Fed-Up K.C. Ownership Pushed to Act

The Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery was dedicated during Hall of Fame weekend last August in Canton, Ohio. Hunt -- the Kansas City Chiefs owner, a 1982 Hall of Fame inductee, and the man who coined the name "Super Bowl'' -- died at age 74 in 2006.

His family attended the ceremony, including his wife of 42 years, Norma. She had many remembrances of her husband, including this one she shared with me: "Lamar always stood for what was right and honorable. I think his friends knew that. Some things he just wouldn't stand for.''

And that goes for Norma Hunt. And that goes for Hunt's children, including his son, Clark, who is now Chiefs chairman.

Thus, look no further than Chiefs ownership to understand why Larry Johnson was booted from the franchise on Monday morning. Sure, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli had his say and Chiefs coach Todd Haley contributed his views but this was a decision fueled by ownership, two sources within the Chiefs organization said.

More: Chiefs Release Larry Johnson | Redskins Interested?

It is a reminder in the NFL that coaches coach and general managers survey, but ownership sets the final standard, the enduring climate on what will wash and what will not.

And Chiefs ownership said enough of running back Larry Johnson. Enough of his recent bashing of his coaches and his use of a gay slur that embarrassed the franchise and the league.

Johnson was suspended on Oct. 28, a suspension that was scheduled to be lifted Monday. Would he rejoin the team? Would he continue his Chiefs career, one that spanned seven seasons and placed him just 75 yards shy of surpassing Priest Holmes to become the franchise's all-time rushing yards leader?

The Hunts put a halt to any hint of such.

NFL ownership brings its own hammer.

We saw this surface in Tennessee recently, as the Titans seemed content at keeping quarterback Vince Young in the shadows until Titans owner Bud Adams let it be known that Young had a future with the team and that future was right now. Presto! Young has started the last two Titans games.

We saw Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson drive the offseason push to sign wide receiver Terrell Owens and fuel the decision that resulted in offensive coordinator Turk Schonert being fired 10 days preceding his team's season opener.

We saw New York Giants owner John Mara step boldly forward in April and nix troubled receiver Plaxio Burress. Michael Vick became a Philadelphia Eagle only after owner Jeffrey Lurie jumped on board. Last season, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson wanted -- and got -- quarterback Brett Favre.

There are fewer old-school owners nowadays who simply sit back and let their football people run the entire show. NFL owners are increasingly involved in personnel decisions and, certainly, financial ones.

And when it comes to decisions that color the brand, that color the entire franchise, their voices are becoming clear and distinct.

The Hunts made the right call on Johnson.

Actually, Pioli and Haley should have made the decision to move Johnson before the season, or at least before the trading deadline. They should have unloaded him like they did veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons back in late April -- in part, due to concerns that Gonzalez was not up to enduring the team's struggles. To ask the immature and moody Johnson to be part of a basement-up rebuilding process and help lead a team that is full of holes was foolish.

They should have realized that Johnson all along wanted no part of the losing, the hard times, the tough road.

He had already been involved in four separate incidents involving boorish behavior with women during his Chiefs career, including waving a gun at one and spitting a drink the in the face of another. Halfway through those four run-ins, in 2007, the Chiefs rewarded Johnson with a $45 million contract extension through 2012.

After all, he produced an NFL-record 416 carries in 2006, along with a franchise-record 1,789 yards that season. No doubt, Johnson at his best was a prominent, dominating running back for the Chiefs.

But one always with issues. Maturity issues. Character issues.

Early on, former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil saw this. In Johnson's second year, way back in 2004, Vermiel said that the running back needed to grow up "and take the diapers off."

Johnson turns 30 on Nov. 19. How much difference-making football does he have left? What NFL team believes it can grab him and get the best of him off the field, as much as on it?

The Chiefs will leave those questions for others to answer.

The Hunts have responded to their fans, who were howling about the possibility of Johnson holding their franchise's rushing record. The Hunts responded in the climate of NFL ownership today, which is more blunt, more forceful.

And they remembered Lamar by ditching Larry.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-09-2009 @ 8:49PM

denny said...

Which brings me to my hometown team, the Detroit Lions. The one and only common denominator in the last 45 years of Detroit Lion history is its owner, Mr. Ford.
Everyone, management, coaching, players have all come and gone. So many cities have seen their professional sport teams rise from humiliation eventually and experience success at some time. I appreciate seeing owners take leadership of their teams. Maybe in the Detroit Lions situation, the owner, like Mr. Ford, should take leadership and sell his team to someone else. The buck does stop with him. That's why he ultimately can be held responsibile for a great franchise in a great city, Detroit, to be the laughing stock in professional sports.

11-09-2009 @ 11:30PM

edg3610 said...

The only fault that I have with the NFL is that the owners allow too much individuality with their players. In the regular business world you have to look professional every day, and the players don't look professional with all this ugly braided hair flowing from the helmets. If I owned a team, my players would not be allowed to look like something from the stoneage.

11-10-2009 @ 6:48AM

Steve said...

It's about time that someone steps up and get these players under control. I totally agree about the long hair. When I played in HS, I know how we would have tackled someone with hair that long and it wouldn't have been by going low.

11-10-2009 @ 6:56AM

11-10-2009 @ 10:48AM

Michael said...

If I were a coach I Would tell my players to give up a 15 yard penalty and tackle one of those long haired dudes by the hair , just to show him how stupid it is.
It's just like all these chains around their neck in baseball.
I don't want anything around my neck for someone to strangle me with, how dumb can you get?

11-10-2009 @ 7:04AM

Greer said...

Completely blown up, way overhyped story! Johnson did nothing more than use a little gay slur...SO WHAT? I mean who hasnt said the same or worse? We are such a humorless society anymore, we are WAY too serious. All this does is promote more gay bashing as a backlash to this rediculous action by the Chiefs. What if he called homosexuality what it really is...a sin? What would have happened then? If anyone ever askes me what I think, I just tell them what the Bible says..it is an abomination to God, and sinful behavior. So who do we believe, today's moral relativist's or the Bible? Easy choice

11-10-2009 @ 2:34PM

David S. said...

The so-called "gay slur" is hardly the only issue with Johnson and you know it. He is a nuisance and has been for years -- the Chiefs just had enough of this clown and his antics. The owners can do as they please -- just too bad other team owners won't follow suit with their dead weight players.

11-10-2009 @ 10:17AM

racings12a said...

I was glad to see the Hunt's do this. These days these thugs who play sports think the can do or say as they please and sometimes they are right and I fault the owners for allowing this. Beating women, guns, drugs, hateful slurs, barroom brawls where do they get off getting away with any of this. The problem is the fans love this kind of stuff so it translates to tickets sold. My hat off to the Hunts, maybe others will now stop and think. It's time for them to act like decent human beings.

11-10-2009 @ 12:11PM

jerry said...

Isn't saying what you think a right in this country. Or is that only true if it doesn't offend some group of whiners?

11-10-2009 @ 10:53AM

Then you have teams like philidelphia who hire mercilees dog torturers like it was nothing.
Vick ought to be shot , not coddled by the analysts and media. He is not a good person , he committed some serious crimes , he did way more than shoot off his ignorant mouth like Johnson and Owens and that moron with Cincinati.

11-10-2009 @ 12:23PM

angelo said...

You think ownership involvement is good? Come to Washington and get your mouth washed out!

11-10-2009 @ 1:28PM

mycroft2800 said...

First, if you think LJ was fired for his recent comments - you are way off base. It might have had some bearing, but if you live in KC, you know the real story. He was never a team player - period. He's been a crybaby since day one. He didn't want to play for the Chiefs, he wanted to be a 'Steeler'. He never enjoyed talking to fans, was barely visible at charitable events, and did nothing but flaunt his 'bad boy' image in area clubs. This has been his M.O. since joining the Chiefs.

His lack of character is the reason for his departure, and most importantly - his lack of performance on the field. True, Priest Holmes enjoyed success due in large measure to a great blocking line, but you know what? He always thanked the men on his team for his success, and never spoke of himself as 'great', just thanked his team for giving him the opportunities. He always was a role model in the community.

So, if you want to rant on about how 'unfair' it was to fire LJ, go ahead, but it wasn't about his latest exploits. Like Vermiel said, 'LJ, it's time to grow up and take off the diapers!" I hope he does play to his ability for somebody in the NFL, but my prediction is he will always be his worst enemy. Too bad, as his father deserves more respect from him, let alone the fans who cheer for him.

11-10-2009 @ 1:53PM

tetrarquin said...

What a bunch of phoney baloneys the Chiefs are. Now they are all righteous about Johnson now that he is ineffective. A few years ago when he was assaulting women they looked the other way. Ofcourse back then he was running with the best of them..such is life in the NFL..do whatever the hell you want as long as youre great...

11-10-2009 @ 2:07PM

oustchimchim said...

ACTUALLY ITS LEGAL TO TACKLE BY THE HAIR. JUST ASK TROY PALIMANO.THAT WAS HILLARIOUS.

11-10-2009 @ 3:45PM

RICKNVA57 said...

Another stupid move in a long line of stupid moves. I have been a KC fan all my life but they keep making one stupid move after another.

11-10-2009 @ 4:59PM

gwf13 said...

I wish the Red Sox had grown a set of B---s and get rid of Manny early on when the crap started about its only Manny being Manny....he was a disruption to the team...all to often young kids imitate what they see...but in the big leagues you can overlook all this crap because of the almighty dollar....maybe the fans should vote with their ticket dollars you'd see the players attitude change quickly...my best is a player who makes big money makes one play in 60 minutes and you'd think the world ended...with his antics..lets make those plays more often!!!

11-10-2009 @ 5:22PM

defuivxx said...

what is with the cut your hair hippie comments?

11-10-2009 @ 5:54PM

fioanefet79 said...

Michael, please don't show the country that your are DUMB AND STUPID.
In America when you paid your dues and served your time, your are a free person. And that is what Vick did. You are the ONE should be SHOOT for your STUPIDITY.
As what they said "If there is smoke there must be a fire." I don't think anybody knows execatly what involved in L.Johnson's situation. So, for you to say all that crap is none sense.