Lewis says LJ would be insurance

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EDIT: 6:28pm @OGOchocinco is reporting from Twitter that LJ IS a Bengal at this time per the OCNN network!

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Marvin Lewis has commented on the possible Larry Johnson signing,

From Bengals.com we have the following

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has told former Chiefs running back Larry Johnson that if the club agrees to sign him it will be purely for insurance purposes, that it won’t affect the status of the other three backs, and he won’t be active for games “initially” as he performs backup duties such as working on the scout team and special teams.

The embattled Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler cut last week amid fans petitioning for his ouster, was expected at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday to meet with Lewis and the offensive coaches.

Lewis, who spoke to Johnson on Thursday, said at his Monday news conference that he talked to No. 1 runner Cedric Benson last week about the possible move. Benson missed the second half of Sunday’s 18-12 win in Pittsburgh with an abductor muscle strain and while Lewis said Benson could play this Sunday, the Bengals are going to handle him conservatively as they get ready for Sunday’s game in Oakland with rookie Bernard Scott and third-down back Brian Leonard as the backups.

“I’m very happy with what they’re doing and their roles,” Lewis said after Scott came off the bench in place of Benson Sunday. “I want to see Bernard’s role continue to expand as it did yesterday. If indeed we chose to bring (Johnson) here his role would be fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this team doing the things backups do and that’s work their tails off in the kicking game, showing looks. He would be an insurance policy in case something would happen down the line to one of our guys. But I couldn’t foresee him being active when he was initially here if that’s what happens.”

Johnson turns 30 on Thursday and lugs a lot of baggage into his Cincinnati visit. The Chiefs cut him last week after they suspended for a game for ripping Kansas City head coach Todd Haley and making a homosexual slur via Twitter. According to the New York Times, last year Johnson was benched for three games by former Chiefs coach Herman Edwards and suspended for an additional game by the NFL following two nightclub incidents. It got so bad in Kansas City that the Chiefs cut him under the heat of a fan petition calling for them to fire him in order to make sure he didn’t break Priest Holmes’ all-time rushing record for the club.

The 6-1, 230-pound Johnson, a first-round pick in 2003 out of Penn State, hasn’t done much since back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons in 2005 and 2006.  He had a foot injury that cost him seven games in 2007 and last year he had a 4.5-yard average on 193 carries in 12 games during a season that was shortened because of his suspensions.

During Johnson’s visit to PBS, the sense was he would have “to win over some people” if the Bengals agreed to sign him. It’s believed he’ll work out for the coaches. Peter Schaffer, Johnson’s agent, said Monday that his client understands Lewis’ plan and “He’s looking to go to a good team. A team that has a chance to go to the Super Bowl. I would think if things continue to go positively something could get worked out.”

The Bengals are known for giving players second chances and given their experience with Benson they are hesitant to go off past reports because Benson has worked out so well after the Bears cut him following two alcohol-related incidents in which he was later absolved. But asked about brining such a volatile personality into the chemistry of a team that is purring at 7-2 above the AFC North, Lewis was careful to say he would not eclipse anyone on the roster.

“The one thing I told Larry is that we would judge him on his future and not his past,” Lewis said. “I told Ced, ‘You could help him with that. You can validate that.’ ”

Along with Benson’s injury, there is some concern about Scott’s sore knee and Leonard is pretty much a third-down back. So there is no backup bell cow back. One non-Johnson option is to sign James Johnson from the practice squad or pursue the UFL’s DeDe Dorsey and go back-by-committee.

Scott is wrapped up in his own deal. It is pretty clear he’s the new kick returner and he thinks he showed enough against the Steelers that he’ll be able to get some more snaps on third down.

“That’s the business part of it,” he said of the possible move with Johnson. “I can’t let that affect how I’m getting myself ready. I have to continue to do what I do.”

Personally I really like this move, what are we going to lose, league minimum player, we set an example by letting him go if he causes problems, and if he is a success we just look great at a very minimal risk, and it sure would be nice to rest Benson during our 3 game easier streak for the next 3 weeks.

let me know your thoughts!

Please keep in mind I already called for more B. Scott  a few weeks ago…

WHO DEY ALL DEY  !!!!