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Larry Johnson: The Washington Redskins approached the offseason differently this year, choosing to not offer gigantic contracts, essentially stepping down from the free agency throne. It seemed like a nice change of pace, but signing Larry Johnson to a three-year deal worth $3.5 million is just confusing. The combination of Johnson and Clinton Portis doesn't make sense to me at all (The Redskins should have cut Portis weeks ago). Head coach Mike Shanahan tends to do wonders with whoever his running back is at the time, but Larry Johnson is just too risky. He hasn't rushed for over 1,000 yards since 2006 and he turns 31 in November. What about him is so appealing to Shanahan? Why take the risk?
Now the Redskins have not just one running back with attitude problems, but two. Johnson has had plenty of issues outside of football and Portis' head has been hit too many times. Even if this combination works out 2010 and the Redskins improve, what happens in the future? Does Shanahan really think this is going to be an efficient duo for multiple years? I just don't see that happening. It was time to cut ties with Portis, but now they are stuck with a troubled running back with a huge ego, and another who is aging with a bad past off of the field.
Ladanian Tomlinson: It's no secret that Ladanian Tomlinson's production has gone downhill since 2006 when he scored 28 rushing touchdowns. In 2006, he averaged 5.2 yards per carry and rushed for 1,815 yards. L.T also had 56 receptions for 508 yards. Now compare that to his 2009 numbers: 3.3 yards per carry, 20 receptions for 154 yards, 12 rushing touchdowns and a career-low 730 rushing yards. That's a statistical plummet. But that's what has been happening as star running backs age - they deteriorate. They reach their prime for two, maybe three years and then that's it.
But that doesn't mean teams shouldn't consider him as a backup. L.T, on the right team, could prove to be useful. The Vikings, Eagles, Saints and Jets have all expressed some interest. L.T as a secondary running back on any of those teams could be a good fit. But it's not like L.T makes any of those teams that much better. Let's say the Saints sign him so they have L.T, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. Yes, that sounds amazing. But would it really make a huge difference with all of the weapons already in New Orleans. No chance. The same goes for the other three teams. Signing L.T is basically saying - "Sure. Why not?"
Willie Parker: It was recently reported that Tampa Bay has no interest in free agent running back Willie Parker. The Redskins seemed interested in Parker last week, but not as much as Larry Johnson. So I started thinking: Why would any team be interested acquiring Parker as a starter? The former Steeler hasn't really been relevant in the NFL since 2007 when he rushed for 1,316 yards, but fractured his right fibula on the first carry of the last game of the season against the St. Louis Rams.
Parker has been extremely inconsistent ever since then. In 2008, he only scored five touchdowns and three of them were in the first game of the season against the Texans. He also missed five games and only rushed for over 100 yards four times in the regular season. He turns 30 in the middle of the 2010 season and he was rarely used in 2009. Since when do running backs get better as they get older? His only real claim to fame was his historical touchdown-run in Super Bowl victory over Seattle. One play. That's it.
It's not like he has a lot of potential anymore. Parker has never been a major impact player. People have always said he will eventually be amazing, but his time ran out. He is a backup at best at this point in his career. Sorry Willie. At least he has two Super Bowl rings.- Michael Klopman
Michael, a Penn State Graduate writes for Xtra Point Football, Around the Horn Baseball, is a contributor to the Bleacher Report and works on the sports page at the Huffington Post.
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