Larry Johnson Working On Appeal, Settlement With Chiefs

The situation regarding Larry Johnson and the Chiefs remains murky. The Kansas City Star reports that Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, is preparing an appeal of Johnson’s two-week suspension. Additionally, Schaffer and the team are working on a settlement.

While Schaffer did not elaborate on the nature of the proposed settlement, it seems likely it would be a buyout of some sort. Johnson’s salary this year is guaranteed, so if the Chiefs do release him, they will owe him roughly $2.6 million for the remainder of the season. A buyout would obviously lessen the financial hit on the team, while giving Johnson the freedom to ply his services elsewhere. Whether any other teams would be interested in Johnson is less clear. Granted, the Chiefs’ offensive line has been putrid, but he is in the middle of the worst season an NFL running back has ever had.