Larry Johnson's Career as a Kansas City Chief Over?

The 2009 Kansas City Chiefs have undergone a vast makeover. The Chiefs have a new general manager (Scott Pioli), new head coach (Todd Haley), and a new quarterback (Matt Cassel). Will the new Chiefs also make a change at running back? Kansas City is currently battling with their star running back, Larry Johnson, over his guaranteed contract money. This could be the end of Larry Johnson's career as a Kansas City Chief.

Larry Johnson, the former Penn State University running back, seemed to end the drought of bad running backs selected from Penn State. Blair Thomas, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter, were all great college running backs, but all failed to have successful NFL careers. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Larry Johnson in the 2003 draft, and it appeared Johnson had returned some glory to Penn State's reputation.

Johnson began his career sharing the backfield with Chiefs great, Priest Holmes. Johnson broke out in 2005, when he started over half the games and gained 1750 yards , with a 5.2 yard average per carry. The next year, with Priest Holmes out for the season due to an injury, Johnson started every game and once again posted great numbers, gaining over 1700 yards. Larry Johnson looked to be the long term answer for the Chiefs running game. Then, in 2007, Johnson would suffer an injury that caused him to miss half the season, and Johnson was never the same.

Johnson's off the field problems would begin to overshadow his on the field production. Last season Johnson was suspended by the league, one game, for his detrimental conduct. Kansas City also benched Johnson during the season, because of his legal troubles. Most recently, Johnson received probation for an assault charge from last year. After a promising start to his career, Johnson hasn't been able to keep his self out of trouble, or from self-destructing.

Along with Johnson, the Chiefs have several young running backs on their roster, Kolby Smith, Jamaal Charles, and Dantrell Savage. Kansas City can also draft a running back in this years draft and make Johnson expendable. Larry Johnson is still young, 29, and capable of playing several more years in the NFL, but does Kansas City want to start their new regime with a problem, carryover player? You can't rebuild a team using a broken piece.

Sources:

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=3890718
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3652459&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6363/career;_ylt=Am7RkL3yRp_rQgqwxNg2YwGsOot4
http://www.nfl.com/players/larryjohnson/profile?id=JOH399484