League, union need to affirm Chiefs' response to L.J. actions

There's a report out there that a "settlement" is in the works between the Kansas City Chiefs and the agent for disgruntled running back Larry Johnson, but that's not exactly true. It is the NFL Management Council and the players union that are trying to iron out an agreement in lieu of a grievance, with a decision expected soon.

It could happen by the end of the weekend. It could happen by Monday.

Larry Johnson will lose about $600,000 during his two-week suspension. (Getty Images)

At issue, of course, is what the Chiefs did with the recalcitrant Johnson, and what they did was suspend him two weeks' pay and a roster bonus for one game -- or approximately $600,000. That is a stiff price to pay for "conduct detrimental to the club," but it might have behooved Johnson to consider that before making stupid, insubordinate and insensitive comments.

In essence, he insulted his head coach, the gay community and fans everywhere -- which is pretty much how I would define "conduct detrimental to the club." Although here I would expand his offense to "conduct detrimental to society," with Johnson making homophobic slurs at least once and maybe twice.

He later apologized, but by then it was too late. He said what he said, and he had to be punished and punished immediately. Fortunately, the Chiefs acted decisively, severely and appropriately. It's about time someone put Johnson -- as well as players throughout the league -- on notice that this type of behavior cannot and will not be tolerated.

Now it is the Chiefs' action that is under review, with Johnson working through an appeal of his two-week suspension. Here's hoping that whatever is resolved, it sends a message to Johnson and the rest of the league that stupid sits when stupid does.

The Chiefs tried, and no matter what happens here, I believe they succeeded. That Johnson felt it necessary to apologize demonstrates he knows that what he did was wrong. But if he knows, why did he act with such reckless abandon -- allegedly repeating the slur when confronted by reporters a day after taking on the head coach?

I don't know, and maybe Johnson doesn't either. But at least he understands now that what he did will not be tolerated, and it was the Chiefs who drove home the message.

Hopefully, whatever the league and union resolve, Johnson will sit down at least one game. There needs to be zero tolerance for what he said and what he did. Otherwise, a precedent is set where players believe they can behave similarly without serious repercussions.

And that cannot be allowed to happen.

I understand there is a delicate balance here; the league must be careful when member clubs punish players severely. Only this player deserved to be hammered. It's one thing to criticize your head coach. It's another to make homophobic slurs. And it's still another to insult fans who pay your salary. Larry Johnson touched all the bases because he said what he believes. Apparently what he believes is that he can say just about anything, because after all, it's a free country.

Only it's not OK to slur the gay community. And it's not OK to insult fans who pay good money to see him rush for 2.7 yards a carry. And it's not OK to publicly chastise your boss, without fear of reprisal. Football is a team game, and teams generally involve individuals pulling together. This one is pulling alone, and he needs to be reminded that's not how it's done in the NFL.

I don't know what the Chiefs do with Larry Johnson in the future, and I don't care. But I do know that what they did this week was right. They punished him when he dared someone, anyone, to tell him he was wrong. Well, you were wrong, Larry, and bravo for the Chiefs' response. Hopefully, the NFL and the players union will deliver the same message if and when they reach a compromise.