Troubled former Nittany Lion and Kansas City Chief running back Larry Johnson has a new home, and it will be with Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and the rest of the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals. After his expected signing, he will be relegated to the fourth string and will be paid the league minimum.
Of course, because Johnson was released a week ago and no one picked him up during the waiver period, KC will still have to pay his humongous salary. The pro-rated league minimum is chump change to Ol’ Lar.
Kansas City head coach Marv Lewis was adamant about Johnson just being there for backup duties.
“That’s what his role would be, it would be as a fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this football team doing all the things backup players do, and that’s work their tails off in the kicking game and showing looks [on the scout team] and so forth that way,” Lewis said. “And then he would be an insurance policy if something would happen down the line to one of our guys where he’d have a chance to be active.
“But I couldn’t foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this is what happens. And that’s what I’ve told him.”
We’ll see how this works out. This Turkey hopes that Johnson can keep his nose clean and avoid embarrassing us yet again.
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Oldtimer says
Funny article today in one of MSN’s blog sites. Larry is hoping to get a great Christmas by playing in the Bengals game against the Chiefs. It will truly be embarrassing for him when he gets 15 carries for 31 yards, and a fumble, against our sorry defense. After that, he won’t be around long enough for either Chiefs or Nittany Lions fans to be embarrassed any more. It will be the gift that keeps on giving to both of us. Merry Christmas Lions.
The Nittany Turkey says
That eventuality is not likely according to Marv Lewis, who has committed no playing time to LJ, except as a member of the scout team. If he appears on the active roster, it will be fourth string. The Bengals are leading their division, which makes this Turkey feel that it is unlikely that they’ll want to risk playing Johnson on Christmas with Pittsburgh and Baltimore breathing down their neck. Larry can dream, I suppose.
—TNT