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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Larry Johnson Gets a Chance

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It’s been a while since this Turkey made any comments about ol’ Lar, but his inexplicable signing by the NFL Miami Dolphins has me scratching my head feathers and shaking my wattles. So, I’ll gobble about it for a bit.

Former Penn State Nittany Lion running back Larry Johnson, Jr. ??????? ??? ???? was a legitimate star for a couple of years with Kansas City, but that was in the distant past, 2005 and 2006. He gained over 1,700 yards in both of those years. However, his off-field issues and pouty temperament tended to overshadow his achievements in KC, and by the time he left, Chiefs fans were ready to forcibly shove him out the door. He had bitched about his coaches, an old habit of his, but this time he did it via Twitter. Then, he got into an argument with a fan on Twitter, calling him a fag. Although he later apologized, the damage had been done, and Johnson was soon out the door. ?????? ?????? For Larry, 2009 was not a very good year. To add insult to injury, he had gained a mere 204 yards.

He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he languished for a year. He subsequently was picked up by the Washington Redskins in 2010, but was used sparingly by Coach Mike Shanahan, gaining a total of two yards for the abbreviated season, which ended for Larry after the second game. He was released on September 21, 2010. ???? ???? ??? ????

What could Tony Sperano and the Miami brain trust possibly see in the past-prime pain in the ass? When Ronnie Brown asked them for too much money and was forced by his greed (wait, call it good business sense) to depart, they went after Reggie Bush and got him. They have a talented rookie in Daniel Thomas, but the last guy you’d want to mentor a guy like that is ol’ Lar. But they’ve signed Johnson halfway through the pre-season, which speaks to the Dolphins’ intention of keeping him through the last round of pre-season cuts.

Perhaps the Dolphins would like to generate some media presence for something other than a third-rate quarterback controversy or a ganja puffing running back who served a year of exile in Canada. Larry, who has been arrested four times since he entered the pros, probably has yet to learn his lesson. He usually picks on women in bars. He better be careful in Miami — some of those South Beach babes are not only hot but also lethal.

I doubt that there will be much more of interest coming from this continuing story, but I’ll be on Miami-Dade County police blotter watch just in case there’s something you need to know.

Good luck, Larry. How about proving me wrong for a change? Whattya say?

LJ Released by ‘Skins

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The career path of former Nittany Lion pain in the ass Larry Johnson hit one more pothole on Tuesday, as he was released by the Washington Redskins. This leaves Clinton Portis as the Redskins’ only remaining pain in the ass running back.

Previously cast into the Shanahan rubbish pile was former Steelers feature back Willie Parker. One had to wonder what the Redskins’ front office was thinking when they picked up two runners in the twilight of their careers.

Johnson had just five carries in two games this season.

“We were caught completely off guard by it,” said Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer. ??? ???? ?? ??????? “It was not something that we were expecting. ???? ????? I was told by the Redskins that this was a short-term situation brought on by the need to have a special-teams running back, that they cannot afford the luxury of two starting running backs for this week.”

The Redskins can bring Larry back if no other team claims him. My bet is that no one will, including the Redskins. ????? ????? ??? ????

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?“