Chiefs laugh off rumor of Burress - Larry Johnson trade

[goldenster95]

Remember one other thing about other rumors that have, for instance, the Bucs and Cowgirls trying to trade for Dillon: as the article notes, the trade deadline passed last October and trading doesn't open up until March 3, 2004.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/7830445.htm

Posted on Fri, Jan. 30, 2004

Chiefs laugh off rumor of Larry Johnson trade to Steelers

By JEFFREY FLANAGAN

Columnist

Apparently there are whispers in the Pittsburgh area that the Chiefs and the Steelers are talking about a trade that would send Chiefs No. 1 pick Larry Johnson to the Steelers for wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

But the rumor has some obvious flaws in terms of theory, not to mention in terms of fact.

“Haven't heard that one at all, and I hear rumors every day,” Chiefs director of public relations Bob Moore said, laughing. “It's ridiculous. There's nothing to it.

“Think about this: When was the last time anyone ever made a player-for-player trade? It just doesn't happen anymore. This isn't like baseball.”

The last notable player-for-player Chiefs trade was in 1998 when the Chiefs traded Vaughn Booker to the Packers for Darius Holland.

“Any type of trade has become rare,” Moore said, “and a player-for-player trade is almost unheard of.”

Remember, too, that the NFL trading deadline passed last October. The new trading period doesn't even begin again until March 3, which coincides with the beginning of free-agency.

Would a Johnson-for-Burress deal even make sense? True, the Steelers may be looking for help at running back with Jerome Bettis getting up in years and Amos Zereoue not exactly proving himself as an every-down back.

But the Steelers passed on Johnson last April when they swapped draft picks with the Chiefs and moved up to No. 16.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, probably would make such a trade in a heartbeat. Burress had a disappointing season last year with 60 catches for 860 yards and four touchdowns. But he had 78 catches for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns the year before. And, at 6 feet 5, Burress remains a scary weapon for defenses to ponder.