As reported here last week, a reliable source had called in to 107.5 The Fan, and told the audience that a high-placed official in the Packer organization (aka Mr. Upthere) told him that the Packers were going to make a pre-draft move that would make many of the Packer faithful happy. Around the very same time it was being reported that the Packers had made an offer to the Kansas City Chiefs for running back Larry Johnson.
If you were a bad father, avoiding your family to watch the draft last weekend like I did, you’d know that no such happydeal came to pass, either with Johnson or with the other Object of Our Man-Gossip, Randy Moss.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t there a write up in ESPN the Magazine or Sports Illustrated a year or so ago about Larry Johnson, where if it weren’t for a whitebread family in the KC ‘burbs, who didn’t mind that this very large, tattoed man would let himself into their home unannounced and lift weights in their basement (and they later took him in and hugged him and squeezed him and pet him and loved him), that he probably would have flamed out Ahmad Carroll-style? Not sure we want that kind of stability in Titletown.
And his expectations for pay? Let’s just say he has pretty high regard for himself, asking for $85 million over 8 years (which is totally cool if he doesn’t mind waiting until year eight for the last $84 million of it), when LaDainian Tomlinson is only making $65 million for the same eight years.
I was expecting to look through the comparative stats for each player for the 2006 NFL season and say “Pffft!” when Johnson’s numbers didn’t come anywhere close to Tomlinson’s. But they did. Johnson gained almost 1,800 yards rushing and over 400 yards receiving in ‘06, and Tomlinson’s ‘06 MVP run consisted of just over 1,800 yards rushing and just over 500 yards receiving. It took Johnson more carries to get his totals, which either means he’s not as good a runner, or that his O line isn’t as good and he took a heavier beating to get his yards. The only other negative factors in bringing Johnson to Green Bay (other than the B&E) might be that he’s not as positive a force for the team on the field and in the locker room. Also, he didn’t score as many TD’s as LT, but that could be for reasons as simple as the Chargers starting with better field position, or just having a better offense, keeping defenders playing both the run and pass.
But seeing as the report of the Green Bay offer to Johnson is starting to grow a bit of mold, I’m thinking that Mr. Upthere either doesn’t hold the power that the sandwich artist thought he did, or that they tried to get Johnson for less than his asking price and were rebuffed.
In 2005 Johnson made $ 678,000 in salary and bonuses, so $10 million per year would be a pretty big raise. So big that I’m not sure many teams would bite. Including your Green Bay Packers.
So the hunt for a running back continues. They didn’t really address it in the draft (but I’ll get to that very soon), so I’m hoping Ted Thompson still has a wish left in that genie lamp I always see him carrying around.
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