It's official — Larry Johnson holdout underway

Before I get into Larry Johnson and his holdout, I want to give a shot out to Direckshun over at Arrowhead Pride. He’s done a helluva job filling in for Chris this week, and I’ve enjoyed his stuff immensely. In fact, I found this over there:

Report: Chiefs’ Larry Johnson Refuses to Report to Camp KANSAS CITY, MO. — One day after Chiefs’ Running Back Larry Johnson gave no hint to FOX 4 Sports as to whether he’ll report to training camp next week in River Falls, FOXSports.com is reporting that Johnson’s mind is already made up, and he’ll be a definite no-show.

The Chiefs leave for camp next Thursday. Their first workout is set for a week from this Friday.

LJ is set to make almost $2 million this season, and for a guy considered the second best back in the league that’s called working cheap.

The Chiefs could elect to fine Johnson as much as $14,000 for each day of camp he misses.

FOX 4 will be in River Falls to let you know if Johnson shows up or what the Chiefs plan to do about his absence.

Now I know quite a few Chiefs fans don’t like Johnson, and that’s fine. Anyone who tries to argue that he’s being adequately compensated for his on-field performance level, however, is either biased or completely out of their mind. He is the second best running back in the NFL, and, in my opinion, the best pure rusher. All of that means that he should be paid better than any running back in the league except LaDainian Tomlinson. Right now, L.J.’s contract is a joke. King Carl needs to pay the man, because if he doesn’t we are in deep trouble. I like Kolby Smith and Michael Bennett as much as the next person, but neither can play the workhorse role needed for the Herm Edwards gameplan to be effective.

Larry Johnson, along with Tony Gonzalez, is my favorite player. I absolutely do not want to see him get traded. On the other hand, my first priority is the Chiefs. So, if the Cheaps don’t plan on giving L.J. the money he deserves, then maybe Peterson needs to get the Green Bay Packers on the horn. If that happens, expect the Chiefs to win about five games in ‘o7. While that would set us up to have a great draft next year, I’m not a big fan of tanking. In the age of parity, you’re never that far from the top. I mean, just last year we gave the Super Bowl Champion Colts as good of a game as anybody did during the playoffs. I honestly think we have a very good shot at returning to the playoffs with L.J.

Still, if L.J.’s going to hold out and we’re not going to pay him, then we have to get something out of a player of his caliber. What would we likely get in exchange for L.J.? Most likely 2008 first- and second-round picks, along with a few late picks. While we’d all like to get two firsts, that’s not reasonable given today’s trade market. Willis McGahee — who I will admit has been somewhat injury riddled, and isn’t the player L.J. is anyway — only cost the Ravens two thirds and a seventh. I think a first and a second, along with a late pick or two, is the best-case trade scenario. To me, that’s just not enough. Again, though, we must get something out of a player of his caliber.

Hopefully, King Carl will sit down with L.J. on Monday and get this thing settled once and for all. If that doesn’t happen, well, we could be in for a long, long year.

Fox 4 Sports – “Report: Chiefs’ Larry Johnson Refuses to Report to Camp”