Larry Johnson, We Hardly Knew You: Former Pro Bowler Cut by Washington Redskins

Yesterday evening the Washington Redskins cut ties with backup running back Larry Johnson.

The move was met with mixed opinion on local sports talk radio.

Chad Dukes, co-host of The LaVar Arrington Show with Chad Dukes on 106.7 The Fan, was probably the most vocal about this move.

His best point was if the team was going to cut Larry Johnson after two weeks, then why didn't they just keep Rock Cartwright around?

After all, with Cartwright you at least get special teams production.

At the same time, why didn't they just cut Johnson in favor of Ryan Torain three Saturdays ago?

However, where I agree with Chad about Rock, I also agree with competing radio show host Andy Pollen of The Sports Reporters of ESPN Radio 980 in that I'm glad the team made the move if they felt that LJ wasn't performing.

After all, this is the same franchise that kept Antwaan Randle El on the roster probably four seasons too long.

For years it's been a franchise that seemed it would rather lose than admit it made a mistake drafting a guy or signing a bust in the offseason.

It is refreshing to see coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen admit their mistake with Johnson and move on.

Pollen also suggested that maybe Johnson did his job, which was to make Clinton Portis show up to OTAs and training camp in football shape (which he hasn't done in at least three seasons), and after that the team didn't need him anymore.

Pollen's co-host on The Sports Reporters raised an interesting question.

He asked if the team was so quick to dump Johnson, who at least played in Week 2, then why was Albert Haynesworth still on the roster?

My thought is that the team still hopes to trade Haynesworth, whether it be this season or in the offseason, so they can at least get something for him. 

Johnson had no trade value, and since the team only paid him $300,000, there wasn't much of a hit, unlike paying Haynesworth $35 million already.

Both shows raised good points: Dukes' about bringing in LJ (along with Willie Parker) in the first place and Pollen's about getting rid of dead weight, unlike in the past.

In the end the move doesn't bug me one bit. This team isn't ready for the Super Bowl yet, so cutting an out of gas backup running back after Week 2 doesn't set off any panic alarms (though keeping Rock would have made more sense). 

It's just one of those things to talk about in the long week in between games (especially after a loss). By Sunday we'll have forgotten about it, especially if the running game gets going in St. Louis.

Until next time, loyal reader, go Skins, and follow me on Twitter (@jomac006).