I like the idea of the Bengals adding Larry Johnson. He does have a history of being a jerk and a spoiled athlete. Those are the things that he has to change if he wants another shot at being a lead RB in the future. But the Bengals can make this move with minimal risks. The Kansas City Chiefs are the ones who made the huge investment in this guy, and now they have to eat up his contract and move forward. Bengals owner Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis probably see this as a chance to add another starting RB on a squad that is a power running team. I don’t see Larry screwing up the chemistry on this team because he will probably be on his best behavior, ala WR Terrell Owens. And I love Marvin Lewis, but I’m not buying his explanation that Larry will be the 4th RB if brought to Cincinnati. Really? If Larry would be the 4th RB, why not bring in Dede Dorsey, Kenny Watson, or any other guy that can play that role. Larry Johnson isn’t going to be running down on kickoffs, or blocking on punt returns. Marvin has to say that out of respect for the RB’s on the roster now and LJ isn’t signed at this point. I get that and it’s the right thing to do. But after a week or so, LJ would move into the backup role behind Cedric Benson, and Bernard Scott will be the third down back and main KR. Brian Leonard could be active based on what team they are playing, he was a healthy scratch earlier in the season so that tells me that his is a swing guy on game days. Cedric’s hip injury won’t heal during this season, so a similar style of runner is needed, that’s why LJ makes sense. That’s not a knock on any of the other guys.
19 Responses to LJ not a “4th” Running Back
Patmo
November 17th, 2009 at 11:56 am
You are right,of course, for all the reasons that you stated. If Johnson is ready to go,put him in there. I don’t know how that effects the coordination beteen RB and OL but this guy,if ready, has something to prove . Marvin’s reluctance to let Scott run back kicks only proves that he’ doesn’t completely trust rookies but would prefer vets who have proven reliability. Johnson fits that profile…..if he still has retained his skills.
Steven Sackett
November 17th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Thank you for providing clarity to this situation. My only concern is “if” he acts up, do we have people in the locker room willing to go to Marvin and say “get rid of him”.
The last thing long suffering Bengal fans like myself need is a disruptive locker room player.
TJ
November 17th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Patmo – Scott will be the kick returner and that fits into the signing of LJ to be the #2 RB eventually. You can’t have Scott getting hurt returning kicks if he is the # 2 or # 1 RB. I like this signing – same type runner as Ced. Thsi will allow us to have 2 healthy and productive bakcs within the system in January. If he acts up – let him go they are only investing a small amount of money on him. Great gamble by the Bengals.
Patmo
November 17th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Agreed TJ .
BG
November 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
TJ – I agree, except for your comment that this is a “gamble”. I think it’s a great move, but not much of a gamble given that it is only $300K and he can easily be shown the door if he affects the team dynamic negatively. He will stay clean and contribute positively if he wants to sign a new deal with another team after the season.
JT, I was thinking the same thing on the way to work today, how is this guy going to stay the #4 back for long? If he plays like he once did, he’s a beast. I think yours is a logical assessment of the situation – thanks and keep ‘em coming!
TJ
November 17th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
BG – I agree with what you said and in fact said the same thing in my post about the money. I called it a gamble just because of his “negative” exit from KC. If he turns out to be an issue they haven’t lost much if they have to show him the door – on the fllip side if he returns to close to what he used to do he is a very good pick-up. Possible positives outweigh possible negatives thus a good gamble.
Patmo
November 17th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I agree with you guys that this is a good signing. However, how does this guy rate a press conference ? His rep says he’s bad news . I’d issue a press release . Say that he’s signed and move on about business. It might be me but I don’t like the message that a press conference sends .
Scott A
November 17th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Agreed JT.
That’s why I posted “The fact that he told LJ he was going to be the 4th back (initially we all understand) …” Say he’s 4th on paper …
Matt
November 17th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I knew little about LJ before his run ins with the new Chiefs’ organization. Why? The Chiefs stink and he was their total offense for about 4 years. I knew they were in the process of running the wheels off of him, like the Bengals do to Ced in some games. I think 30 carries for a RB a game is about the max. I would love it if the Bengals would run their premier back 20-25 carries and mixed the rest among their other RBs. That seems to work for the majority of the successful running teams.
So do I care he called some journalist a “fag?” No. I would say the majority of adult males have at one time in their life used that word in an inflammatory manner. There is TV commercial, a South Park epsiode, and plenty of standup bits about the usage of this word.
What I am more curious about is the release of Utecht. Was dude still coming to games and working out at the facility. Tough break. I had high hopes for him in stripes. I am also curious about next year’s TE, this years draft class is slim and the Bengals seem reluctant to get Coffman on the field.
JJ
November 18th, 2009 at 10:47 am
There are 3 really good TE’s coming out in years draft (Or at least I think they are really good).
Jermaine Gresham – Oklahoma
Anthony McCoy – Southern Cal
Ed Dickson – Oregon
If we can get any of those 3, I think we’ll be alright.
Brad
November 18th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I agree that LJ is gonna move into the back up role but I can also see him being a Health scratch on game days depending on who the Bengals are playing. I know with the Vikings coming up I would think Leonard might be a better option then LJ with his ability to catch the ball and things of that nature. Running right into the Williams wall with Ced and LJ doesnt seem like a winning formula.
Brad
November 18th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
JJ I like the idea of a pass catching TE but fact remains, TE on the Bengals have to block. Chase Coffman is a great pass catching TE but was never asked to block. He was more or less a big WR at Mizzu. I just don’t see the Bengals investing a first or second round pick in a TE next year. Kelly will be back hopefully from his injury, and a surprise in JP Foschi and Coffman will still be on this team.
I think a Safety, OL, DE are probly gonna be the targets early in the draft. Can never have to much depth at DL or OL, plus if Roy Williams doesnt come back you leave a hole to fill behind Chinny, and do we really have someone who can be an every day starter if Crocker were to go down.
Matt
November 18th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
JJ- your research is good but I disagree. Dickson is a product of the spread and will have similar problems to Chase Coffman. McCoy seems to be legit, but as really only been good this year. I like Gresham, hope we get him but he has had surgery on same knee twice.
JJ
November 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
@Brad – I think if we draft a DE, OL or S in the 1st or 2nd round, they will be a backup. Which is always needed but if Reggie Kelly doesn’t come back and we draft a TE in the 1st or 2nd round, they will be starting.
@Matt – I agree that Dickerson needs to prove he can run block. But unlike Chase who we’re reading stories about needing to work with Chip & Mort every day to build his strength, Ed Dickson is a weight room beast already. From what I’ve read he’s one of the strongest TE’s in Oregon’s history and one of only two to bench over 400 lbs. So the strength is already there, he just needs to work on technique. Which is what coaching is for.
JJ
November 18th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Also forgot to mention that Ed Dickerson has been a Special Teams stud for Oregon, which is one of the reasons why Chase hasn’t been active on gameday.
Ron E
November 18th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
How does LJ fit into the Bengals running/blocking scheme, is there much of a learning curve for him? Can he come in and start or play a significant amount of time this week against Oakland, or is it better he stays on the bench the majority of the time and let Scott be the starter this week?
Matt
November 18th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Warren Sapp said rbs in this scheme are dime a dozen or two for a nickle. Good point on Dickson. I think the Bengals take a DT in the first round if they don’t resign Tank. I think they take McCoy in the second
Jimbo
November 18th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Matt you are refering to:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/cincinnati-bengals/09000d5d8144263b/Bengals-own-AFC-North
I presume?
I watched that too and thought Warren was trying to play contrary and a little edgy. I don’t think he pulled it off well very well. He implies that any team can pluck a good running back out of thin air for 2 mil and that is of course false. If it were true all the 32 teams would have good running backs for 2 mil each.
Matt
November 18th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Yes I agree with your assessment of Warren being edgy, but he does make a point. With this O line and already having an established running game there is no need to pick up a troubled guy. If he is a 4th RB get a guy like DeDe or Watson who know the system and are traditional special teams players. Is LJ going to play special teams? No way.
Again though I like the move and I have no idea what the reliable way to get a #1 RB is. Draftniks thought Mcfadden was going to be the next AP, he barely plays. Matt Forte and Steve Slaton were the shiz last season and both are doing pretty poor.