By John Pappas
Warpath Confidential Editor
On the eighth day of free agency, the Redskins finally signed a player the average fan has heard of in running back Larry Johnson. Unconfirmed reports are the deal is for three years and has a maximum value of $12 million.
Johnson was a dominant rusher in his prime, amassing 3,539 yards over two seasons (2005-2006), and appearing in two Pro Bowls during the same time. He was also named an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro in 2006.
Since then however, Johnson’s production has fallen off due to injuries and other factors. He has not rushed for 1,000 yards or better since 2006, and has not scored a rushing touchdown since 2007. An older back who was once great, Johnson hopes to stay healthy in order to show he can still be productive.
Sort of like a guy the Redskins already have in Clinton Portis. In fact, in some ways the two are pretty similar.
Johnson is older (30) than incumbent Portis (28). However, Johnson has less career carries than does Portis (1,421 compared to 2,176). He also has fewer yards (6,219 compared to 9,696). But his per carry average rivals Portis at 4.4 compared to 4.5. And despite being older than Portis, Johnson has played one year less in the league.
Johnson is known to be somewhat of a primadonna, ala Portis. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic is going to work in the locker room. Both have similar running styles, so it is impossible to say which will be the feature back in the offense, or what the role of each is expected to be.
And though no-one is saying it, one has to ask; does signing Johnson to a multi-year deal for this kind of money say something about the future of Portis in Washington? Head coach Mike Shanahan got rid of Portis when Portis was in his prime. And since being reunited with Portis, Shanahan has made clear numerous times that Portis needs to do a better job working out in the offseason.
But it is difficult to believe the team would release Portis because an even older back with less career production is here. At the same time, having two running backs with the same style doesn’t seem to make much sense, unless the purpose is to extend the shelf-life of both, or keep one and draft a back in April.
One thing is certain; the heat just got turned up on Portis. He no longer holds the high running back perch by default, and will have to earn his starting spot this year.
The competition begins Monday with the start of offseason conditioning.
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