With yesterday's games, this upcoming weekend's games are set.
In the first Sunday game, the Baltimore Ravens continue to be road warriors by thumping the upstart Kansas City Chiefs 30-7. You can ask where'd all that offense come from. And the key piece was Ravens QB Joe Flacco.
Despite people still bringing up his poor performance against the New England Patriots (a game the Ravens won, by the way), Flacco asserted himself to the tune of a 23-34, 265 yards and 2 TD performance. A stark contrast to the game in Gillette Stadium last January.
And what about Ravens TE Todd Heap? Just when you think the game may have passed him by a bit, he catches ten balls, a Ravens postseason and personal record, for 108 yards. And don't tell me you saw that coming either. The one receiver we all expected that type of game from was Anquan Boldin.
Most will point out that the Ravens defense forced five turnovers including three Matt Cassel interceptions. Very true, but the fact Baltimore showed an offensive spark against a pretty good defense can build momentum and confidence.
Then you realize the Ravens have to go to Pittsburgh.
Michael Vick's career in Philadelphia is officially in limbo...sort of, or not.
The Green Bay Packers saw to that limiting Vick's effectiveness on the ground. Vick had 8 rushes for 33 yards in the Eagles 21-16 loss. You could say Vick was contained as he did hit the air for 292 yards on 20-36 passing. He also tossed a pick with about a half minute to go to seal the deal for Green Bay.
One question: Where in the hell did Mike McCarthy find James Starks? Another question: How in the hell did this kid rush for 123 yards on 23 carries? For the 2010 season he had 29 carries for 101 yards.
I know at least two people that don't care. One is McCarthy. The other is Packers QB Aaron Rodgers who was the beneficiary of Starks and his legs. This all meant that Rodgers wore a pretty clean jersey and absorbed only two sacks.
Rodgers didn't accumulate a lot of yards through the air (180) and he only threw the ball 27 times. Rodgers didn't need to throw a lot. When he did he was pretty accurate, like 18-27 accurate and a game QB rating of 122.5. Did I fail to mention he tossed 3 TD?
So, next week looks like this:
Saturday:
Ravens/Steelers @ 4:30 PM ET
Packers/Falcons @ 8:00 PM ET
Sunday:
Seahawks/Bears @ 1:00 PM ET
Jets/Patriots @ 4:30 PM ET
Showing posts with label Kansas City Chiefs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas City Chiefs. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Sunday NFL Playoff Games: Ravens/Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs emerged with the AFC crown among many critics.
Baltimore Ravens v. Kansas City Chiefs
Game time: Sunday, Jan. 9 @ 1:00 PM ET
Network: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
The Chiefs posted a 7-1 at Arrowhead Stadium, a tough place for any opponent to play. Again, among many critics. The Chiefs only home loss came just last week at the hand of the Oakland Raiders, a team that finished 8-8. For those seven home wins, their opponents had a combined record of 42-70 (.375). The only team with a winning record among those seven wins was an opening week win against the San Diego Chargers (9-7).
When the Chiefs have the ball...
This really will be the crux of the game, the Chiefs top ranked running attack against the Ravens vaunted run defense. Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles has enjoyed back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Bringing in Thomas Jones only helped that matter. Jones saw a reduced role compared to the fact that he was coming off his best season as a pro just last season in New York as a Jet. Still, it's close to being the best 1-2 punch among RBs in the NFL.
And don't fall asleep on Charles as a receiver. The RB on the other sideline (Ray Rice) receives praises for how involved he is in the Ravens passing attack, but Charles is slowly improving in that area as well. For 2010, Charles had 45 catches for 468 yards. Nice average to go along with that.
But departing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis found just enough of a passing attack to keep opposing offenses honest. His goal coming in was to fix the QB. Well, I don't think it's completely fixed, but Weis did mange to get a bit more out of QB Matt Cassel than head coach Todd Haley got out of him in 2009. WR Dwayne Bowe had a tremendous season in leading the NFL with 15 TD catches. And keep this in mind: The Ravens are a tad soft at the corner.
But don't go picking on the Ravens secondary too much. There's this guy named Reed that will make you pay. And the one guy he will have his eyes on is TE Tony Moeaki.
When the Ravens have the ball...
One guy will be in the Chiefs defense's crosshairs, RB Ray Rice. Rice led the Ravens in rushing (1,220), was second in receptions (63, only 1 behind team leader Anquan Boldin) and fourth in receiving yards (556). Rice is the oil that makes the machine go. So KC defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell has a simple way of stopping the Ravens, right?
Pretty much. The Ravens do go as Rice goes, but don't pay too much attention to him. While Boldin did not have the success this season as he has in the past in Arizona, he can and will bite you. And don't forget the like of Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Todd Heap. That means QB Joe Flacco could really be the man on the spot.
We've been hearing how good Flacco is, but I have yet to see him have that one standout game where I can emphatically so he's arrived. He's pretty much in the same as Trent Dilfer was when the Ravens won it all a few years back.
How do the Ravens score? They're not exactly a scoreboard busting offense, but the Chiefs defense can be had if Baltimore can simply maintain balance between the rush and the pass and utilize the clock to their full advantage. That will mean a lot of Rice. You do dance with the one that brought ya!
And here's another aspect to consider. The Chiefs offense isn't explosive either. Put together long touchdown scoring drives. If the Ravens O can do that, I see no reason why they don't leave Arrowhead as the winners.
Baltimore Ravens v. Kansas City Chiefs
Game time: Sunday, Jan. 9 @ 1:00 PM ET
Network: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
The Chiefs posted a 7-1 at Arrowhead Stadium, a tough place for any opponent to play. Again, among many critics. The Chiefs only home loss came just last week at the hand of the Oakland Raiders, a team that finished 8-8. For those seven home wins, their opponents had a combined record of 42-70 (.375). The only team with a winning record among those seven wins was an opening week win against the San Diego Chargers (9-7).
When the Chiefs have the ball...
| Scoring (Rk) | Total Yds (Rk) | Pass Yds (Rk) | Rush Yds (Rk) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 22.9 (14th) | 349.7 (12th) | 185.5 (30th) | 164.2 (1st) |
 | 16.9 (3rd) | 318.9 (10th) | 224.9 (21st) | 93.9 (5th) |
This really will be the crux of the game, the Chiefs top ranked running attack against the Ravens vaunted run defense. Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles has enjoyed back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Bringing in Thomas Jones only helped that matter. Jones saw a reduced role compared to the fact that he was coming off his best season as a pro just last season in New York as a Jet. Still, it's close to being the best 1-2 punch among RBs in the NFL.
 |
| Charles is evolving into a complete back. Image: BabyBell11 via Flickr |
But departing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis found just enough of a passing attack to keep opposing offenses honest. His goal coming in was to fix the QB. Well, I don't think it's completely fixed, but Weis did mange to get a bit more out of QB Matt Cassel than head coach Todd Haley got out of him in 2009. WR Dwayne Bowe had a tremendous season in leading the NFL with 15 TD catches. And keep this in mind: The Ravens are a tad soft at the corner.
But don't go picking on the Ravens secondary too much. There's this guy named Reed that will make you pay. And the one guy he will have his eyes on is TE Tony Moeaki.
When the Ravens have the ball...
| Scoring (Rk) | Total Yds (Rk) | Pass Yds (Rk) | Rush Yds (Rk) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.3 (16th) | 322.9 (22nd) | 208.4 (20th) | 114.4 (14th) |
| 20.4 (11th) | 330.2 (14th) | 219.9 (17th) | 110.2 (14th) |
One guy will be in the Chiefs defense's crosshairs, RB Ray Rice. Rice led the Ravens in rushing (1,220), was second in receptions (63, only 1 behind team leader Anquan Boldin) and fourth in receiving yards (556). Rice is the oil that makes the machine go. So KC defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell has a simple way of stopping the Ravens, right?
 |
| A Flacco air raid would spell doom for the Chiefs Image: intothelens4149 via Flickr |
We've been hearing how good Flacco is, but I have yet to see him have that one standout game where I can emphatically so he's arrived. He's pretty much in the same as Trent Dilfer was when the Ravens won it all a few years back.
How do the Ravens score? They're not exactly a scoreboard busting offense, but the Chiefs defense can be had if Baltimore can simply maintain balance between the rush and the pass and utilize the clock to their full advantage. That will mean a lot of Rice. You do dance with the one that brought ya!
And here's another aspect to consider. The Chiefs offense isn't explosive either. Put together long touchdown scoring drives. If the Ravens O can do that, I see no reason why they don't leave Arrowhead as the winners.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
NFL Week 3 Wrap-up
Lots of interesting stuff from this past week.
1. Michael Vick
I know people are touting Vick's return and saying he's better than he was while he was a Falcon. It's only 10 quarters of play, so let's curb that a bit. There are noticeable and encouraging differences from his days in the ATL. He's is more patient in the pocket. The fact that Vick is the most sacked QB in the NFL gives you a slight indication that he's more willing to stay in the pocket. He has regained most, if not all, of his explosiveness. And he's got the backing of his whole team. Long way he's come in a short time.
2. Cincinnati Bengals offense
Weren't a lot of experts predicting an outburst from the Bengals offense? Hasn't even materialized in the season's first three games. The Bengals have scored five, count 'em, five TDs. Kicker Mike Nugent, who has been perfect in the kicking department, has more field goals with eight. Nugent is the Bengals offense at this point. Carson Palmer has looked ordinary. Cedric Benson has yet to crack 100 yards in a game. Ochocinco and T.O. have 1 TD between them.
 |
| We've seen this before... |
I know people are touting Vick's return and saying he's better than he was while he was a Falcon. It's only 10 quarters of play, so let's curb that a bit. There are noticeable and encouraging differences from his days in the ATL. He's is more patient in the pocket. The fact that Vick is the most sacked QB in the NFL gives you a slight indication that he's more willing to stay in the pocket. He has regained most, if not all, of his explosiveness. And he's got the backing of his whole team. Long way he's come in a short time.
2. Cincinnati Bengals offense
Weren't a lot of experts predicting an outburst from the Bengals offense? Hasn't even materialized in the season's first three games. The Bengals have scored five, count 'em, five TDs. Kicker Mike Nugent, who has been perfect in the kicking department, has more field goals with eight. Nugent is the Bengals offense at this point. Carson Palmer has looked ordinary. Cedric Benson has yet to crack 100 yards in a game. Ochocinco and T.O. have 1 TD between them.
Monday, August 16, 2010
AFC West Primer
Almost there. We head out west for the AFC West today. Tomorrow will be the final division to cover, the NFC West.
Denver Broncos
2009 record: 8-8, 2nd in division
Head coach: Josh McDaniel
Key Additions: DE Akin Ayodele, DE Justin Bannan, DE Jarvis Green, NT Jamal Williams
Key Losses: C Casey Wiegmann, TE Tony Sheffler, LB Andra Davis
1. Tebow?
First of all, if any NFL fan is wondering who's going to get the spotlight from the media if Brett Favre doesn't come back, all you have to do is point to the first round pick from Florida. He had a good game against the Cincinnati Bengals in last night's exhibition. If he's #3 on the depth chart, it's a close #3 and you know there will be packages at Josh McDaniel's disposal to unleash the former Gator.
2. Can the Broncos keep a running back healthy?
Didn't they have this issue last season? It almost makes you wonder why a running back would want to go there. Practice was cancelled over a week ago due to the number of Broncos that were banged up. In McDaniels' offense, the running back is as crucial as a tackle so they must be healthy.
3. Will we see the second-half swoon we've recently witnessed?
Shhhh. They may not want to revisit those, but it does need to be addressed. In '08, one win down the stretch and they were in. The Broncos jumped out to a 6-0 record and the bye week hit...and so did the downfall. Keeping all of that in mind, I don't think that's a part of the new Broncos mindset.
The Broncos still have a ways to go, but they're moving in the right direction. The first six games from last season were a bit of an anomaly.
Kansas City Chiefs
2209 record: 4-12, 4th in division
Head coach: Todd Haley
Key Additions: RB Thomas Jones, G Ryan Lilja, WR Jerheme Urban, C Casey Wiegmann
Key Losses: WR Bobby Engram, RB Kolby Smith, WR Bobby Wade
1. Are we witnessing the continual building of "New England West"?
In it's full glory. The only things really missing are Brady and Belichick. Well, you have Brady's understudy in QB Matt Cassel. Toss in new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell and the bridge is slowly coming together. I;m not sure I;m a fan of this move, but it does provide for a compelling story.
2. Who will Cassel throw to?
The receiver depth isn't bad. In fact, it's pretty good. The question will be at tight end. Brad Cottam is on the PUP list so the focus could shift to draft pick Tony Moeaki from Iowa. Even then, the experience on the roster at the position is thin with Leonard Pope having the most experience with 5 years.
3. Where must the biggest change need to be made?
The defensive unit. They ranked 30th overall last year. And there's this. No defensive unit spent more time on the field last season than the Chiefs. Of course, the offense could help by sustaining more drives, but I think you get my point here. You also have to have a few stops during a game from the defense.
For the Chiefs to move forward, the running game will be the main thrust this season. Getting RB Thomas Jones was huge in my book.
Oakland Raiders
2009 record: 5-11, 3rd in division
Head coach: Tom Cable
Key Additions: QB Jason Campbell, DE John Henderson
Key Losses: LB Kirk Morrison
1. Will QB Jason Campbell really be the next Jim Plunkett as Al Davis said?
No, but Campbell provides a major upgrade at the position. I can't emphasize major enough as we all saw former #1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell fall completely off the Raider landscape. Campbell will need a bit of time as once again he's faced with learning another system. I like the move. I take that back. I love the move.
2. Will Darren McFadden finally show that he's the real deal?
He has to. I think his stint in Oaktown may be getting a little short, too. Not all his fault (injuries, poor o-line play), but we've not seen from McFadden in the pros as we did when he was in college. McFadden's success will only enhance the success of the Raider offense. If McFadden can blow holes in the defense, that will open up the passing game for Campbell. Thing is, McFadden does have a little bit of competition from Michael Bush.
3. Who will Campbell have as receivers?
This might be the best question facing Oakland this season. The good news is the Raiders have a nice group of tight ends. Zach Miller showed those outside of the west coast that he really is a receiving threat. Tony Stewart is the veteran presence and they signed John Owens in free agency. The same cannot be said for the receivers. Johnnie Lee Higgins has the most experience with 4 years. It seemed like Raiders QBs counted on Louis Murphy more last season than his stats show. Last year's first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey proved to be the butt of more jokes than he had receptions. And the Raiders brought in another speedy receiver in drafting Jacoby Ford. No one will catch these guys...if they can ever catch the ball.
The Raiders will play defense. The offense needs to be the focal point.
San Diego Chargers
2009 record: 13-3, 1st in division
Key Additions: WR Josh Reed, T Tra Thomas, CB Nathan Vasher
Key Losses: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Charlie Whitehurst, NT Jamal Williams, CB Antonio Cromartie
1. Has the window closed on the Chargers?
If it hasn't closed already, it's barely cracked. Barely. Most feel the Bolts will repeat as divisional champs, but to see them make another deep playoff run may be asking too much especially if T Marcus McNeill and WR Vincent Jackson continue to stay away.
2. Will first round pick Ryan Mathews revitalize the running game?
There's a two-part answer here. The second part depends on the first which is getting McNeill back in the fold. Without McNeill, Mathews can still have success, but it won't be as great. There was a reason the Chargers traded up to get this kid. He can flat out run. 1,000 yards should be a given.
3. Can the defense rebound from what looked like a down season?
The issue wasn't as much in the pass defense as it was in stopping the run. The loss of Jamal Williams may hinder that even more. The Chargers may be banking on rookie Cam Thomas to fill the void. That may be risky. Having Shawne Merriman in camp could help if he's committed not only to the organization, but committed to being involved in the run defense. The pass defense may fall off, too, but I think the trading of Cromartie wasn't that bad a deal. He clearly wasn't the Cromartie of a couple of seasons ago.
I enjoy watching these guys play. I hope we're not seeing the beginning of the end.
1. San Diego. It could be a much tighter division than in '09 for the Bolts.
2. Denver. The offense must stay on the field more.
3. Oakland. I wouldn't be shocked with a 2nd place finish this season.
4. Kansas City. The offense looks better. Not so sure about the D.
 |
| Tebow will get playing time in 2010. |
2009 record: 8-8, 2nd in division
Head coach: Josh McDaniel
Key Additions: DE Akin Ayodele, DE Justin Bannan, DE Jarvis Green, NT Jamal Williams
Key Losses: C Casey Wiegmann, TE Tony Sheffler, LB Andra Davis
1. Tebow?
First of all, if any NFL fan is wondering who's going to get the spotlight from the media if Brett Favre doesn't come back, all you have to do is point to the first round pick from Florida. He had a good game against the Cincinnati Bengals in last night's exhibition. If he's #3 on the depth chart, it's a close #3 and you know there will be packages at Josh McDaniel's disposal to unleash the former Gator.
2. Can the Broncos keep a running back healthy?
Didn't they have this issue last season? It almost makes you wonder why a running back would want to go there. Practice was cancelled over a week ago due to the number of Broncos that were banged up. In McDaniels' offense, the running back is as crucial as a tackle so they must be healthy.
3. Will we see the second-half swoon we've recently witnessed?
Shhhh. They may not want to revisit those, but it does need to be addressed. In '08, one win down the stretch and they were in. The Broncos jumped out to a 6-0 record and the bye week hit...and so did the downfall. Keeping all of that in mind, I don't think that's a part of the new Broncos mindset.
The Broncos still have a ways to go, but they're moving in the right direction. The first six games from last season were a bit of an anomaly.
 |
| Signing Jones was an excellent choice by the Chiefs brass. |
2209 record: 4-12, 4th in division
Head coach: Todd Haley
Key Additions: RB Thomas Jones, G Ryan Lilja, WR Jerheme Urban, C Casey Wiegmann
Key Losses: WR Bobby Engram, RB Kolby Smith, WR Bobby Wade
1. Are we witnessing the continual building of "New England West"?
In it's full glory. The only things really missing are Brady and Belichick. Well, you have Brady's understudy in QB Matt Cassel. Toss in new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crenell and the bridge is slowly coming together. I;m not sure I;m a fan of this move, but it does provide for a compelling story.
2. Who will Cassel throw to?
The receiver depth isn't bad. In fact, it's pretty good. The question will be at tight end. Brad Cottam is on the PUP list so the focus could shift to draft pick Tony Moeaki from Iowa. Even then, the experience on the roster at the position is thin with Leonard Pope having the most experience with 5 years.
3. Where must the biggest change need to be made?
The defensive unit. They ranked 30th overall last year. And there's this. No defensive unit spent more time on the field last season than the Chiefs. Of course, the offense could help by sustaining more drives, but I think you get my point here. You also have to have a few stops during a game from the defense.
For the Chiefs to move forward, the running game will be the main thrust this season. Getting RB Thomas Jones was huge in my book.
 |
| Campbell isn't Plunkett, but he provides a professional influence at QB. |
2009 record: 5-11, 3rd in division
Head coach: Tom Cable
Key Additions: QB Jason Campbell, DE John Henderson
Key Losses: LB Kirk Morrison
1. Will QB Jason Campbell really be the next Jim Plunkett as Al Davis said?
No, but Campbell provides a major upgrade at the position. I can't emphasize major enough as we all saw former #1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell fall completely off the Raider landscape. Campbell will need a bit of time as once again he's faced with learning another system. I like the move. I take that back. I love the move.
2. Will Darren McFadden finally show that he's the real deal?
He has to. I think his stint in Oaktown may be getting a little short, too. Not all his fault (injuries, poor o-line play), but we've not seen from McFadden in the pros as we did when he was in college. McFadden's success will only enhance the success of the Raider offense. If McFadden can blow holes in the defense, that will open up the passing game for Campbell. Thing is, McFadden does have a little bit of competition from Michael Bush.
3. Who will Campbell have as receivers?
This might be the best question facing Oakland this season. The good news is the Raiders have a nice group of tight ends. Zach Miller showed those outside of the west coast that he really is a receiving threat. Tony Stewart is the veteran presence and they signed John Owens in free agency. The same cannot be said for the receivers. Johnnie Lee Higgins has the most experience with 4 years. It seemed like Raiders QBs counted on Louis Murphy more last season than his stats show. Last year's first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey proved to be the butt of more jokes than he had receptions. And the Raiders brought in another speedy receiver in drafting Jacoby Ford. No one will catch these guys...if they can ever catch the ball.
The Raiders will play defense. The offense needs to be the focal point.
 |
| Mathews should eclipse the 1,000 mark in 2010...with ease. |
2009 record: 13-3, 1st in division
Key Additions: WR Josh Reed, T Tra Thomas, CB Nathan Vasher
Key Losses: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Charlie Whitehurst, NT Jamal Williams, CB Antonio Cromartie
1. Has the window closed on the Chargers?
If it hasn't closed already, it's barely cracked. Barely. Most feel the Bolts will repeat as divisional champs, but to see them make another deep playoff run may be asking too much especially if T Marcus McNeill and WR Vincent Jackson continue to stay away.
2. Will first round pick Ryan Mathews revitalize the running game?
There's a two-part answer here. The second part depends on the first which is getting McNeill back in the fold. Without McNeill, Mathews can still have success, but it won't be as great. There was a reason the Chargers traded up to get this kid. He can flat out run. 1,000 yards should be a given.
3. Can the defense rebound from what looked like a down season?
The issue wasn't as much in the pass defense as it was in stopping the run. The loss of Jamal Williams may hinder that even more. The Chargers may be banking on rookie Cam Thomas to fill the void. That may be risky. Having Shawne Merriman in camp could help if he's committed not only to the organization, but committed to being involved in the run defense. The pass defense may fall off, too, but I think the trading of Cromartie wasn't that bad a deal. He clearly wasn't the Cromartie of a couple of seasons ago.
I enjoy watching these guys play. I hope we're not seeing the beginning of the end.
1. San Diego. It could be a much tighter division than in '09 for the Bolts.
2. Denver. The offense must stay on the field more.
3. Oakland. I wouldn't be shocked with a 2nd place finish this season.
4. Kansas City. The offense looks better. Not so sure about the D.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
KC's Johnson Suspended for Slurs
Update: Johnson and the Chiefs have come to an agreement. Since the Chiefs are on a bye and don't play until next week, Johnson could have lost two checks, but Johnson will only be docked one. This agreement comes on the heels of Johnson filing a grievance against the club.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (right) has done it again. Last season, Johnson had "run-ins" with incidents involving women and nightclubs. This time, Johnson is in the spotlight for his usage of gay slurs in both a Twitter post (which has been removed) and during a local media gathering on Monday. Johnson has been suspended until November 9 for what the Chiefs termed as "conduct detrimental to the team".
In the end, what will the Chiefs front office decide to do with L.J.? Two distinct possibilities.
There is the possibility that the Chiefs would merely make Johnson inactive for the remainder of the season and KC will attempt to deal the troubled running back during the offseason. You can't trade him now as the trade deadline has passed. This "approach" falls into the "out of sight, out of mind" theory. See Jon Gruden-Keyshawn Johnson, Tampa Bay situation.
You would first ask exactly what would a team be willing to give you for a running back that is 30 years old? That's the age where most backs are considered to be starting on the downside of their careers. The most you could possibly gain is maybe 5th round pick or possibly another "aging" player despite the fact that Johnson was a first round pick. I don't think you could get both a pick and a player. But we've seen GM Scott Pioli (left) work magic before. Considering Johnson's resume', I don't think even Pioli can here.
Or how about this? The Chiefs could decide just to merely sever its ties with Johnson. That's not a stretch. It's a real possibility. Just get the guy out of there and send him on his way. There may be too big a gap to be mended between Johnson and the Chiefs, specifically head coach Todd Haley. Johnson's Twitter post also included a questioning of Haley's coaching credentials. By simply releasing Johnson, the air around the Chiefs complex may be lighter.
Considering the Chiefs are on a bye this week, the KC front office could have dragged its collective heels on this, but kudos to them for making a prompt decision (also a no-brainer).
The suspension will cost L.J. about $535,000. A lot of loot to lose because you're simply lost.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (right) has done it again. Last season, Johnson had "run-ins" with incidents involving women and nightclubs. This time, Johnson is in the spotlight for his usage of gay slurs in both a Twitter post (which has been removed) and during a local media gathering on Monday. Johnson has been suspended until November 9 for what the Chiefs termed as "conduct detrimental to the team".In the end, what will the Chiefs front office decide to do with L.J.? Two distinct possibilities.
There is the possibility that the Chiefs would merely make Johnson inactive for the remainder of the season and KC will attempt to deal the troubled running back during the offseason. You can't trade him now as the trade deadline has passed. This "approach" falls into the "out of sight, out of mind" theory. See Jon Gruden-Keyshawn Johnson, Tampa Bay situation.
You would first ask exactly what would a team be willing to give you for a running back that is 30 years old? That's the age where most backs are considered to be starting on the downside of their careers. The most you could possibly gain is maybe 5th round pick or possibly another "aging" player despite the fact that Johnson was a first round pick. I don't think you could get both a pick and a player. But we've seen GM Scott Pioli (left) work magic before. Considering Johnson's resume', I don't think even Pioli can here.Or how about this? The Chiefs could decide just to merely sever its ties with Johnson. That's not a stretch. It's a real possibility. Just get the guy out of there and send him on his way. There may be too big a gap to be mended between Johnson and the Chiefs, specifically head coach Todd Haley. Johnson's Twitter post also included a questioning of Haley's coaching credentials. By simply releasing Johnson, the air around the Chiefs complex may be lighter.
Considering the Chiefs are on a bye this week, the KC front office could have dragged its collective heels on this, but kudos to them for making a prompt decision (also a no-brainer).
The suspension will cost L.J. about $535,000. A lot of loot to lose because you're simply lost.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)