Larry Johnson has (officially) been suspended, according to a press release from the Kansas City Chiefs. The team's front office and the NFL had previously been investigating whether or not Johnson's behavior (which included antagonizing tweets and rumored inappropriate statements to reporters) was worthy of a suspension.Judging by the Chiefs' statement, it's probably safe to say it was.
The Kansas City Chiefs have suspended RB Larry Johnson for Conduct Detrimental to the Club effective immediately. Johnson will not be permitted to participate in any team activities or be on team premises until Monday, November 9th. The Chiefs will have no further comment on Johnson's status at this time.Now, that seems pretty straightforward, but at the same time, there's something a little odd about this whole thing -- why won't the Chiefs talk about this anymore? Why until November 9th (which includes just one game and a ton of practice)?
And perhaps more importantly, why on Earth are they trying to put this guy in what amounts to solitary confinement when he's obviously angry (again) at the team? The smarter thing is to do what Oregon did with LeGarrette Blount and keep him within the team's fold, so to speak, so that he can actually try and become a slightly better teammate.
Of course, this is professional football, so it's a different situation, but if Johnson's behavior in the past has shown us anything, it's that he's not afraid to put on the petulant pouty face and bring the team down.
But, hey, the Chiefs could always be planning to do something more drastic, and decided to use a suspension to get the media off their back. It certainly wouldn't be the craziest thing Scott Pioli and crew have done so far.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-28-2009 @ 10:34PM
jamessales777 said...
Johnson is a cancer to the Chiefs, it's a great move to suspend him for a game. But why is there no mention if this is with or with out pay?
If this suspension is with-out pay, it will shut Johnson's pie hole and deflate that huge ego. If he still get's paid, he's going to be an even worse cancer in the locker room when he returns.
He's a great player and still has excellent trade value that could make the Chiefs a better team... so why not eliminate the cancer and dump (trade) the bum now for the benefit of the team!
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10-29-2009 @ 12:47AM
Siegel Family said...
He was Fined 660,000.00 according to the news here in KC.
10-29-2009 @ 11:16AM
Lori Flowers said...
-no team is gonna pay for him.
10-28-2009 @ 10:45PM
[]D[][]V[][]D said...
Because he's contract is guaranteed....if it wasn't then they would just flat out let LJ go and be done with it.
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10-28-2009 @ 11:56PM
IRISH said...
Within 3 years the CHIEFS will be in the hunt for the superbowl. Johnson better get his HOTEL out of his ALPHA or he will be left behind like Gonzalez and that BOZO who went to Minnesota!
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10-29-2009 @ 12:01AM
ducksfan76 said...
does anyone on here think i should drop this joker from my fantasy team?
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10-29-2009 @ 5:14AM
pote207 said...
He will call Obama and EVERYTHING will be OK with the team and the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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10-29-2009 @ 9:20AM
Daryl said...
Obama says the chiefs acted stupidly
10-29-2009 @ 8:08AM
Summer said...
Larry Johnson is overated! KC got good players out of LSU! Look at DeWayne Bowe. He is 100% better than Johnson sould ever think of being. LSU has produced more NFL players than any other college team and I only wish DeWayne could get on a winning team!
GEAUX LSU
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10-29-2009 @ 2:52PM
sirb1azeem said...
Wrong buddy. USC has had the most player's go into the nfl. Do some research before you guess. Go Trojans!!!!!!!!!!!
10-29-2009 @ 8:46AM
mpsbh said...
I guess this put's Johnson in the same boat as Limbaugh. Wait, Johnson will get to continue to be in the NFL so it's not the same. Can you say "double standards for blacks".
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10-29-2009 @ 9:17AM
RICKNVA57 said...
I have been a Chiefs fan all my life but they have got to have the dumbest front office in football.
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10-29-2009 @ 9:23AM
Juli said...
You are crazy if you think suspending him w/o pay is going to shut him up - it would be a drop in the bucket that he wouldn't even notice! They are trying to see if there is enough of a violation of the conduct policy to see if they can cut him without paying the guaranteed contract money. And as far as Dwayne Bowe goes....love the kid, gifted athelete but can't catch and hold onto a ball for love nor money!!
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10-29-2009 @ 9:33AM
RICKNVA57 said...
Miami (Fla.), Florida State, Tennessee, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Florida,Southern California, Penn State, Michigan. Summer LSU don't rank in the top 10 in sending players to the NFL.
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10-29-2009 @ 9:48AM
Joey said...
This is a relatively new concept that began to gain popularity with the Warrior's Chris Weber episode. The athlete sulks, pouts and generally makes a major pain in the ass out of himself. Complaining about being exploited while making millions, they do everything they can to ruin the atmosphere of the team they want to leave.
The problem is that owners are so self-interested that they almost always give these brats exactly what they want. Weber was traded to another team which is exactly what he wanted. Latrelle Spreewell went to the extreme of choking his coach to get himself traded to a new team that paid him MORE. T.O. Owens infected team after team until he got what he wanted.
Why isn't there a league rule excluding such players from any team for conduct detrimental to the entire league?
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10-29-2009 @ 10:01AM
jim said...
As a true liberal I believe in free speech.For everyone. not just the political correct.What mr johnson said was what he had on his mind at the time.If I agree or disagree it was his right to say it.Brave men and women and a few cowards along the way have fought and died for the right to be free.It is what makes America great.Free speech has no limits other then common sense. Mean speech is free hate speak is free as long as it is an opinion people have the right to express it
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10-29-2009 @ 11:20AM
ocbrog said...
Jim,
Being the true liberal that you are, you are an ass-h You are correct that he has the right to say what he wants without fear of punishment. Punishment from the law that is. If you called your boss a jerk or an ass, don't you think you would get in just a little bit of trouble? Free speech has limits and he crossed over them. The first ammendment certainly doesn't keep you from getting in trouble at work.
10-29-2009 @ 12:10PM
duncanmax912 said...
What happened to free speech in this country?? He should to have the right to say anything he wants on his own time... while in uniform or during practice he is on the clock and being paid by the team. Other than that they have NO RIGHT to tell him what he can or cannot say, and should mind their own affairs or I would sue them.
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10-29-2009 @ 12:19PM
bobby said...
Yeah freedom of speech?If he was white and used the N word in phrasing some of his idiot team mates you wouldn't be saying he had the right due to his freedom of speech .He got off easy ....
10-29-2009 @ 12:25PM
racerboi1969 said...
he has that right. BUT, if you sign a fuc#ing contract that states you will not demean or denegrate the team and you will act accordingly.....godd@mn!! i'll ask YOU this. if you signed a contract and you were in his situation, would you be a charactorless slob and do what he has done? maybe, but at the end of the day, he is responsible for his actions which have cast the team in a negative light. he violated the terms of his contract by coming out of his mouth. HE DID IT!! he pays for it. period.