May 28th 2008 5:48PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Chiefs, AFC West
I applaud Herm Edwards for his willingness to make adjustments, a quality Scott McClellan’s previous boss apparently didn’t possess (according to Scott McClellan).

After Edwards ran Larry Johnson into the ground in 2006 — 416 carries (FOUR-HUNDRED SIXTEEN!) followed by the predictable injury in 2007 — the Chiefs’ head coach plans on lightening Johnson’s load this season. Edwards is sold on the protection order, regardless of the fact that dominant veteran players typically want to forcefully reassert themselves when returning from an injury. It’s worth noting that Johnson didn’t always share the backfield with Priest Holmes with absolute aplomb. And now he’s got a situation where the team has drafted a player in Charles who could be his eventual successor.

As it stands, the two are on great terms, with Johnson urging the team to put Charles’ locker next to his. But when the real games start, and Johnson is looking to lay claim to himself being the same player he was in 2005 and 2006, what happens if Johnson blanches at the thought of surrendering the “10-12 carries” Edwards has planned for Charles?Continue Reading