Looks like Bill Belichik might be willing to take over the diaper-changing duties for embittered and waived former Kansas City Chiefs running back, Larry Johnson.  Forced upon Dick Vermeil as the 27th pick in the 2003 draft, the former Penn State star got figured out immediately by the seasoned Vermeil who suggested that it was time for Johnson to "take the diapers off."

LJ is just one of those players who seems to prevent his teammates from rising higher.  Despite Johnson's big numbers in 2005 and 2006, his team never made it past the first round of the playoffs.  He lugged the oblate spheroid 426 times in 2006, an NFL record, rolling up 1789 yards.  When faced with the undersized Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2006 playoffs, LJ was clearly run-down and mustered a meager 30 yards on 13 carries.  Johnson was single-handledly responsible for restoring the confidence of that Colts defense, which had been regularly maligned for being among the worst teams against the run in the 2006 regular season.   The Colts went on to win the Super Bowl.

Except for a few games in 2007, Johnson has never been an effective rushing threat again.  In one of the worst re-signings in recent memory, Kansas City management chose to make LJ the highest paid running back in the NFL.  What they have gotten in return is an easily injured player with a proclivity for off-the -field stupidity combined with that brooding, me-first attitude Dick Vermeil got to know and failed to love.  LJ was arrested four times since 2003.

His gay-bashing tweets to fans responding to his own tweeted criticism of the Chief's coaching staff finally got him suspended, fined and finally put on waivers.   The tweets were more remarkable for their ignorance and inability to construct a simple sentence than they were for their criticism.  After all, Johnson actually graduated with a degree in Interactive Arts from Penn State.  I was unable to find the curiculum for this obviously less-than-intensive course of study, but you can bet that there weren't any English courses required.  Here's a sample of LJ's tweeted brainstorms:

"My father got more creditentials (sic) than most of these pro coaches."

"My father played for the coach from rememeber the titans...My father played for the redskins briefley (sic).  Our coach Nuthn."

Punctuating this erudtion with name-calling directed at the sexual orientation of fans finally forced the Chiefs to bite the bullet and waive the troublemaking malingerer.  Johnson will leave the team just 75 yards short of the Chiefs all-time rushing record held by Priest Holmes.  Fans were said to be the driving force behind brooming Johnson before he could break the record.

While its not surprising that an overpaid, thuggish athlete with too much self-love would incinerate his career, what is truly startling is the suggestion that the Patriots are interested in giving Johnson a work-out and interview.  If the rumors regarding Belichik's interest are true, it speaks volumes about the coach's lack of faith in his less-than effective rushing corps.

While the Patriots seem to have successfully resurrected the mind-set of former trouble-magnet, Randy Moss, adding another head case is asking for cacaphony.  Guys like T.O. and Pacman Jones are bad enough on their own, but team them up with additional malcontents and the cancer develops within team chemistry in Malthusean proportions.

Considering that the only real challenge left in the regular season for the Hate-riots is with the Steelers coming to Foxborough this weekend,  a New England victory will have the Chowderheads and ESPN home-boys declaring their Pats the Team of the Century.  This league is all about momentum and putting together a streak at the right time.  Mighty tough early,  New England looks slow and relatively ineffective lately.  What will a 16-0 regular season get them if they are knocked off by the Jaguars in the playoffs?  Or the Colts again? Professional sports most painful asterisk?

Note to NFL Announcers:  there is no such thing as a Jag-Wire.

 Why is it that the most physical teams in the NFL are the biggest crybabies?  I thought the whining from Jack Del Rio and his assortment of thugs was irritating until I heard the self-immolating old-timers from Baltimore start to blame their loss on everything and everyone but themselves.  Ever heard of winning and losing like a Man?

Speaking of ESPN: what a shame that this brilliant creation has devolved into Chris Berhman and his Boston neighbors shamelessly plugging the local teams while Monday Night finds Tony Kornheiser infuriating  every male over the age of 8 by shuttling has-beens and wanna-be's on camera right in the middle of the game.  Rumor has it , Tiger Woods text-messaged Charles Barkley while being interviewed by Kornheiser with the note"  "Shut up so we can watch the game~!" 

Anybody seen Randy Moss?  Has the league figured how to stop him?  His numbers are awfully  puny lately-9 catches for 77 yards in two weeks.  Journeyman numbers at best.

This week's Mensa candidates:  1.) Duante Culpepper for blowing out his groin in a footrace.  He wanted to prove he was still fast. Well he proved something-he's real dumb and probalby done in the NFL.  2.)  Reggie Williams for the block in Ty-juan Hagler's back after the whistle with Maurice Drew-Jones rushing for a first down at the  Colts 7. Jags settle for a field goal and the Colts win by 3.  Thank you Reggie!  and 3.)  Joe Gibbs calling 2 time outs in a row and giving Josh Scobee 15 fewer yards to kick for the winning field goal.  Did Joe think it was a pit stop or that they were running under a yellow?

Whatever happened to all the hype about Vince Young?  Apparently to be a successful quarterback in this league you have to learn how to PASS the ball.  Note to NFL Scouts and draft staffs:  every college quarterback that is going to be the next Michael Vick or Randall Cunningham or Vince Young is still going to be unable to become a Super Bowl winning quarterback.  Find a guy who can stay in the pocket and find his receivers and you have a shot at the big prize: no matter how talented an athlete your wishbone quarterback was at Stud State, he ain't gonna make it running the football in the NFL.

There has been some rumbling from down under in the weak-sister NFC this year, what with the Cowboys and the Packers playing effective football against their softer slates.  Favre has been a great story but his body is breaking down and Romo has all the glam and glitz and T.O. is actually acting like a citizen.  What is the under on T.O. making it a full season without a melt-down?  I would like to place my bet. 

Is anyone giving Jon Gruden the kudos he deserves for the 3 ring quarterback audition he ran in the pre-season?  Looks pretty smart today.

Will the Lions ever get it together?  Kitna has made a valiant effort but he gets no protection and his body is breaking down too.  Whatever else the Lions do this post-season, they need to develop a young, franchise quarterback and put together an offensive line to protect him and help him grow.  (I know, it's easier said than done.) The amazing job Howard Mudd has done with the broken and patched together Colts offensive line is proof that it isn't just about personnel.   You can scheme and coach your way into an acceptable protection scheme.

Steelers 19, Patriots 18 in a muckfest.