Johnson will lose one check

Being born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and a die hard fan of the Steelers and their management, it's easy to see why the Steelers are who they are and the Chiefs will not be a true contender in the NFL until their management gains some heart.
The Steelers had a running back in the 90s who they initially viewed as a rising star. After the 96 Super Bowl, this RB made some questionable comments and decisions that, while neither illegal nor bigoted, led the Steelers to release him and move on.
The Chiefs have had multiple chances to release LJ and move forward. Instead, they slapped his wrists and hoped he'd change. It's laughable.
I have lived in KC for nine years and while I remain a devout Steeler fan, I pull for the Chiefs to do well. That is, until now. They deserve all of the frustration that goes along with being a losing organization. Until they develop an organizational "code of excellence" that doesn't include allowing a pre-madonna to poison a franchise, a below-average franchise is what they'll remain.
By the way, that RB who the Steelers released back in the 90s did play again in the NFL... for the Chiefs. His name was Bam Morris.

You had better come up with a better comparison than Bam Morris vs LJ. For starters, their contracts aren't even close in comparison. Was Bam *guaranteed* $19 million - and up to $45 million with incentives?! Uh, no.

Stop comparing the players and their words. None of that matters. It's only the money that matters and that's true everywhere - not just in the NFL.

You'll never convince me that it's as easy - FINANCIALLY - to cut LJ as it was Bam friggin' Morris.

You're clueless.

Unless there is more here than meets the eye, this is a very disappointing turn. The overwhelming majority feel this dirtbag sould be cut (aside from 1 or 2 moon-bats). Pioli brings the hammer down on Loser Johnson: TWO stinkin games - one is a bye week. Then they cut THAT lame excuse for punishment in half. Lets save Loser Johnson money on a contract he's ALREADY not earning. Pathetic.
I had hoped Pioli, and by extension, Haley, would run KC like Pioli ran (in part) the Patriots, but this is not the outcome that would have happened in NE. Not close. SteelerFan is right - great teams deal with it quickly, and move on.
Frankly, the slur is stupid more than anything - it's a reflection on just how ignorant Johnson is. And clearly Pioli had not made it clear this type of stupidity won't be tolerated. It's a Loser Johnson thing vs. the media, but certainly reflects very poorly on the organization.
Johnson's dumping all over his coach - humiliating him in a public forum - is inexcusable, and sends a message to the team that the already sinking Haley is a toothless lion. The snickering behind Haley's back by a few, can now be done to his face and by anyone he tries to raise his voice to.

As this mess continues on, I can't help but wonder if this isn't a sign of a much bigger problem: Pioli is unwilling, or does not have the authority to move quickly on critical decisions. Herm dangling in the wind for over a week was the first hint. Not bringing in Haley until most of the other top candidates were off the board is another. This ugly incident is another. Not a good start for our savior...this team is a laughing stock. It's one thing to suck - Tampa, Tenn, Detroit - it's much worse to suck with this level of dysfunction and have the inmates running the asylum - which is what we have.

the LJ story is completely overblown in proportion to what plans they have for him this season. Charles will start in week 9 after their bye, so if he plays well and the chiefs win, he could lead the chiefs in scoring the remainder of the season. Chiefs do need a lift and Charles has done this before in the latter half of the season. Everybody knows the chiefs play well late in the season which makes it difficult to get a first round draft pick. I am thinking of closing my twitter account, since important people are getting into trouble, and control over society and free civil rights are being neglected as shown by the millions of people using twitter we should be happy to expect less and less people wanting to sign up and use the service. Rush Limbaugh gets away with gay bashing on the radio, and why couldn't this be handled by the chiefs themselves without getting the league involved and making a big deal out of some bad words he sad that people say all the time. Why not let Haley post his reply back to Johnson on twitter, and say the heck with it all. Chiefs could try Charles as a starter anyway and start winning more games.

Yes - it sucks that LJ only lost one check because the time off means *nothing* to players - other than a reason to take a break physically. However, hitting them in the pocketbook hurts - no matter how much money you're already making.

With that said, we must take a step back and understand there are collective bargaining issues at work here and I'm sure the Chiefs WOULD NOT have given in had they felt it was possible to keep the fine/penalty in place. The Players Union most certainly would have stepped in and eventually won a similar settlement - if not a better one (for LJ).

So - before you go crazy and demand a new owner, GM & coach, take a deep breath and remember that even the Chiefs must play by the rules whether they like them or not - AND - whether or not the player (LJ in this case) - truly *deserves* the fine he originally received.

Heck - the Union might have even agreed that LJ deserved the fine (based on his history) but there's legal contractual language keeping EVERYONE from going overboard in these types of situations. Whether we like it or not (in situations such as LJ's) the players deserve some amount of protection. Otherwise, owners & GM's would have full control over fine amounts and each of us knows many of them would end up abusing that power.

LJ deserved more (higher penalty) than what he was ever going to get from the beginning! Do you want him setting our favorite franchise's rushing record? Heck no! The fact that he will just plain sucks!

BUT - the end result is the best that could realistically be expected.

You don't know the collective bargaining agreement. I know that if I would have done what LJ did one year ago I would have been fired, let alone what he just did. This is nothing short of cowardice on the part of Hunt, Paoli and Haley. LJ is laughing at them right now and so am I.

You've made the big mistake of comparing your job to that of a professional athlete's. If you're going to discuss this topic - or any other professional sports-related issue for that matter - you need to quit trying to draw comparisons between *anything* you've done (or ever will do) and professional sports. It's like comparing apples to oranges.

The world of professional sports is vastly different than anything you'll *ever* experience. The absolute 100% truth is that professional athletes lead privileged lives that are in NO WAY WHATSOEVER comparable to anything in *our* world. Period.

And - yes - I do know a little bit about the collective bargaining agreement because I have a close long-time best friend since our childhood days who currently plays in the NFL for a different team (not the Chiefs). I spoke with him a couple days after the LJ story broke and he shared a few experiences with me as it relates to a few other athletes who have been fined for detrimental conduct. Admittedly, their fines weren't anywhere near LJ's - but they were still fined. Regardless, the team still had to operate within the guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement.

The bottom line is, shut your mouth and quit making statements based solely on emotion and a false belief that your life in some small way even closely relates to that of a professional athlete. It's better to keep your mouth shut and be perceived as a complete idiot than to open it and remove all doubt.

My how intelligent you sould. What dispassionate debate. Well how about:

The Hunts have make BILLIONS off the Kansas City Chiefs. What have they done in return, nothing since the '70s.

Pioli, 4 time Ex of year, would not or COULD not get a free agent to come to the Chiefs if he was offering girls.

Haley is a golf coach?, really, His lack of control during games would indicate it is not so.

Pioli/Haley may be the finest GM/HC in football BUT together they have no history of REBUILDING a crap team. But many fans get on their knees to say "give them time".

Pioli's draft was a joke, And if you have watched any football you can see Jackson et al would be adequate on a decent team but a bottom feeder team, it is a joke.

Our beloved "once proud" Chiefs are a JOKE in the NFL. ESPN, the NFL, and some Jackson Countians know it. It is all about the money, as long as the Hunt get their cash the team stays in KC. When we finally get fed up they will move on and some other city will get to watch their home team wear dallas unis.