A lot of people are over analyzing the Larry Johnson signing. The Dolphins are kicking the tires on Johnson, simple as that. The signing has NOTHING to do with Daniel Thomas or his progess. They have added a veteran who is idolized by Daniel Thomas who can teach the young rook a couple tricks, mentor Thomas & add depth to the runningback position if all goes well. The Dolphins knew about Johnson because the runningback not only lives in South Florida, but is very good friends with Jared Ordick.
Odrick is close to the Johnson family. How close? Larry Johnson Sr., was Odrick's Dline Coach at Penn State. Odrick & Larry Johnson have been working out all offseason and the Fins were well aware of it and the shape Johnson was in. Johnson is said to be in excellent shape and weigh in today at 225.
The Dolphins first brought Johnson for a workout when the news of Tiki Barber was reported. The Dolphins worked out two RBs that day, Tiki & Johnson. If Larry Johnson impresses in the next two preseason games he is expected to make the team. The Dolphins have kept 4 RBs the last three years on their roster and Johnson could find himself a spot on the roster if all goes well. Johnson has 2 weeks and several practices to make a return to the NFL.
Reason Sheets was cut
The truth is the Dolphins gave Kory every opportunity possible, they really hoped they had something in him. It was not only his lackluster play that got him cut. The guy was said to be a primadonna, he was more interested in extra curricular activities than football. Sheets did not get cut just cause of his play alone. As someone in the know told me he had potential, but his mind is not in the game.
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Califin, bigbucks24, Boik14 and 31 others like this.
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Sad but true about Sheets, there was a time when virtually every tweet was about getting laid and it got so tiresome I just dropped him, something tells me he is not the sharpest tool in the drawer.
As for the Johnson, he has an opportunity, that is it, what he makes of it is up to him. -
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Again, there is no downside in this situation. IF LJ doesn't produce he's gone and the Dolphins are out nothing. However, if he does produce and produces anything close to what he did a few years back then what a steal. If the latter comes to fruition this will be another one of Ireland's "turd to gold" pick-ups.
steveincolorado likes this. -
Great info, thanks.
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Thank you, feel free to follow me on Twitter @Robi2184 as I am constantly posting Fins news
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Contradictory. If this has nothing to do with Daniel Thomas, why are you listing potential benefits to Thomas?
I'm pretty sure they knew about Larry Johnson based on his career performance, not because a backup DE has a family friend. While it's interesting to hear about that connection, the only family ties Jeff Ireland is worried about is whether or not there are whores on the family tree.Larryfinfan, schmolioot and unifiedtheory like this. -
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Kory sheets got cut for the same reasons he couldnt make it past the practice squad in S.F.. He had a tremendous amout of difficulty learnig the playbook and blocking assignments. Dont ask how i know, i just do.
bigbucks24, Boik14, Frumundah Finnatic and 20 others like this. -
So Odrick needed a friend and Thomas needs a hero?
Frumundah Finnatic, Ophinerated, unluckyluciano and 2 others like this. -
225 is on the lighter side for him which is encouraging
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It appears you are compelled to just belittle his post, since you include little more than just snippets taken out of context. Are fans going to make jokes about whores in the family for every new player Ireland talks to from now till forever? The humor died out along with the originality over a year ago. I notice this bit of info missing:
It was more than just LJ Sr being Odrick's position coach at PSU. That the two of them were working out together is important too. As they keep apprised of Odrick's getting back in shape, they are made aware of Johnson's working out and being in great shape too. It would a much different scenario if Johnson had been living and working out somewhere like Fargo, North Dakota.Califin, bigbucks24, gandalfin and 13 others like this. -
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They definately have to hedge their bet on Thomas at this point. That's just good business.
I'm not so sure he is going to be a backup DE. The dude is a freak. -
I didn't take anything out of context, nor am I belittling the post or poster. I disagree with the conclusion. Jared Odrick is not the reason why Larry Johnson is on this team. The connection is interesting but not very relevant. (By the way, why isn't anyone pointing out we fired LJ's old RB coach at the end of last season? That's just as tangible a connection.)
Yes. Just as Joe Namath is always known for his Super Bowl guarantee, Jeff Ireland will always be known as the guy who asks about whores.NaboCane and schmolioot like this. -
Larry Johnson's greatest impediment to success is that he's a world-class ******* and manbaby. If Jared Odrick's presence is a good influence and keeps him working hard and out of trouble, it's very much a positive factor.djphinfan likes this.
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I suspect the NFL telling him he was not good enough to play on a single team for an entire season is much more of a factor Disgustipate, the Odie connection is nice I guess, but a players' pride is a far larger factor imo.
An athlete who is staring at the career abyss should have all of the motivation they need. -
Positive factor, sure. But the reason he's here? Huge leap, IMO.
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Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member
So much for Padre's boy. Several were expecting this guy to pan out and be a key cog for the Dolphins. The fact is he is like a hundred other RB's who flash talent here and there against lesser competition but struggle at the top. This is why a team can't "rely" on free agents (no matter how flashy they look) or late round picks. Sure, an occasional gem emerges. But, for the most part, relying on a player like this is fools gold. They are bottom of the roster guys and only a few hold on for a few years. Even fewer generate significant productivity. A team does need to hit on a few of these but they are generally rare.
If Bush goes down to injury the Dolphins are going to have the slowest backfield in the NFL. This is why they needed to land another speed back at RB - even with the Bush acquisition. And, the fact is, they still had the cap room to get a player like Bradshaw or even lesser guys with speed potential.
I like the Bush addition but he hasn't really been physically reliable for an entire season. So, it is slow, slow, slow with LJ and the rook. -
We can't be sure right now, but LJ in the past was never considered "slow", much less "three slows" slow...lol....His 40 at the combine was nothing spectacular if I remember correctly, but the guy has very good pull away speed.unluckyluciano likes this.
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I agree, shouldn't we all understand and be excited about that paragraph you wrote, I sure as hell am?..Jared Odrick was voted team captain and big ten player of the year at penn state..If your a coach you listen to your top players and you build trust, if Odrick with his character, vouches for the former Penn State player Johnson, and the coach knows that the two have become best friends, and working out like crazy together showing committment to the craft, than as a coach, if there is a position of need on your team and you get that endorsement about a former first round pick, you make the move..
The man is at 225..With what is available, to finish out the rebuilding of this unit, we might just have made a very good move, there are some variables in place that are favorable..MrClean likes this. -
Nah, this is the beauty of the UDFA, they are totally expendable, just keep churning until you can find a couple who can contribute.
Ditto the vet FA's like Johnson and Colombo, if they flame out...so what? -
dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member
Fargo is 3 hours straight south from me ...of course there is a border to deal with ! -
The connection is simple.
Stephen Ross > Michigan > BIG TEN > Penn State > Larry Johnson