear a peep out of Johnson until this week. Unfortunately, it made up for the past seven weeks. Hope everyone is satisfied with LJ’s tenure in Kansas City, because I wouldn’t bet on him being a Chief next season.

And if you see him with a diaper on, remember it’s not his Halloween costume.

— Edited by Samantha Foster

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement