Is Trading Larry Johnson Crazy?

The Chiefs have evidentially flirted with the idea of trading Larry Johnson, though he likely won't be traded. The initial reaction would be that the very notion of trading Johnson is crazy. But is it?

Many people thought that drafting Johnson with Priest Holmes on the roster was crazy, but it turned out to be a pretty solid move. The life of an NFL running back is very short, so if there was a team out there willing to pay a ransom for Johnson, it would actually be crazy not to think about it. The Chiefs have had good success with running backs, almost becoming Denver Broncos-like with the ability to plug in one running back for another.

The Chiefs are going to have some problems this season. The team will be going with a new starter at quarterback, they have to replace all-world guard Will Shields and, let's face it, the Chiefs offense already was boring before that. Why not add Johnson to the swap meet? Maybe turning around Johnson for some picks wouldn't be the worst idea. Of course, for every Herschel Walker deal, there is an Eric Dickerson deal that does not work out for the trading team. Still, it might just be worth the risk to do it.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

4-22-2007 @ 5:30PM

Chris said...

There is some merit to the idea but don't forget that running backs in the past few years have been effective behind Will Shields, Willie Roaf, and Brian Waters. We may be a little spoiled if we expect a average back to excel behind an unproven O line.

4-22-2007 @ 6:58PM

Chiefs fan said...

I am a huge Chiefs fan and while I do not particularly care for the Broncos with them being one of their biggest rivals, I do have to give them credit for identifying and developing talent at the running back position. In recent years they have been by far the best at churning out productive backs. I would NOT agree with your comment that the Chiefs have become almost "Denver Broncos-like with the ability to plug in one running back for another". I have to disagree. We did have an awesome back in Priest Holmes and ol' King Carl hit the lottery with Larry Johnson. Unfortunately, it is not perceived as identifying that Larry Johnson would be a great back as much as it was King Carl having the best runnng back in that draft fall in his lap. Furthermore, he drafted Johnson to use as a bargaining chip in contract negotiations for Priest Holmes. Priest at the time was dropping comments with the local media that he "wanted to get paid". He was insinuating that he was going to hold out for a bigger contract and Carl Peterson used Johnson as leverage in that contract negotiation. I dont know that I would give credit for identifying the superstar that Johnson could become. Take a look at King Carl's recent drafts...He has not had a recent draft since Marty Schottenheimer wrestled the personnel decisions away from Carl and began making the decisions in the war room. Last I looked, that was about 10 years ago. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in awhile...

4-22-2007 @ 10:45PM

kelly said...

Big Dolphin fan here

you'll find out how porous your O-line is... There are reasons you have our hand me downs... We didn't think they could make the cut and you'll see the same thing. We have the best O-line coach (hauck)in football and he got squat out of the guy you wasted millions on... Your Qb is a great back-up.. but a back-up is all he should be. You've wasted millions and will get nothing in return.. KC will be the new NFL doormat this year..!! The Raiders and Matt Millen are hoping you guys keep running such an inepted program... you make them look smarter... (Who thought that was possible?)

I'm sure LJ wants to be traded... He's probably praying for it... Probably the rest of the team is hoping they get traded too..!!

lolololololololololololololololololololololololololol

4-22-2007 @ 11:07PM

keith said...

With the Chiefs aging and having a mixture of yesterdays star players in literally every position, if they traded LJ, they might as well join the Arena Football League because they'll stink as bad a Jason Whitlock's articles.

4-23-2007 @ 12:14AM

Jeffchef1 said...

Wow! Comments from the Miami Minnows fan.
I do have to admit that a Dolphins fan would know alot about about quality running backs in the NFL- afterall the Fish did sooooo well with Ricky Williams.

Oh, and speaking of retread starting qb's, congrats on that Dante Culpepper pick up, that one still has them shaking in New England. You will be very lucky to get the Chiefs "retread" Trent Green.

While Kc's offensive line will struggle this year...
our offensive line over the past 10 years or so has stood and played head and shoulders above Miami's O-Line. (no offense to Mr Hauck)

An inept run team is the Chiefs? Let's see, we have had the same GM for well over a decade-Marino lasted how many days? Oh yeah, but then you all had Nick as your head coach, agh, that's right, he didn't hang either. It's all ok, Ricky Williams wants to come back. That will be some of the smartest money the Mackerals have spent since Jimmy Johnson daze!(days)

4-23-2007 @ 8:22AM

christie said...

Jeffchef1,
What a classy retort to the Miami fan. I agree with you 100%. Oh, and I do think he should get a few grammar skills along with studying his own team. I'm not going to down any team, I love football in general. I trust in the Chiefs to do the best. Down or up, I'm a true fan!!

Christie

4-23-2007 @ 11:58AM

SMOKE HERB LIKE A HIPPIE said...

YES THEY SHOULD TRADE HIM IM SURE HE COULD GET EVERY DIME HE ASKS FOR AND MORE IF HE COMES TO NEW JERSEY AND PLAY WITH THE GIANTS OR JETS..IF EITHER ONE OF THESE TEAMS GET HIM I PRETTY MUCH CAN SEE A SUPER BOWL IN THEIR VERY NEAR FUTURE.

4-23-2007 @ 1:24PM

Jeremy said...

Trade Larry to Minnesota for their no. 1. Take Staley OL or Okoye DT with that pick, take a WR, or pos. you didn't take with MN's pick with the original no 1. I would draft the RB in the 2nd rd.

4-23-2007 @ 1:32PM

kevin said...

send him immediatly to the jets!!!!! With him a superbowl is right around the corner. I was 9 yrs old when they won in 69, I'd hate to have to wait til I'mm 99 to see another

4-23-2007 @ 2:46PM

David said...

First of all the cheifs or not going to trade Larry Johnson.
Secondly Th Denver Broncos have not had god runnin backs the last few years. They have had average rb's But their O-line is INCREDIBLE with the exeption of clinton portis what Broncos rb has had succes when he went to another team?
If your offensive line is good enough I could run behind them!

4-23-2007 @ 11:29PM

JFCJR said...

Yeah, the Miami Dolphins have been a real NFL joke since the Shula days and not even likes of Jimmy Johnson & Dan Marino could get them a world championship. Now they can't even figure out who their coach is, who their quarterback is and who their running back is??? Go figure??? This Broncos fan agrees with the Chiefs getting rid of Larry Johnson for something valuable in return. Not that I want to see the Chiefs get better but I wouldn't blame them. Running backs come a dime a dozen and don't last very long. The Chiefs, like the Broncos have had a good OL over the years and that is why they can run the ball. Shanahan took Gibbs to school on that Clinton Portis / Champ Bailey (plus a 2nd round draft pick)trade. Even a good "Redskins" friend of mine agreed "at the time of the trade". I was so glad to see that hot dog go to Washington and he has not done a thing but wear Halloween outfits every week and hang out in the infirmiry!!!

4-23-2007 @ 5:53PM

sun city raider said...

trading larry johnson would be good cause a team like the browns or giants need a pro bowl running back badly and would give up a very high draft pick for him and then the chiefs could use that pick on some one who will turn out to be a bust and then the raiders can jump 4 joy. RAIDER NATION 4 LIFE

4-23-2007 @ 6:35PM

sti killer said...

the chiefs suck with him or without him it doesnt matter what they do the denver broncos are going to win the super bowl

4-23-2007 @ 6:43PM

raider nation said...

I THINK THE CHIEFS SHOULD TRADE LARRY JONSHON FOR A NUMBER ONE PICK TO A TEAM THAT NEEDS A PRO BOWL RUNNING BACK NOW THAT THE LINE IS GARBAGE THEN TRADE THAT PICK TO THE RAIDERS FOR ROBERT GALLERY TO REALLY REALLY IMPROVE THE LINE AND THEN WE I MEAN THE RAIDERS CAN DRAFT JAMARCUS RUSSEL AND CALVIN JOHNSON HA HA HA GO CHIEFS

4-23-2007 @ 7:04PM

Eric said...

It would be a good deal if they used the compensation to rebuild the o-line.Young Derrick Ross is improving and will be ready to run over raiders soon enough!Send the whining one dimensional back to New York or the browns.Take Herm with him!

4-23-2007 @ 7:24PM

jeremy littlefield said...

FIRST THINGS FIRST. THE ONLY SHOT THE FISH HAVE AT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS LIES IN THE ARM OF THE RETREAD QB THEY PICKED UP FROM K.C. HE'S THE BEST IN THE NFL THIS IS THE FIRST SMART MOVE THEY'VE MADE AT QUARTERBACK SINCE MARINO.
SECONDLY.. THE RAIDERS COULDN'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF THEY HAD 32 FIRST ROUND PICKS. WHAT A JOKE!!!!

THE ONLY WAY THE CHIEFS TRADE L.J. IS FOR A SUPER HIGH DRAFT PICK SO THEY COULD PICK UP A GREAT RECIEVER OR A Q.B. LIKE BRADY QUINN OR KEVIN KOLB. OF COURSE IF IT CAME TO THAT L.J. WOULD BE MISSED BY ALL K.C. FANS HE'S A FANTASTIC RUNNING BACK....BUT THE CHIEFS DO NEED A LOT OF HELP ON OFFENCE RIGHT NOW...HOPEFULLY WHATEVER THE CHIEFS DECIDE IT WORKS IN THEIR FAVOR AND THEY MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS!!!!!!!!

4-23-2007 @ 8:33PM

No receiver has got time to get open down field,no quarterback has got time to throw,and no back can find a hole without a good o-line that needs to be addressed first before any receiver,quarterback,and with a good o-line any back looks good.

4-23-2007 @ 9:36PM

stanley ostrowski said...

how bout them cowboys!

4-23-2007 @ 10:48PM

MOBE said...

RESPONSE TO : JEFFCHEF1 & CHRISTIE,
NO CHRIS , JEFFS COMMENTS WEREN`T CLASSIE IN RESPONSE TO THE DOLPHIN FAN, IN FACT IT WAS IGNORANT TO SAY THE LEAST, BEFORE TALKING DOWN ON A PROGRAM, DO YOUR RESEARCH. WITH ALL THE JEWELRY A INDIAN "CHIEF" WEARS, HE DOESN`T WEAR "RINGS".....NOT WITH DIAMONDS IN THEM ANYWAY, WHILE THAT PROUD DOLPHIN ON THE SIDE OF MIAMI`S HELMET CONTINUES TO GLIDDDDDDDDDDE THROUGH IT`S "RINGS 1 RINGS 2". CASE IN POINT, GET ONE BEFORE COMING TO THE MICROPHONE TO SPEAK!!!!!!.....

4-23-2007 @ 11:14PM

CHIEFS TO THE PLAYOFFS, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, DON`T MAKE ME LAUGH AND PUKE AT THE SAME TIME, THEY COULDN`T GO TO THE PLAYOFFS IN THE USFL (AND THERE`S NO ONE THERE TO PLAY THEM AND THEY`D STILL LOSE) JUST KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND REMEMBER WHAT`S BEEN SAID ABOUT THE "SILVER & BLACK", BEST TEAM IN ALL OF SPORTS
GUARANTEED TO HAVE A TURNAROUND SEASON THIS YEAR. BESIDES, THE RAIDERS HAVE 3 RINGS TO THE CHIEFS 0. IF YOU DO LIKE THE GUY IN THE SNICKERS COMMERCIAL AND CHANGE YOUR NAME "CHEFS" YOU MIGHT WIN somethin`.
HAD LEN DAWSON, ED PODILAK, BUCHANNON, DID NOTHING, HAD THE HAMMER, GOT HAMMERED, TRENT GREEN IS NOW SEEING RED, PRIEST HOLMES IS NOW A PRIEST, LJ WANTS TO JOIN LJ OF THE KNICKS AND BECOME MISSING IN ACTION. THE ONLY GLORY MOMENT YOU`VE EVER HAD WAS WHEN RAIDER MARCUS ALLEN JOINED YOU.
BOTTOM LINE.....GET A RING, THEN WE`LL TALK!!!!!!SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH RAIDER NATION