Johnson, Chiefs work out five-year contract extension

Litez0ut · Aug 21, 2007

Johnson, Chiefs work out five-year contract extension

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Larry Johnson ended his 25-day holdout Tuesday morning by finalizing a five-year extension that will keep him with the Chiefs through 2012.

Johnson's contract is worth $45 million, with $19 million guaranteed. Of the guaranteed money, $12 million is the signing bonus and $7 million is guaranteed salary.

Both sides were working on the deal Monday night. The final holdup was the payout over the first three years of the contract. Once that was resolved, Johnson decided to report and accept the Chiefs' proposal.

Johnson reported to the practice field late Tuesday morning, put on his helmet and was ready for duty.

It was a tough situation for the Chiefs and Johnson. He turns 28 years old this fall. Because of that, Johnson didn't want to play out the final year of his current deal and be in a position in which the Chiefs could make him their franchise player in 2008. Had that happened, it would have been hard for Johnson to get a big-money contract, since running backs nearing the age of 30 tend to not get big deals.

For weeks, both sides had been chipping away and getting closer, but it was not close enough for Johnson to get the deal done in time to report to River Falls, Wis., where the Chiefs conducted their training camp. Camp broke last week and the team returned to Kansas City.

By reporting and getting his new contract, Johnson has two possible games to polish his timing for the start of the regular season. He had an NFL-record 416 carries last season, and even though the team is expected to lighten the load this year, Johnson is considered the workhorse of the offense.
Click to expand...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2984649

bandi · Aug 21, 2007

I knew it would get done, but it's about time!

DaBearsrule4ever · Aug 21, 2007

I knew it would get done too. It was just a matter of when it would get done.

bandi · Aug 21, 2007

I'm glad it was sooner rather than later.

truelife · Aug 22, 2007

i never thought it was a matter of if they would extend his contracr more of how long and how much. he definetly deserves it

Garnett · Aug 22, 2007

He's earned the extension with his play on the field. Hopefully he'll be smart with the 19 million in gauranteed money. That's the most important aspect of any NFL contract for the players. I heard someone reporting on ESPN this morning that the holdout may have helped him because his body doesn't have to take the extra hits from the past 3-4 weeks.

bandi · Aug 23, 2007

Garnett said: ↑

He's earned the extension with his play on the field. Hopefully he'll be smart with the 19 million in gauranteed money. That's the most important aspect of any NFL contract for the players. I heard someone reporting on ESPN this morning that the holdout may have helped him because his body doesn't have to take the extra hits from the past 3-4 weeks.
Click to expand...

Aw...he just wanted to miss training camp. That's about it.

Log in or Sign up

Johnson, Chiefs work out five-year contract extension

Litez0ut Litez0ut Sucka

bandi Hall Of Famer

DaBearsrule4ever Hall Of Famer

bandi Hall Of Famer

truelife 6-0 is our goal

Garnett Gritt Tuff

bandi Hall Of Famer

Log in or Sign up

Johnson, Chiefs work out five-year contract extension

Litez0ut Litez0ut Sucka

bandi Hall Of Famer

DaBearsrule4ever Hall Of Famer

bandi Hall Of Famer

truelife 6-0 is our goal

Garnett Gritt Tuff

bandi Hall Of Famer

Useful Searches