Perhaps overcompensating for once saying Larry Johnson needed to “take the diaper off,” former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil has become one of L.J.’s biggest cheerleaders.
“[Johnson] will take over the running back position,” Vermeil told Rick Maese of the Washington Post. “That’s what I think.
He’ll push that guy [Clinton Portis] right out of a job.”
Washington’s signing of Johnson doesn’t make much sense, but it would make a lot more if he did allow the Redskins to drop Portis. That seems unlikely because of Portis’ guaranteed money.
Vermeil’s case for believing in L.J. isn’t convincing. He doesn’t base it on recent game tape, but the fact that Johnson’s back is “against the wall.” A lot of over 30 running backs have motivated minds, but their bodies aren’t willing.
The Larry Johnson that Vermeil once coached has left the building. The former Chief has been a below average back since 2006 and there is no reason to think that will magically change.
Three reasons why Larry Johnson will take the job from CP – Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money!! Hail!!
And if the Skins wanted to replace Portis they would have probably signed a Thomas Jones or LT for a couple of years and drafted a young RB to learn from them. What a novel idea…..
This is the funniest damn thing I’ve read all week.
Vermeil needs to stick with making wine, seems to be all he’s good at these days.
This is laughable… does it really matter which guy is the starter? They are both washed up bums.
Obviously you mean SINCE 2007, since in 2006 he rushed for 1789 and 19 TD’s.
He wasnt so average in 2008 either with 193 carries for 874 yds and 5 TD’s. Thats not average. You just pick guys to pile on and its embarrassing in my opinon.
He’ll blow up and I’ll be laughing at everyone the same exact way I laughed at everyone this year when Cedric Benson came back to life.
There are a bunch of backs I’d rather have than these two aging, declining divas:
McGahee
Hightower
Slaton
Choice
Washington
…
You guys going to talk about that girl peeing on Big Ben?
Yea well Saunders and Gibbs were supposed to tear it up too according to Vermeil. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Portis’ back is supposedly against the wall too, I think both of em are well past their primes and entering the twilight of their careers. Both have taken a lot of punishment.
How is Vermeil going to hate on the first half of the Port’o John tandem?
Part of my wants to stay optimistic about signing Johnson…
…but a bigger part of me sees some similarities between this signing and signing Shaun Alexander two seasons ago.
Portis is a washed up “has been” that never was. It won’t take much for LJ to win the job except staying healthy.
On the other hand, Portis hasn’t exactly been a dynamo for the Redskins the past few years either… it might be a battle of has-beens, and if that ends up being the case, why not Johnson?
Good old Dickie V. He just needs a good cry.
No, there is no reason to think that Johnson will amount to much of anything. But, if his prescence motivate Portis that would be ok.
Hail to the Redskins.
My thinking is that Johnson was awesome when the Chiefs o-line was awesome. But that line went downhill fast. He really didn’t have a chance.
I haven’t watched Johnson in years, so I don’t know what he’s like now, but I know he isn’t old. He may actually beat out Portis. I did see CP recently and he’s definitely lost a step.
They are both garbage. Washington should have kept Betts.
Vermeil started crying immediately after this statement.
That’s not very nice. sniff sniff. I think of LJ like a son. sniff sniff. He is a good runningback. sniff sniff. You are just a bunch of meanies. sniff sniff.
Love, Dick Vermeil
Interesting that Johnson would finally take the diaper off, just as Vermeil is ready to put one on.
Mr. Rosenthal…..do some research. Vermeil didn’t say that Johnson would succeed because his back’s against the wall; Herm Edwards did.
This should be interesting to watch. I hate the Redskins and would like to see nothing but turmoil there, but Portis – from what I’ve read – is pretty lazy in the off season and when it comes to practicing. Maybe Johnson will show him up. If he does, so be it.
Rosenthal- The chiefs have been horrible and in terrible O-line shape since they lost Roaf, Wiegmann, and Shields. In Cincy, LJ’s number’s per carry numbers were decent last year.
He ran for near 1800 yards in 2006. He only played 8 games in ’07 (550 yards), 12 games in ’08 (with near 900 yards and a 4.5 avg, projects to be 1200 yards for 16 games). Behind a great O-Line, LJ was dominant. As he lost those linemen listed above, his numbers went down. There are relatively no backs that can run productively without an offensive line to open the lanes for them.
The only part of this that doesn’t make sense is that Washington doesn’t have an O-Line either, so he isn’t going to get back to his near 1800 yard production but you can’t solely blame a running back and say he’s 30+, game over.
Watch LT this year in NY behind a good O-Line. His per carry average will increase and I bet if he got the majority of the carries, he’d put up 1400 yards. After all, thats only 87.5 yards per game.
It doesn’t matter if they drop Portis or not. He will not be playing more than 20% of the total snaps this season. He probably won’t even travel with the team to away games after week 3.
If LJ disappoints Vermeil, Dick will cry.
Vermeil couldn’t be more wrong. If anyone’s “back is against the wall,” it’s CP’s. LJ is the one coming to a new team with little to no expectations, CP has a fan base, coaching staff and owner who he’s got to prove himself to. Besides, CP has more left in his tank and the only reason he missed most of last year was because of a concussion. LJ’s in the position he’s in because he’s lost a step.
LJ has more than most of you (apparently) think. Did well when asked to play in Cincy last year and basically had a half a year off from the pounding a RB takes. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a pretty good year. To the folks who are calling Portis and Johnson “washed up bums,” what does that make you, oh so brave anonymous poster of nasty comments? These kind of statements are indicative of people with fairly large insecurities, possibly about certain small parts of their bodies? No, that was a low blow (true or not), but really? Both of these guys performed at an extremely high level for multiple years at the most physically demanding position in a league of ridiculously physically demanding jobs, O line, D line, LB’s, Safety’s. Doubt you paper pushers have much room to talk.
Florio writes “Perhaps overcompensating…”. No- he was right and when Dick Vermeil who cires over players at a drop of the hat says that- you need to get your act together.
Florio also writes: “Washington’s signing of Johnson doesn’t make much sense…”. Well, at least to PFT, to the team actually spending the money there is probably a good reason. PFT could really use an ex-GM or scout to look at these situations with some experience.
Was Vermeil starting to cry when he said that? If so, you should believe him.
3 yards and a cloud GOT IT!
LG ran REAL WELL in limited action for the Bengals behoind a GOOD LINE and even had a 100 yards rushing in 1 game…..
Some people just dont know football….LOL
Johnson like LT has little left
lol@pier58. you still bitter about portis running you over back in high school?
I just don’t see LJ being a HUGE imact what-so-ever anymore. The guys gets ankle tackled by the cheerleaders. He may have a decent game every now and again, but nothing like how he used to be. And for the KC O-line statments (3rd and a cloud), the O-Line was so crappy this last year LJ couldn’t get a 2 yard gain if his life depended on it, but somehow Charles found a way around to having a productive season. So??? If Portis stays healthy, he’s your best bet.
Larry Johnson may just shock the world and return to for.
If he increases his passion and any gas left in the tank, he could still haul the rock.
Portis has been sleep walking for a long time.
“To the folks who are calling Portis and Johnson “washed up bums,” what does that make you, oh so brave anonymous poster of nasty comments? These kind of statements are indicative of people with fairly large insecurities, possibly about certain small parts of their bodies? No, that was a low blow (true or not), but really? Both of these guys performed at an extremely high level for multiple years at the most physically demanding position in a league of ridiculously physically demanding jobs, O line, D line, LB’s, Safety’s. Doubt you paper pushers have much room to talk.”
I am not insecure at all, I just call it how I see it. They are washed up statistically and history would support that they are in the final years of their careers. As a football fan I can make judgements about a player’s talent anyway I see fit. Most of the time it is 100% accurate other times, rare, I am wrong. And since these two guys have the worst characters in the NFL they are actually worse than washed up bums. If you call an actor a bad actor does that make you insecure? Way off base bro.
An emotionally fragile crybaby bitch of a coach says that a washed up woman-beating homophobe will outplay the fragile clownish cross-dressing quitter.
So says this __________ (adjective, adjective pejorative), anyway.
I love the NFL.
is this really news? they are both washed up bums running behind a HS oline so it really does matter. This team sucks so bad right now and there is no hope for them at all.
Last place for 3 straight years with 4-12 records and shanny gets the shaft from weasel midget wonder boy…LMAO.
HOW BOUT THOSE COWBOYS!!!!BRING IT HATERS AND FACE IT!!!
@3 yards and a cloud
If offensive line is the reason for LJ being washed up, then explain the ’09 season in KC where LJ put up a miserable 2.7 yards per carry behind the same line that Jamaal Charles put up over 1,000 yards in only 10 starts at almost 6 yards a clip? LJ is for done.
Vermeil was the best coach the Chiefs ever had – he had one winning season in three seasons.
F LJ. Stick a fork in him. He’s done.
LJ is BACK!
LJ > > jabba charles & cp
If anything LJ will light a fire under Portis’ ass and maybe push him to do something besides sit on the sidelines and get hurt.
Icon is a ratard.
Tim Couch – you and Portis both wear the same POS lable.
Before every fantasy football season starts I sort out the POS players that will never be on my roster – Portis has been # one on that list since he became a Dead Skin; not that he was all that as a Donkey long ago.
In fact – Donkey – is a form of JackAss which nails the perfect Portis description.
Mark is a DIMWIT (which is less e’en than a half-wit, ‘ratard’ or dolt.)