Packers Offer Picks To Chiefs for Johnson - PFT

[LL2]

[quote="Fritz"]

POSTED 1:17 p.m. EDT, April 26, 2007

PACKERS MAKING A PLAY FOR L.J.?

Scout.com is reporting that the Packers have offered a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for running back Larry Johnson.

If true, the report is a stunner. Packers G.M. Ted Thompson doesn't like to pay big money to strangers to the team, and it's going to take really big money to keep Johnson beyond 2007, the last year of his rookie deal.

And if an offer that big has been made to the Chiefs for Johnson's rights, the Packers surely have reached a tentative agreement with Johnson's agent on a long-term deal. Otherwise, the Packers would be picking up Johnson for only one season before having to either use the franchise tag or let him walk away.

If this is actually true and they actually land LJ I will go on a 3 day bender to celebrate.[/quote]

If this is true I will go on a three day bender to mourn. That would be a terrible, terrible trade.

Why?

[retailguy]

[quote="Fritz"]

POSTED 1:17 p.m. EDT, April 26, 2007

PACKERS MAKING A PLAY FOR L.J.?

Scout.com is reporting that the Packers have offered a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for running back Larry Johnson.

If true, the report is a stunner. Packers G.M. Ted Thompson doesn't like to pay big money to strangers to the team, and it's going to take really big money to keep Johnson beyond 2007, the last year of his rookie deal.

And if an offer that big has been made to the Chiefs for Johnson's rights, the Packers surely have reached a tentative agreement with Johnson's agent on a long-term deal. Otherwise, the Packers would be picking up Johnson for only one season before having to either use the franchise tag or let him walk away.

If this is actually true and they actually land LJ I will go on a 3 day bender to celebrate.[/quote]

If this is true I will go on a three day bender to mourn. That would be a terrible, terrible trade.

And now, both sides of the fence have weighed in.... lol

[Fritz]

That's what's so cool about this, RetailGuy. If Johnson scores a bunch of TD's and runs for a lot of yards, I'll be cheering.

[Partial]

You guys are silly. If there is one thing LJ has shown, its that he is a much better back than Dickie V. ever gave him credit for. I guess that sort of happens when you're running behind Preist Holmes for a couple of years.

I wouldn't want to give up an additional fourth for the guy, but giving up a first would be without question. Remember, when Rick Williams put up his big year, Miami gave up two firsts for him.

If you're not in the top 15, a first round pick ultimately isn't that valuable. If you can get a bonafide player with it, ranging from slightly better to solid to great, jump on it.

Draft picks are risky. They can good, bad, average, etc. So many options. They are an unknown entity. We all know what Johnson can do, and to say you're unimpressed would be foolish.

I agree that he certainly think he was the benefactor of a great line, but he also obviously has some skills. If they added this guy, Moss with the third, and Eric Weddle with the second, and a tight end on the second day, how can you argue with that? That team is pretty solid in terms of starters.

[Lurker64]

I don't think I've seen a Chiefs game other than the wildcard one last year in about four years. Is LJ at all suited for the zone running style? I know he's apparently a monster superstar kind of back, but I don't know anything about his running style.

[Partial]

I don't think I've seen a Chiefs game other than the wildcard one last year in about four years. Is LJ at all suited for the zone running style? I know he's apparently a monster superstar kind of back, but I don't know anything about his running style.

He is more of a bruiser. But than again so was Ahman. He'll do fine in whatever system you plug him into. He isn't great but he is good enough to get you 1400-1500 yards.

[Cheesehead Craig]

pro football talk has already debunked the rumor. The Chiefs have said they have not given anyone permission to speak with LJ. If the Pack haven't spoken about a contract with him, they won't trade for him. Fun little rumor while it lasted.

[woodbuck27]

pro football talk has already debunked the rumor. The Chiefs have said they have not given anyone permission to speak with LJ. If the Pack haven't spoken about a contract with him, they won't trade for him. Fun little rumor while it lasted.

ahhhhh.

There goes that brain fart.

[Partial]

Bummer. I'd take him for a first and fourth. It is at the very least a known entity. No surprises there.

[RashanGary]

I'd take it in a heart beat but I doubt it will go through.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

POSTED 3:03 p.m. EDT, April 26, 2007

RUMOR OF GREEN BAY OFFER FOR L.J. IS OFF THE MARK

Though we've never seen a rumor that we didn't want to monger, we've learned based on discussions with league insiders and via the application of common sense that the Packers have not offered a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for running back Larry Johnson.

As we suggested in our short blurb regarding the Scout.com report that an offer is on the table, the deal makes no sense unless the Packers have in place a long-term deal with Johnson. But a league source tells us that no permission has been given by Johnson to talk to other teams; thus, if any discussions have occurred, it would be an obvious violation of the tampering rules.

Though it's not becoming more common for a trade to be worked out contingent on the new team and the player working out a contract, there's no way that the Packers and Johnson would get together on a long-term contract before Saturday, even if a trade deal were done right now between the teams.

The Chiefs are quietly shopping Johnson due in part to the reality that he wants a deal worth more than the contract signed by 2006 MVP LaDainian Tomlinson before the salary cap spike of the past two seasons. There's no way that Packers G.M. Ted Thompson will ever agree to that.

Nor should he. Running backs are largely interchangeable.

Unless a team has a chance to land the next Barry Sanders or Jim Brown, there's no reason to pay huge money to a player who is at any given moment an awkward hit away from becoming just a guy.

Larry Johnson is currently one of the best running backs in the NFL, but he's not one of the best ever. If he was, the Chiefs wouldn't be shopping him.

Dollar for dollar, the Packers would be far smarter to take their chances at No. 16 on Marshawn Lynch, or in a later round on someone else.

[BooHoo]

THanks for clearing this issue up. But it did make for interesting reading. THe draft is just around the corner and can't wait.

[Joemailman]

Chiefs: We're not trying to trade Larry Johnson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs were quick to dispel any rumors that they are actively shopping Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson prior to this weekend's NFL draft.

Team spokesman Bob Moore said Thursday that the Chiefs have not offered Johnson to anybody and that no team has been given permission to speak with him.

"Anybody who is reporting it's true is simply not telling the truth," Moore said.

The 27-year-old Johnson has been participating in the Chiefs' offseason program, but is entering the final year of his contract. He has made it clear that he wants a deal worth more than the eight-year, $60 million contract that San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson signed two years ago.

Johnson's agent, Alvin Keels, did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking comment.

Rumors that Kansas City wants to trade the brooding back, who carried the ball an NFL record 416 times last season, surfaced as the team scrambles to acquire draft picks. The Kansas City Star, without citing a source, reported Thursday that the team had offered Johnson up for trade.

Kansas City unloaded return specialist Dante Hall to the St. Louis Rams for a fifth-round pick on Wednesday, falling in line with coach Herm Edwards' desire for a more youthful roster built via the draft.

"When you have a veteran football team, that's very, very good," Edwards said recently. "But at the end of the day, you have to acquire young players along the way."

The Chiefs invited four running backs — California's Marshawn Lynch, Ohio State's Antonio Pittman, Florida State's Lorenzo Booker and Louisville's Kolby Smith — for interviews, and have said they are willing to draft a running back in the early rounds.

Trading Johnson would make sense to those who view the Chiefs as undertaking a major rebuilding effort.

Kansas City is poised to start the season with untested second-year quarterback Brodie Croyle and journeyman Damon Huard— who played well last season when Trent Green missed parts of eight games with a concussion — competing for the starting job.

The offensive line is full of holes, after the retirement of 11-time Pro Bowl tackle Willie Roaf last season and 12-time Pro Bowl guard Will Shields earlier this month. The wide receiving corps has little depth behind aging Eddie Kennison, and defensive tackle and defensive back remain areas of concern.

Johnson's value has never been higher, either. After rushing for 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2005, he gained 1,789 yards and had 17 touchdowns last season. His 2,199 yards from scrimmage accounted for 43% of the Chiefs' total offense.

"He's still a guy in his prime," said former Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly, who believes the Chiefs will manage to sign Johnson to a contract extension. "I don't know what they could get to replace him. Certainly a draft choice isn't going to replace him."

Another way the Chiefs could acquire more draft picks is by dealing Green, the two-time Pro Bowler who returned from his concussion midway through last season but never played at the same level.

[Joemailman]

You guys are silly. If there is one thing LJ has shown, its that he is a much better back than Dickie V. ever gave him credit for. I guess that sort of happens when you're running behind Preist Holmes for a couple of years.

Who the hell cares what Dick Vitale thinks of Larry Johnson?

[Partial]

You guys are silly. If there is one thing LJ has shown, its that he is a much better back than Dickie V. ever gave him credit for. I guess that sort of happens when you're running behind Preist Holmes for a couple of years.

Who the hell cares what Dick Vitale thinks of Larry Johnson?

I was referencing Dick Vermeil, but Dick Vitale works as well