LJ ordered to stay away despite apology
Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has apologized for using a gay slur directed towards one of his Twitter followers Sunday and towards reporters yesterday.
"I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate," he said through a spokesman. "I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said."
However, his apology may be too little, too late as the Chiefs have told Johnson to stay away from team activities and practices while the team/league investigates the matter.
Perhaps LJ thought his antics would get him a one-way ticket out of KC.
But as former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer asks on Sirius NFL Radio (via the Kansas City Star), who would want him?
"Maybe he thinks that he can force his way out (of Kansas City). Let me ask you this, of the other 31 teams in the National Football League, who in the world is going to bring him into their locker room? ... The guy doesn’t have the skill level to warrant the kind of b.s. that they’re putting up with out there and I would not be surprised to see them run him right out of town."
It was roughly a year ago that he was apologizing in a similar manner for several arrests.
And next month, Johnson turns 30, which is not a good age for running backs. However, Johnson has seen a sharp drop in his production since 2005 and 2006 when he was an elite back. He is averaging only 2.7 yards per carry this year.
Jamaal Charles, on the other hand, is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this year and he averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year.
Even if the Chiefs don't release or suspend Johnson, it is very likely that Charles will see a substantial bump in touches going forward.
"I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate," he said through a spokesman. "I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said."
However, his apology may be too little, too late as the Chiefs have told Johnson to stay away from team activities and practices while the team/league investigates the matter.
Perhaps LJ thought his antics would get him a one-way ticket out of KC.
But as former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer asks on Sirius NFL Radio (via the Kansas City Star), who would want him?
"Maybe he thinks that he can force his way out (of Kansas City). Let me ask you this, of the other 31 teams in the National Football League, who in the world is going to bring him into their locker room? ... The guy doesn’t have the skill level to warrant the kind of b.s. that they’re putting up with out there and I would not be surprised to see them run him right out of town."
It was roughly a year ago that he was apologizing in a similar manner for several arrests.
And next month, Johnson turns 30, which is not a good age for running backs. However, Johnson has seen a sharp drop in his production since 2005 and 2006 when he was an elite back. He is averaging only 2.7 yards per carry this year.
Jamaal Charles, on the other hand, is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this year and he averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year.
Even if the Chiefs don't release or suspend Johnson, it is very likely that Charles will see a substantial bump in touches going forward.
