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Many reasons the Steelers should not sign Larry Johnson
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For Larry Johnson, it would be a fresh start.
The recently released yet talented but troubled running back now finds himself without a job after several troubled years with the Kansas City Chiefs whose management finally was fed up with the former Pro-Bowler.
After his official release on Monday, Johnson commented that he would still like to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers which makes all the sense in the world for the Penn State graduate.
But for the Steelers: It makes no sense at all.
Johnson has been suspended twice in the past year by the Chiefs, with his latest suspension coming two weeks ago after posting a gay slur on his twitter account, and questioning the competence of his head coach, Todd Haley.
"A part of him is excited and a part of him is very regretful," his agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Associated Press. "There's a lot of feelings going on right now. It's analogous to breaking up with a girlfriend. Maybe you saw it coming, but it still hurts when it happens."
Since 2006 he’s held out of training camp, been sentenced to two years probation for disturbing the peace, and was suspended in ’08 for violating team rules.
And people actually believe that an ownership group as distinguished as the Rooney family would want a guy like this?
With the recent emergence of second-year running back Rashard Mendenhall, the last thing the Steelers front office wants is a guy with Johnson’s attitude to impede Mendenhall’s progress.
Not only does Johnson have the emotional baggage but he’s also been unproductive recently as his numbers have significantly dropped off in the last couple years on a very poor Kansas City Chiefs team.
Add to the fact that the Steelers already have a crowded backfield with Mendenhall, Willie Parker, and Mewelde Moore and it just doesn’t make sense for Pittsburgh to sign the beleaguered running back this year.
Some will argue that the stable, low-keyed Steelers organization (who has not commented on their interest) is a place that could keep Johnson’s actions in check and where he could be successful and revive his career. With Willie Parker likely leaving at the end of this season, maybe Johnson could slide into his spot and be productive.
While that argument has some validity to it, it’s just an issue that not important enough for the 6-2 Steelers to be distracted by as they look to take first place in the AFC North with a win against Cincinnati Sunday.
NOTES:
- Larry Johnson's most productive years were in 2005 and 2006 when he rushed for a combined 3,539 yards and 37 touchdowns.
- He finished with 2.087 rushing yards in 2002 while a senior at Penn State.
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