ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

Johnson

I asked Chiefs fans to sound off on Larry Johnson and what they want the Chiefs to do about the troubled star running back. Here is a sampling of the responses:

Sonny from Abilene TX: Bill, I've been a Chiefs fan for a long time. I've been with them throught thick and thin. Right now we're seeing the thin with Larry Johnson. The Chiefs need to stick with him. He has always seemed like a great team player and he just needs a little time to get his act together. I'd like to see the Chiefs go after a solid RB in the draft a la what we did with Priest Holmes and LJ. Johnson will get his act together, he just needs a little time and a little faith. GO CHIEFS!!

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Nate from Colorado Springs: I believe the Chiefs should just part ways with LJ. The Chiefs need to take a stand as a proud organization and put their foot down. We have two quality backs with Kolby Smith and Jamaal Charles that will make the transition easier. There is no doubt those two are no LJ but they also don't come with his price tag either. Trade him after this year who cares what the Chiefs get in return for him that money will allow them to get some very good linemen to sprinkle in with the young guys. One last point is the Chiefs don't want a team plagued with bad morale and attitude where it gets out of control ex: (Bengals).

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James, KC fan far from home: Bill, it is pretty simple for me... The Chiefs need to keep LJ going forward. He is still a great back when he feels the team has a chance. Is his attitude good for the team? Who knows but that is what a coach is for. If the Chiefs were strapped for cash I would say go ahead and try and get a 2nd and a later rounder for him. But what kind of talent could you get if you traded him for a mid 3rd rounder? LJ had 2 things going against him historically. 1. The huge payday for an NFL running back. 2. He was coming off a foot injury. Both of those make a RB timid in the following year. Once the team develops a QB (whoever it is) then teams will stop putting 8 or 9 in the box. All the people who think that K.Smith (2.2 ypc) is the answer are crazy. J. Charles is a great 3rd down back but will never be a starter in the NFL. LJ should be suspended by the NFL for a total of 4 games (2 he already has and 2 more)

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Tim from Pittsburg, KS: As a very loyal and patient Chiefs fan, I am not sure what the Chiefs should do with Johnson. His apology did seem to be somewhat sincere. If the Chiefs believe that he has truly changed, then I think they should give him another chance. If not, they should just cut him loose and take their losses. One thing about LJ, if he doesn't get many good runs early, in my opinion, he seems to get frustrated and starts acting like a baby and not trying hard. He needs to change his attitude completely, on and off the field. I say, if the guy does that, the Chiefs should give him another shot.

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Jordan from Kansas City: I think LJ should have been gone after his second 1700 yard season. The Chiefs should have traded him when he was holding out. Yet they traded there best defensive player in Jared Allen. So far, it hasn't payed off. I think they should trade Larry in the offseason for whatever they can get. If they can't trade him then they should keep him because of his garunteed contract.

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Carl from Rochester: Well it's a moot point really. It'll be to hard to move Johnson's contract with his off the field problems, so the Chiefs are stuck with him until his contract runs out. All the Chiefs can do is hope that a suspension will clean his act up.

Thanks again for all of your responses.