ChiefsCountry.com

By Kent Babb, K.C. STAR 11/17/2009
LJ signs with Cincinnati, and it's tough to argue that he doesn't win in all this
Sure, the Chiefs might be better off without Larry Johnson and his 2.7-yard rushing average. Their depth chart might be better off with Jamaal Charles at the front of the line instead of an aging, loudmouth, moody running back whose production slipped, really, two years ago. And Kansas City's locker room might be better off without LJ, the brooding teammate that others watched and waited for a blowup.

But there's no question that Larry Johnson is better off in Cincinnati. He signed this morning with the Bengals, completing a "punishment" that gets him to a better team and barely hits him in the pocketbook.

The Chiefs were concerned two weeks ago that, if LJ were simply released after he used Twitter as his personal insult-hurling launch pad, players might interpret that as, if they want out of Kansas City, all they have to do is mouth off. Now, the Chiefs have a real problem, because not only did LJ slur and tweet his way out of Kansas City, but it landed him in a far better position.

Signing with the Bengals used to be a career death sentence. But this year, Cincinnati is in first place in the AFC North and looks like a safe bet to make the playoffs. LJ has never won a playoff game, and he gets a legitimate shot on a team that could make a run. The Bengals have beaten some terrific teams, such as Pittsburgh and Baltimore (twice), so at 7-2, things are looking very good for the Bengals.

Johnson's move barely hurts him financially, too. His Bengals contract reportedly will pay him the pro-rated league minimum, and for a seventh-year player, the minimum is $750,000, meaning LJ will earn more than $306,000 for being with the Bengals for the rest of 2009. Add that to the $2.1 million the Chiefs must pay him to finish this year's guaranteed salary, and that's not a bad situation. Yes, Johnson forfeited $500,000 in roster bonuses he had with the Chiefs, but that is almost entirely made up for with his Bengals contract, which LJ could view as a "bonus" of sorts. So other than the $330,000 he lost because of the two-week suspension he served for detrimental conduct, Johnson's entire outburst -- the one that finally freed him from Kansas City, as he has so often pined for -- will cost him less than $200,000.

He doesn't get a raise, which would have been a major issue for the Chiefs, but for a player making more than $4 million a year, essentially forfeiting $200,000 -- or 1/20th his annual salary -- is hardly a backbreaking sum, especially if it lands him on a playoff team.

Now, it's important to note that LJ will at least begin his time in Cincinnati as the team's fourth-string running back. That's not a perfect situation for Johnson, but it's close. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, players now have a very real example that, if things aren't going well in Kansas City, all it takes is a little misbehavior and a very small financial investment to have his situation upgraded.

This is a dream scenario for LJ. But it's also a nightmare for the Chiefs. Larry Johnson wins, and Kansas City loses. Hasn't that sort of been the story with that guy all along?

I think the Bangles and Johnson deserve one another?

I guess, I don't really see how this is a "loss" for the Chiefs.

You and me both.