The Redskins have officially announced the signing of running back Larry Johnson, and head coach Mike Shanahan is praising Johnson as a major part of the offense he wants to build in Washington.
“We are excited to bring in a running back that has had so much success in this league,” Shanahan said in the team’s statement. “Larry is a physical runner who will be a great addition to our backfield.”
The Redskins’ announcement notes that Johnson owns the top two single-season rushing totals in Chiefs franchise history, with 1,789 yards in 2006 and 1,750 yards in 2005. It also notes that Denver had 11 individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons while Shanahan was the Broncos’ head coach, and that the Broncos were the only team ever to have four different 1,000-yard rushers in four straight years.
The question, of course, is whether past performance is a predictor of future results. Johnson hasn’t come had a 1,000-yard season since 2006, and in Shanahan’s final two seasons in Denver, no Broncos running backs came close to 1,000 yards.
No RB caused more headaches for Shanahan in recent years than Larry Johnson.
And if Shanahan actually expects him to be productive, no RB will cause more headaches for him in the future than Larry Johnson.
Can never have too much “Johnson in the backfield”
Hahahahahahahah! Way to go Shanny!
Larry goes down quicker than a $5 call girl. Lock up your ladies, Larry “smack em around” Johnson is a comin to town.
Redskins already had one nutcase washed up running back. Now they have two! Way to go Shanarat.
A GREAT PICK UP!
The signing of Larry Johnson will make Sir Clinton Portis turn it up a notch.
Welcome home LJ from laplata
he and clinton can share time in the trainer’s room while someone not on geritol runs for shanahan
He looked good for the Bengals last year. 100+ yard game in his only start. 4.4 yards per carry.
hmmm…
“Larry is a physical runner who will be a great addition to our backfield.”
Better have an eye in the rearview mirror Portis!
great signing, smart move. Shanahan is a mastermind.
I actually think this is a wise move…he will fit into the Redskins offence very well and they need a good strong presents in the backfield to share the workload…I think this will be the key to keeping productivity high and assuring know one gets complacent think the RB jobs is theirs!…although as an Eagles fan I hope it doesn’t work…lol
3 years, $3.5m – everything else roster/workout bonuses and incentives.
Its a high return/moderate risk strategy
LJ? Come on Washington. LT would have been a better choice than LJ. 2.7 yds per carry last year and no TDs.
The best move the Chiefs made last year was removing this cancer. He’s done.
It was only after the Chiefs cut his stupid ass that they scored their first rushing TD — that was with with Jamaal Charles… and he ended the year with over 1,000 yds.
I thought Shanahan was smarter than this.
Maybe Portis can keep LJ happy – he can dress up like a woman and LJ can spit drinks in his face and threaten to kill his significant other.
when he got a chance to play last year he did very well.. I think he still has a lot to offer if he can keep his mouth shut..
this is a great move….for Philly, Dallas and Big Blue.
if Shanny likes RBs who can’t stay upright, fall over when the wind blows and give zero effort all the time, he’s got his man.
in Shanahan’s final two seasons in Denver, no Broncos running backs came close to 1,000 yards.
……………………………………..
well in 2006 the running game was dragged down by Travis ” I have coke but no condoms ” Henry with a 4.1 YPC…but after giving Selvin Young a chance Bronco tailbacks finished the year with a 4.7 YPC
in 2007 despite the Great Hamstring Epidemic 7 different tailbacks finished with a 4.9 YPC…
I wouldnt put too much into not having a 1000 yard rusher with production like that..
if “past performance is a predictor of future results” the Redskins should have a pretty good running game…
Is this the big deal that the Foreskins “saved” all their money for?
mamedia- check your facts before you hate. LJ averaged 2.9 in KC over 7 games last season and 4.4 over 7 games with the Bengals. He has off the field issues, for sure… that said, the contract is cheap and pay for performance rich, should he produce (on and off, I assume). CP has been in the league a year longer but has at least three years more mileage than LJ. Look at total career carries… Portis has 700+ more carries…
This is a win-win deal as long as LJ keeps his head on straight!
Don’t understand the move. Shanahan has never had a big, bruiser RB in his years at Denver, why now…with a less talented 0-line?? Portis isn’t what he used to be but he’s twice the runner LJ is at this point. And if LJ was brought in to light a fire under CP’s ass, that was one hell of an expensive match.
Willie Parker, Justin Fargas or Brian Westbrook would’ve made much more sense IMO, but what do I know.
LJ could still be good, but there are still no OL worth a crap in DC. Jim Brown and OJ in their primes would suck in DC.
What could possibly go wrong?
being a Denver fan I’ll always wish Shanahan well. Not sure if this move is good or not though? Maybe he just can’t get the picture out of his mind the times LJ destroyed our D, but then again who didn’t destroy shanny’s defensive units.
As a Chiefs fan – I’ve watched every game that LJ has run in. He’s very simple – if you have an o line that opens sizable holes, he’s still effective (although most RBs are). If not – he’s done. He has lost his speed burst. He really doesn’t even attempt to turn to the outside anymore. He’ll run into the back of the line and fall over.
Now granted – he’s probably a bit more motivated now that he was in his final games in KC – but still – his ceilinig is very low.
Well, unless the Redskins make a move for Mike Gandy they are going to be hurting. They have LJ as a redzone/ short yardage back. Parker, Westbrook, LT the dudes get injured often LJ is atleast durable.
McDanielsOwns says:
March 13, 2010 2:49 AM
“being a Denver fan I’ll always wish Shanahan well. Not sure if this move is good or not though? Maybe he just can’t get the picture out of his mind the times LJ destroyed our D, but then again who didn’t destroy shanny’s defensive units.”
Won’t be able to destroy the Redskins defense right away. But, give him a year or two to screw up that defense than it will be more like when he was in Denver. Washington needs a free safety!
Nothing says we’re changing the climate of the locker room like bringing in another @$$hole. Not feeling the upside to this at all.
Why the hell is everyone getting so bent outta shape about this? Our 4 and 12 team just made a deal with an experienced running back that turned a new leaf when he went to another team last year on a PERFORMANCE based contract. In all my years watching my beloved Skins this is one of my favorite moves that they’ve made. For years Danny has insisted on shelling out ridiculous amounts of money for big names to hit road blocks in their careers in D.C., it’s about damn time they made a move that requires a player to actually PERFORM to get his incentives. And to all of you talking about “changing morale” and bringing down things in the locker room, um, have any of you been paying attention at all?!?! 20% of that locker room, that’s one fifth of the team that was there last year, is gone. CP showed up early to a voluntary workout yesterday, something is obviously going right around Redskins Park. I suggest you other NFC East fans out here talking trash quit bitching to conceal your fear that the Redskins might actually climb out of the basement of the division this year, and let the season take its course. HTTR
This jerk-wad was a cancer in KC, who tens of thousands of fans signed a petition to keep his name from the record books there. Way to go Shanny, I’m gonna give you some rope on this one, but he’s already got 2.5 strikes with me. We need class act players not this kind of trash. Who’s next, TO? Vick?
Haha! As a Giant fan this is a great move for us. He will definitely change the Redskins 4-12 record next year. Probably to 3-13. He will no doubt add to his own police record as well. He is a first class loser and now all the women in the DC area have to worry about this a-hole.
If you see him in public……in a bar, mall or at mealtime…just make sure the phony thug with no street cred puts his spit helmut on so he doesn’t spray your date with some of saliva.
(God know whats that contains)
He’s done…..I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get waived in training camp.