Larry Johnson Speaks, Is 'Disgusted' With Self

When news broke on Monday that Larry Johnson may have threatened the life of a woman's boyfriend and spit alcohol in her face multiple times, the report was only one side of the story.

Now, with Johnson making his first remarks since the accusations, it appears that all of this might have actually happened. The running back for the Chiefs said that he feels bad about the incident and is flat-out disgusted with his actions. Don't worry Larry, so are we.

"I want to start off by saying I apologize to the Hunt Family and my family, first and foremost and to fans, my teammates, coaches and players," Johnson said in a statement released by the Chiefs. "This is the first time in my life that I actually woke up and was kind of disgusted with myself and disgusted as far as the way my life and my career is headed right now."

The first time he's woke up disgusted with his life? Isn't this the fourth time he has been involved in some sort of a female assault charge? I just thought that was worth noting. Johnson continued...

"I'm going to work to that point to get my life back on track and know that I and I alone put myself in these critical situations and environments to where things don't come out favorably to me. All I can do is promise to you guys and to people who are watching that as a man, I'm still growing and as a man everyone makes mistakes.

"In times of darkness, you've got to look for the light and that's what I plan on doing, regardless of what suspensions and fines are being handed down. I will take them as sincerely as they give them out."

Johnson is already out for the Sunday game against the Jets, with more fines and suspensions heading his way. Everybody deserves a second (and third, at times) chance, but these ludicrous acts continue to follow the former Penn State star around and enough is enough.

Suspended NFL Players

Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson will miss his second straight game on Sunday, thanks to an in-house suspension stemming from LJ's alleged involvement in a bar altercation. Click through to see other NFL stars that have been forced to the bench this season.

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns
After returning from battling a staph infection, Winslow was suspended by the Browns for criticizing the organization's handling of his illness. He is expected to sit out Week 8, but is appealing.

David Richard, AP

Adam "Pacman" Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Jones sat out the entire 2007 season because of a suspension, returned to start 2008 in Dallas and now finds himself out again following an off-the-field incident. Jones, who is currently suspended indefinitely by the league, recently checked into an alcohol treatment center.

Tony Gutierrez, AP

Tommie Harris, Chicago Bears
The three-time Pro Bowler was suspended for a game versus Detroit for breaking a team rule. "It's always disappointing when you have to suspend one of your players, but nothing's bigger than the team," coach Lovie Smith said.

Scott Boehm, Getty Images

Eric Smith, New York Jets
The safety was suspended one game and fined $50,000 by the league for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona star Anquan Boldin during the final moments of a Week 4 victory.

Bill Kostroun, AP

Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
A training camp brawl with teammate Ken Lucas resulted in a two-game ban for Carolina's star receiver. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, returned to the team for Week 3 and caught 70 yards against Minnesota.

David T. Foster III, Charlotte Observer/MCT

Chris Henry, Cincinnati Bengals
The troubled wide receiver recently rejoined Bengals practice for his first workout since serving a four-game, league-imposed suspension for misconduct. In April, Henry was accused of punching a college student and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Plaxico Burress, New York Giants
The Super Bowl star was suspended for one game by the Giants after missing a team workout. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, insisted the receiver had an undisclosed family emergency.

Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images

Mike Jefferson, Dallas Cowboys
Jefferson, a member of the Cowboys practice squad, was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Jefferson received the ban for taking a banned supplement.

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos
The Broncos star won his appeal against the NFL this season and had his three-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy reduced to just one game. The ban stemmed from a March 6 incident where Marshall was arrested on a domestic violence charge involving a former girlfriend.

Paul Jasienski, Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

10-22-2008 @ 10:16PM

Kmann said...

I have my fingers crossed that there is an as$hole clause in his contract that will allow the chiefs to release him and quit paying ridiculous money to watch an aging RB not meet expectations. 90% of chiefs fans thought his new contract was obscene for a player his age and for a team that is changing up the OL.

Between the disgraceful LJ and Carl Peterson (who is a bigger problem than the lack of a quarterback) refusing to trade Gonzalez (the player who has done the most for the team over the past decade and has earned a trade rather than be a bandaid on a decapitated corpse) I am boycotting KC games and will choose to watch old Priest Holmes highlights on youtube instead.

10-23-2008 @ 6:37PM

kmed said...

All these prima donnas have had there butts kissed since high school so they have been conditioned to believe that they are above every body and every thing (including the law). Maybe Carl Petersen will one day see that being a personal friend does not make one a winning coach. Chiefs fans are tired of watching a bunch of "hot dogs" try to make a name for themselves. We want to see our "team" and that begins with discipline. I hope Gonzalez knows that Chiefs fans sympathize with him. He's the only "team" member out there and he's going to get a hernia trying to carry the whole team!!!!

10-23-2008 @ 12:13AM

Lex said...

What a damm shame. All that talent, physical strength, money and almost no emotional control at all. This guy must not either handle rejection with woman, or drinking, or both...and we're talking about 'middle-america values-land' of Kansas City, not LA, or Miami, NY, or Chicago. Better meet with this last woman real quick with your attorney's and you're checkbook. Yeah, keep adding zeros, and sign... right here. Cha-ching!

10-23-2008 @ 12:53AM

Howard Green said...

He deserves what he gets. What a joke. When are these players gonna wake up and start using their huge salaries for something important? He is in the same category as Pac Man Jones. Losers never learn, they just keep on Losing like KC.

10-23-2008 @ 1:57AM

sumner said...

all this results from undue adulation and poor reporting on mood altering substances..as they relate to high performance.

10-23-2008 @ 3:32AM

Drofintellact said...

Good that he know's he's been a jacka$$
Bad to admit it to the media and fans who don't know they are too.

10-23-2008 @ 5:12AM

C said...

hes just over payed and over-rated football players

10-23-2008 @ 6:35AM

Art Greenwald said...

This surprises me mostly because Johnson played for Joe Paterno, a man of high ideals that promotes character and
ethics off the field as well as on. I give him credit for
admitting his errors and have faith he will change. Everyone makes mistakes. Lets get him some help with his issues rather
than throw stones at him. Ass the saying goes, "Every saint has a past, every sinner a future.

10-23-2008 @ 11:36AM

Pat said...

A threat to kill someone is okay? Spitting acholoh in the face of another human being is okay? If it was you or I that had done this we both would be facing big time in the big pen! What is wrong with you? My goodness this week October 19th-25th is "Enough! To abuse of Women" Week of the YWCA on the 19th we have the Ms. Pressly attack and now this attack on a woman. Not to mention all the abuse suffered by women of no importance.
For all of you that are really offended by this Thank you.

10-23-2008 @ 6:52AM

LV said...

Carl Peterson is worst than LJ because he knows about crap like this before we do and rewards players like that with fat contracts!!! So all hail to the King Carl you asshole!!!

10-23-2008 @ 9:44PM

GO Steelers-Penn State said...

Don't blame Joe Pa! This extremely talented young man is and has been very angry. He has stated in the past that Joe Pa never gave him the respect he deserved. He admitted to the press he's an angry person. He often appears to be seething under the surface. Larry needs help with anger management issues and hopefully to find out where all of this anger is coming from.

10-23-2008 @ 7:19AM

Edward McArthur said...

Well, well. It looks as though we have a little drinking problem do we? I would bet my last buck that if LJ stopped drinking and hanging out like a 18 yr old his problems would be gone. Come on N word, wake up! Do the right thing fo yo self...

10-23-2008 @ 7:30AM

CTM said...

Why is everybody all over LJ? The altercation involvled spitting alcohol and some bad language. He didn't physically harm anyone nor was anyone injured by his entourage. I don't agree that LJ should even put himself in this situation, nor do I believe he was right, but I also don't think he should be burned at the stake. In the end he's the one who has to admit he has a problem and he's the one who has to make life changes. We've all made mistakes in life and sometimes we make them a few times over before we realize that a pattern needs to be changed. Let's just hope that LJ has truly reached that point and has decided the time for personal growth is now. Best of luck Larry, get yourself together, get your health and game back in Pro Bowl shape, and become the person you want to become.

10-23-2008 @ 6:55PM

troy aikman said...

He didn't hurt anyone? What the Hell planet are you from. We're you raised by humans or chimpanzees. Let someone spit alcohol ON you, not once, but several times next time you go out and say this again. Damn!!!

10-23-2008 @ 7:49AM

Johnny said...

"This is the first time in my life that I actually woke up and was kind of disgusted with myself and disgusted as far as the way my life and my career is headed right now."

KInd of disgusted??? What would he have to do to a woman be totally disgusted? Who cares about his piss-poor career? He need to be a man first. That will probably never happen, though.

"I'm still growing and as a man everyone makes mistakes."

2+2=5 is a mistake. Putting your hands on a woman is cowardly.

LJ, is an absoulte moron. I hope if he decides to assault another woman that she has a brother or a father who won't hesitate to let him know that is improper behavior.

10-23-2008 @ 8:19AM

Charles said...

Just another problem for Herm to work with! The Chiefs are in bad shape and need to make some moves off the field, but not in BARS! They need a quarterback and that was apparent last year, but they stuck with Croyle. They should have let Gonzales go to a team where he could have a chance to be in a Super Bowl. I think the guy is great and only wish KC had been a better team for him. Instead of paying Johnson the big bucks, they should have traded him for someone with character. These guys are making the NFL look like a place where the rotten people can go to make money that is to much. The players are being over paid as it is. The fans get screwed at the gates. Just keep this in mind, the people who are paying to see them play, for the most part, don't make the money that supports the price they are paying. Maybe the league should lower the gate price for the fans, instead of paying these stupid salarys to kids. The contracts these kids get before they ever step foot on the NFL field are nuts! They have not proved they earn that kind of pay. Work for it, like most of us have to do!