LJ Lands in Landover

As you who have been reading this Turkey’s ramblings for the past few years know, we follow the trials and tribulations of former Penn State running back Larry Johnson here. Well, LJ has a new deal. He’ll be playing for the Washington Redskins, who have signed Johnson to a three-year deal.

After having been dumped by the Kansas City Chiefs, for whom LJ played since being drafted in 2003, he was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals for the balance of the 2009 season. ???? ???? ??? ???? The dumpage occurred in November following a gay slur by LJ, who had had no shortage of off-field incidents while in Kansas City.

Now, Washington, with its wacko owner Dan Snyder, and newly hired head coach Mike Shanahan, have signed the 30 year-old Johnson to a three-year, incentive laden deal worth a minimum of . ?????? ?? 5 million. If the incentives kick in, LJ could earn as much as $12 million.

Johnson joins another pain in the ass, Clinton Portis, in the Redskin’s backfield. ???? ???? ??????? Portis, 28, has frequently criticized team management, particularly for their summer training program.

With this newly formed tandem in mind, the Associated Press release began with the this topic sentence, “Not content with just one aging, opinionated running back, the Washington Redskins added a second one last night when they signed Larry Johnson to an incentive-laden three-year contract.”

My feelings, precisely.

UPDATE: Matt Mosley of ESPN offers his thoughts on this deal in his blog entitled “Does Larry Johnson have anything left?“