Larry Johnson gets new contract

[packers11]

JOHNSON AGREES TO TERMS

Jay Glazer of FOX reports that running back Larry Johnson has agreed in principle on a six-year contract with the Chiefs. The contract will replace the final year of Johnson's rookie deal, during which he had been scheduled to earn $1.7 million.

The deal also will end Johnson's holdout, and reunite him with the team.

Terms are not yet available, but the guaranteed money could be in the range of $19 million, which would be above the market for good veteran running backs but below the LaDanian Tomlinson ballpark.

[packers11]

Johnson, Chiefs work out five-year contract extension

Larry Johnson ended his 25-day holdout Tuesday morning by finalizing a five-year extension that will keep him with the Chiefs through 2012.


Johnson's contract is worth $45 million, with $19 million guaranteed. Of the guaranteed money, $12 million is the signing bonus and $7 million is guaranteed salary.

Both sides were working on the deal Monday night. The final holdup was the payout over the first three years of the contract. Once that was resolved, Johnson decided to report and accept the Chiefs' proposal.

Johnson reported to the practice field late Tuesday morning, put on his helmet and was ready for duty.

It was a tough situation for the Chiefs and Johnson. He turns 28 years old this fall. Because of that, Johnson didn't want to play out the final year of his current deal and be in a position in which the Chiefs could make him their franchise player in 2008. Had that happened, it would have been hard for Johnson to get a big-money contract, since running backs nearing the age of 30 tend to not get big deals.

For weeks, both sides had been chipping away and getting closer, but it was not close enough for Johnson to get the deal done in time to report to River Falls, Wis., where the Chiefs conducted their training camp. Camp broke last week and the team returned to Kansas City.

By reporting and getting his new contract, Johnson has two possible games to polish his timing for the start of the regular season. He had an NFL-record 416 carries last season, and even though the team is expected to lighten the load this year, Johnson is considered the workhorse of the offense.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[Partial]

This guy is an injury waiting to happen. He should have came to camp and did it the right way. He is gonna get banged around without being used to it and will have a down season. Steer clear of this guy fantasy players.

[the_idle_threat]

This guy is an injury waiting to happen. He should have came to camp and did it the right way. He is gonna get banged around without being used to it and will have a down season. Steer clear of this guy fantasy players.

You should all steer clear of Ladanian Tomlinson also ...

[Partial]

This guy is an injury waiting to happen. He should have came to camp and did it the right way. He is gonna get banged around without being used to it and will have a down season. Steer clear of this guy fantasy players.

You should all steer clear of Ladanian Tomlinson also ...

Nah, he is in camp and doesn't take 420 carries the year before!!

[the_idle_threat]

This guy is an injury waiting to happen. He should have came to camp and did it the right way. He is gonna get banged around without being used to it and will have a down season. Steer clear of this guy fantasy players.

You should all steer clear of Ladanian Tomlinson also ...

Nah, he is in camp and doesn't take 420 carries the year before!!

Quiet, you!!! :P

[superfan]

This guy is an injury waiting to happen. He should have came to camp and did it the right way. He is gonna get banged around without being used to it and will have a down season. Steer clear of this guy fantasy players.

You should all steer clear of Ladanian Tomlinson also ...

Nah, he is in camp and doesn't take 420 carries the year before!!

I agree with the Idle Threat. They now have a head coach, Norv Turner, who kills RBs fantasy values. Plus, Michael Turner is such a good backup that he will steal carries.

Tomlinson will be lucky to get 5 touches a game. Definitely not a first round fantasy RB.

[the_idle_threat]

Fourth rounder at best.

[LL2]

I guess LJ will not be coming the GB. Brandon Jackson is our only hope. If he can continue to improve like he did against Seattle we should be ok. I hope he gets 800 yards rushing this year. Would love it if he cracked 1,000 and avg 4.5 yds a carry (and Adrain Peterson gets 400 yds for the year).

[Guiness]

I think this will put Priest Holmes on the market. We could take a run at him? Maybe?

Honestly, doubt it though...

[Bretsky]

This guy is an injury waiting to happen. He should have came to camp and did it the right way. He is gonna get banged around without being used to it and will have a down season. Steer clear of this guy fantasy players.

Can you tell all of my division this as well ? He's a clear top 3 player in FFL this year IMO.

[GBRulz]

LJ did awesome for me last year....until the playoffs that is.