TROUBLE FOR L.J.

Now we know why the Chiefs are having so much trouble trading running back Larry Johnson. When we heard about L.J.'s supposed baggage, we assumed that folks were simply referring to his reputation for being a pain in the butt. As it turns out, Johnson is dealing with an off-field allegation of assault. Per the Kansas City Star, a woman has filed charges against Johnson arising from a February 24 incident in which he allegedly pushed the left side of her head with an open hand at a night club. Though the procedure is a bit vague, it seems that this is something more than a situation in which anyone can file papers accusing anyone else of anything; the Star mentions that the pursuit of charges was delayed by six months because police were dealing with more pressing matters. This suggests that a certain amount of investigation occurred before the legal process formally ignited. The woman reportedly spoke with police within 11 hours after the incident, and a friend corroborated the account. The woman then picked Johnson out of a photo lineup on June 6. (We trust that the cops used something other than football cards.) A court date has been set for December. It’s unclear whether Johnson will face at that time a trial or some type of pre-trial hearing. This is the third time that Johnson has faced legal troubles. In 2003, a former girlfriend’s accusation that Johnson brandished a gun resulted in aggravated assault and misdemeanor domestic battery charges. The charges were dropped after he agreed to enter a diversionary program. In 2005, a woman accused Johnson of pulling her to a night club exit and pushing her to the floor. She later changed her story and did not appear in court to testify. The outcome of the latest incident remains to be seen. For now, the Chiefs pick up three points in Turd Watch and, given that the charges were successfully concealed by Johnson and the team for more than a week, the “Days Without An Arrest” counter re-sets to zero.