Redskins Sign Larry Johnson

No, actually, I'm not dissatisfied so far; and, following the "Great Purge", I DO realize we are in need of some running backs. But it seems as though we have this annoying habit of judging talent based on peak performances rather than on recent history (e.g., ARE, Stubblefield, Wilkinson, Sanders, etc., etc., just to name a few.) I feel that we've had MORE than our fair share of failed experiments.

Based on the last four years, I'm of the opinion that LJ is on the decline rather than ascension. That DOESN'T mean he can't contribute, but as far as I'm concerned, I had hopes for a higher caliber back, since hopefully Portis will be shown the door before the beginning of the season.

It's not fair to lump the current front office in with what "we" have done wrong for the last decade. They have been on the job a couple months and made a few relatively minor moves so far. Every player they signed so far could just be backups meant to create the "competition" at every position that Shanny is looking for. IE: if LJ's presence makes Portis get his ass in gear then that's a good thing whether or not LJ gains a yard for us next year.

I think you'll have to wait until the draft to get that higher caliber back, the options are/were pretty limited in free agency

Hopefully, every pick we have will be for a decent offensive lineman :)

SmootSmack is right, I think some of Larry's off field issues have been blown a tad out of proportion. To the best of my knowledge the guy has never been accused of sexual assault, and not to hijack this thread, but the Commish has been curiously quiet, yet again, on Big Ben's case. Just saying.

I think LJ will work out just fine here. His stats in terms of games played, career carries, and total yardage speak for themselves. He just doesn't have as much wear and tear as some are trying to suggest. Some may be forgetting that Larry Johnson has really good hands and can be a threat out of the backfield. We'll see though. I'm cautiously excited about this signing.

I do like the idea of a 230lb banger wearing down defenses late in the game. :)

I do like the idea of a 230lb banger wearing down defenses late in the game. :)

Ha-ha. That put a smile on my face just thinking about it.

Speaking of wear and tear. I checked Adrian Peterson's stats and he's on pace to shatter anything we've seen recently.

Over the first three years of his career, Adrian Peterson has 915 carries. Larry Johnson over the first five years had a very comparable 1,050 carries. For his career LJ has 1,421 carries. Adrian Peterson could come very close to LJ's career number of carries by season's end. Especially now that Chester Peterson is no longer coming off the bench to spell Peterson.

Just adding a little perspective.

Speaking of wear and tear. I checked Adrian Peterson's stats and he's on pace to shatter anything we've seen recently.

Over the first three years of his career, Adrian Peterson has 915 carries. Larry Johnson over the first five years had a very comparable 1,050 carries. For his career LJ has 1,421 carries. Adrian Peterson could come very close to LJ's career number of carries by season's end. Especially now that Chester Peterson is no longer coming off the bench to spell Peterson.

Just adding a little perspective.

I have AP in a keeper league...those stats do not make me happy.

give lj a chance he can still breakem for the big play and he gives us a better threat than betts ever was

LOL...well played. You got me there. At least I know you read one post here

As for LJ, it's been mentioned already I believe but we should probably hope he reaches $12 million +, because that would mean he performed well, was on his best behavior, and the team was successful. If those things don't happen he's not even getting a third of that money.

Of the 30 year old backs out on the market, he has by far the least wear and tear of them all, even less than CP I believe (though he's older). On the field, I like this move better than Parker because a) if Parker doesn't have his speed then what does he offer really, at least LJ you get a 230 lb. power back and b) now we can focus on getting a young speedster in the draft (cough...CJ Spiller...cough, though apparently Joe McKnight is high on our radar)

Off the field, I don't mean to make light of his domestic abuse incidents and allegations but I think there's a misconception that he went around punching women. As I understand, one time he was charged for waving a gun during an argument with his girlfriend, another time he was accused of throwing a drink in a girl's face at a club. One time I heard he allegedly pushed some woman down those claims were apparently found to be unsubstantiated, if I recall correctly. Again, not trying to make light of it or justify it. Just saying it doesn't seem like he was going Chuck Norris on a bunch of women.

Look, as far as this signing alone, I understand it to a degree, I just dont like it. I hope he does reach all the incentives, that would be a first in a signing like this for our squad. I just think his production could be equaled (spelling)
with a younger back taken in the mid - late rounds of the draft. Its not a reach to think that with Shanahan. And for the people that keep quoting my posts acting like I am an idiot because I dont put names of possible alternatives to LJ in them, think about what you are saying, and then think about what I said. The RB's before shanahan molded them didn't have any real degrees of success, or were not known previous to entrance into his system, or RB factory, so to say. Just knowing his tendencies and track record with young RB's, this signing just didnt make sense. I hate the fact that we only have five picks. I think if we had the 7 or maybe 8 picks, this move doesnt even get made. But, heres to hoping. I can see the upside at the end of the tunnel now, one might say. I dont post without doing some research or reading posts made earlier in the thread, contrary to your beliefs, Smoot. It sees like the people ridiculing my posts concerning this issue aren't really taking into full account what I was saying, but hey, thats ok. Its all in good fun, and all in hopes of a brighter tomorrow for the squad we all love. Passion is good. I love the degree of talk on these forums. They have more free minded intellectual members than all the other Redskins boards combined!! I might even think about splurging and giving $20 of my E-5 pay to the movement!!!! (and thats saying alot, knowing how much E-5's in the army get paid!)

Mechanix, I was primarily referring to this line of yours in a previous post "On an additional note, I love how noone questions these moves, or lack thereof"

Several people have questioned many moves since Shanahan came on board, even his coming on board. It would be wrong, totally wrong, to say there has been absolute blind faith in all the moves