The Nittany Turkey

Primarily about Penn State football, this is a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

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Home Archives for Larry Johnson

LJ Lands in Landover

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As you who have been reading this Turkey’s ramblings for the past few years know, we follow the trials and tribulations of former Penn State running back Larry Johnson here. Well, LJ has a new deal. He’ll be playing for the Washington Redskins, who have signed Johnson to a three-year deal.

After having been dumped by the Kansas City Chiefs, for whom LJ played since being drafted in 2003, he was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals for the balance of the 2009 season. ???? ???? ??? ???? The dumpage occurred in November following a gay slur by LJ, who had had no shortage of off-field incidents while in Kansas City.

Now, Washington, with its wacko owner Dan Snyder, and newly hired head coach Mike Shanahan, have signed the 30 year-old Johnson to a three-year, incentive laden deal worth a minimum of . ?????? ?? 5 million. If the incentives kick in, LJ could earn as much as $12 million.

Johnson joins another pain in the ass, Clinton Portis, in the Redskin’s backfield. ???? ???? ??????? Portis, 28, has frequently criticized team management, particularly for their summer training program.

With this newly formed tandem in mind, the Associated Press release began with the this topic sentence, “Not content with just one aging, opinionated running back, the Washington Redskins added a second one last night when they signed Larry Johnson to an incentive-laden three-year contract.”

My feelings, precisely.

UPDATE: Matt Mosley of ESPN offers his thoughts on this deal in his blog entitled “Does Larry Johnson have anything left?“

LJ Lands in Cincinnati

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Troubled former Nittany Lion and Kansas City Chief running back Larry Johnson has a new home, and it will be with Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and the rest of the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals. After his expected signing, he will be relegated to the fourth string and will be paid the league minimum.

Of course, because Johnson was released a week ago and no one picked him up during the waiver period, KC will still have to pay his humongous salary. The pro-rated league minimum is chump change to Ol’ Lar.

Kansas City head coach Marv Lewis was adamant about Johnson just being there for backup duties.

“That’s what his role would be, it would be as a fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this football team doing all the things backup players do, and that’s work their tails off in the kicking game and showing looks [on the scout team] and so forth that way,” Lewis said. “And then he would be an insurance policy if something would happen down the line to one of our guys where he’d have a chance to be active.

“But I couldn’t foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this is what happens. And that’s what I’ve told him.”

We’ll see how this works out. This Turkey hopes that Johnson can keep his nose clean and avoid embarrassing us yet again.

LJ Released!

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Larry Johnson, Jr.
Larry Johnson, Jr.

Troubled and troublesome former Nittany Lion and two-time Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, Jr. is no longer a member of the Kansas City Chiefs as of today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. This is his first day back from a two-week suspension.

In a tersely worded statement Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that embattled running back Larry Johnson has been released.

Johnson on Sunday served a one-game suspension for making gay slurs. He was fewer than 80 yards from setting the franchise record for career rushing yards.

Thus ends a saga that should have never taken such a wrong turn. LJ will claim that he has been continually misunderstood, but it is he who misunderstands his place in this world. Whether he can pick up the pieces of his life and move on with a clean slate is doubtful. In the past, he was always a backslider when promising to shape up.

The Kansas City fans’ rebellion probably didn’t play a part in Johnson’s denouement, but if that gives them comfort, so be it. Recall that they had initiated a petition to the management of the Chiefs pleading with them to not let LJ break Priest Holmes’ rushing record because his behavior did not positively reflect on the Chiefs.

Now, this Turkey has to wonder who might want to buy into this train wreck of a running back. Miami is a place for recycling screwed up running backs, but they already have Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. What do you think will happen to Larry now?

Read the updated ESPN story here and see the Kansas City Star’s take on it here.