Redskins Sign Larry Johnson

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

Ok. So you listed 6 of the best runningbacks who have ever played. At least 2, if not 3 or 4 are hall of famers.

Hall of Famers typically do things that are unusual.

That would be like me saying, "Hey, there are plenty of 30 year old wide receivers who dominated the league" and listing Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Terrell Owens & Andre Reed.

I mean you're right, but not quite right also because Johnson could well be headed to the HOF...so yeah I'd expect him to be unusual.

[dirtythirty]

Im not saying LJ is the best running back ever. I dont think one of those guys is a top ten best running back that has ever played besides Emmit. Guys like Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Marshal Fault, Erik Dickerson are top 10 backs......... I am just saying I hope he proves you haters wrong. I dont agree with the statement that once a runningback hit 30 his career is over. Those are just some guys who show age doesnt matter. Talk to me next year after protis gets hut and LJ carries the weight better than any of our backups have done in years. Oh and there are plent of more wr over 30 that have had very productive seasons...

[ethat001]

To be a running back you need three things, in this order:
1) An offensive line.
2) Talent.
3) A passing game.

As your talent goes away (ie. after 29-30 years old), you need a good offensive line (and passing game) to help keep punching out yards. If you look back at those older RB's you listed above - most of them had fantastic offensive lines and decent passing offenses. We don't have either. (I'm still rooting for him though..)

[SirClintonPortis]

People always ignore the fact Johnson only has 1421 carries.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I mean you're right, but not quite right also because Johnson could well be headed to the HOF...so yeah I'd expect him to be unusual.

Larry isn't going to make it to the HOF. Portis has a much better resume than him and I think Clinton is a huge longshot right now.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by dirtythirty

Im not saying LJ is the best running back ever. I dont think one of those guys is a top ten best running back that has ever played besides Emmit. Guys like Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Marshal Fault, Erik Dickerson are top 10 backs......... I am just saying I hope he proves you haters wrong. I dont agree with the statement that once a runningback hit 30 his career is over. Those are just some guys who show age doesnt matter. Talk to me next year after protis gets hut and LJ carries the weight better than any of our backups have done in years. Oh and there are plent of more wr over 30 that have had very productive seasons...

Martin and Bettis are 4th and 5th all time respectively. I could see you saying that they aren't top 5 all time but how do you leave them out of the top 10?

Don't group me as a "hater", I have been for the LJ signing as soon as it happened. You can disagree, with it but the statistics are pretty clear cut for 30 year old rushers.

I know that there are plenty of 30 year old receivers who have been productive. You missed my point. You gave 6 examples of runningbacks who had a good season at 30 or older. One is the all time leading rusher in the league and two of the others are in the top 5 of ALL TIME.

IMO, I think that LJ will be a good back for us. I am not sure he will ever go into a season as our starter.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

Larry isn't going to make it to the HOF. Portis has a much better resume than him and I think Clinton is a huge longshot right now.

Unless he copies off Riggo. Have monster years after a "downtime" and have huge SB performance, but what are the chances of that happening?
He has had fewer carries than Riggo at around this stage of their careers though.

Shanahan keeps his RB carries low as well. Portis never topped 300 carries during his time in Denver.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

I can't find anything on Larry Sr. playing for us. The closest thing I can find is Dennis Johnson playing during that time period at DT from Delaware. It's funny that LJ mentions going to the stadium and seeing Gary Clark etc. but makes no mention of his father playing for the Redskins. I think someone is mistaken about his dad playing for us.

I'm curious as to how that story got circulated because I think it's a mistake as well. I even checked the Redskins data-base which list all of the players in Redskin history, there's a Larry Johnson listed there but a 1933 player, thus Larry Sr. would be eliminated. I wonder where Wikipedia got it's information from.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

I'm curious as to how that story got circulated because I think it's a mistake as well. I even checked the Redskins data-base which list all of the players in Redskin history, there's a Larry Johnson listed there but a 1933 player, thus Larry Sr. would be eliminated. I wonder where Wikipedia got it's information from.

It's from Larry Sr.'s Penn State coaching bio. Wikipedia footnotes the link. Seems like Larry Sr. has some explaining to do.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

We should have signed that guy!

Chester Taylor is 29 I believe and he got a 5 yr 25 million dollar contract and he did not start last season.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by Coff

This guy has made a career out of beating up women. I'm sorry, but I'd rather the Skins lose than win games with a-hole thugs like this.

We already have lost games, remember 4-12. I guess you are ok with losing huh?

[Skins4L]

We can use LJ... hell pound the hell out of the rock.
Hes a true power runner... but this wasnt my ideal pickup.

LJs 31... yep...Older than CP for all you Clinton haters so happy with the pickup.

I dont see this being a long term fit.

[12thMan]

Not to nitpick, but I guess I will anyway. LJ is a couple of months younger than Chester Peterson-Taylor who won't be playing behind one of the best offensive lines for the first time in a long time.

It will be interesting to see what Chester Peterson-Taylor will do in Chicago now that he's not playing behind one of the best, if not the very best, offensive line in all of football. He just never struck me as an every down back, but the Bears sure ponied up every down cash for him. We'll see I suppose.

I guess we can go ahead and re-title this thread, "Let's Nitpick About Larry Johnson Until Training Camp Starts" thread. I'm game.

On a side note, it's mind boggling that John Riggins finished his career with 2,916 carries. I guess they don't make them like they used to.

[BleedBurgundy]

i really don't like this move. I'd prefer to go younger in the draft. I'm concerned Shanahan is remember LJ from when he was ripping up the AFC West 4 years ago, and letting that cloud his evaluation of who he is today.

[Mechanix544]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

Martin and Bettis are 4th and 5th all time respectively. I could see you saying that they aren't top 5 all time but how do you leave them out of the top 10?

Don't group me as a "hater", I have been for the LJ signing as soon as it happened. You can disagree, with it but the statistics are pretty clear cut for 30 year old rushers.

I know that there are plenty of 30 year old receivers who have been productive. You missed my point. You gave 6 examples of runningbacks who had a good season at 30 or older. One is the all time leading rusher in the league and two of the others are in the top 5 of ALL TIME.

IMO, I think that LJ will be a good back for us. I am not sure he will ever go into a season as our starter.

Sorry dude. I had to call you on this. Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis the 4th and 5th best RB of all time. Tell Ewan Macgregor to take the needle out of your arm, and no, babies cannot crawl upside down on ceilings.

Uhhhhhhhh......Sanders, Smith, Dickerson, Payton, Campbell, Brown, marcus Allen, Craig, Peterson, Tomlinson, OJ, Gale Sayers, Bo Jackson.......All of these guys I am sorry are better RB's than the two u mentioned. I know this thread isnt a who is the best of all time thread, but I had to make a rebuttle post when I saw that hazardous waste on the board.

Seriously, Martin and Bettis. I dont think Ive laughed so hard in my life.

Bettis was a very good back, but not even top 12 all time.