Kansas City
Chiefs

Later Monday, coach Todd Haley didn't add much detail about the decision.

"Over the last two weeks, Scott (Pioli) and I expended a lot of time and energy, along with Clark Hunt in talking about this and trying to figure out the direction we wanted to go," said Haley. "We decided it was in the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs organization to move forward at this time."

Haley went on to say it was the totality of Johnson's time with the Chiefs that led to his release, not a single incident. The coach said a decision was not made on Johnson's status until early Monday morning.

From the very start, Johnson was unhappy in Kansas City. On Draft Day 2003, he expected to be selected by the Steelers late in the first round. Johnson has never explained why he felt that way, but when the Steelers traded up with the Chiefs during the draft and then selected Southern Cal safety Troy Polamalu, Johnson was heartbroken. Drafting in the Steelers' slot with the 27th pick after the trade, the Chiefs selected Johnson.

There was a dispute even with the selection, as then-coach Dick Vermeil wanted a defensive player, Colorado defensive end/linebacker Tyler Brayton. General manager Carl Peterson wanted Johnson for several reasons. One was the late 2002 hip injury suffered by Priest Holmes; at the time of the draft, the Chiefs thought Holmes would recover, but Peterson wanted to protect his offense. A second major reason is that Peterson always liked Penn State players because he felt Joe Paterno's program was so well-run.

Holmes did recover from his hip injury and had a big year in 2003; Johnson rode the bench. When the Chiefs played Indianapolis in the '03 playoffs, Johnson was a healthy game-day inactive. When Holmes suffered a knee injury in the second half of the 2004 season, Johnson had an opportunity. Vermeil said it was time for Johnson to "take off the diaper" and step into the feature back role. That diaper comment would haunt both Vermeil and Johnson for several years.

Given the chance to play, Johnson was one of the NFL's busiest and most productive running backs for two-plus seasons. In 37 games, he ran for 4,037 yards on 851 carries and 45 rushing touchdowns. In the 2006 season, he set an NFL record with 416 carries.

But since a foot injury in the 2007 season, Johnson has struggled. He missed the second half of the '07 schedule. Then he ran into problems with head coach Herm Edwards in 2008 and was told to stay home for three weeks. He was also suspended for one week by the NFL for being involved in two alleged assaults involving women in Kansas City bars. At the end of the '08 season, Johnson said publicly he wanted out.

Then came the major changes with the Chiefs organization, and Johnson tried hard to fit in. But after an Oct. 25 loss to San Diego, Johnson used his Twitter account to question the credentials of Haley, and he also insulted some fans with the use of a gay slur, something he also used the next day to a group of reporters in the Chiefs locker room.

That earned him his two-week, one-game-check suspension that ended Monday with his release.

Johnson wasn't talking, but his agent Peter Schaffer did speak. "A part of him is excited, and a part of him is very regretful," Schaffer said of his client. "There's a lot of feelings going on right now."

Johnson carried the ball 132 times this season but averaged only 2.7 yards per carry, gaining 358 yards.

--In the past four years, the Chiefs have sent seven different players to the Pro Bowl (2005-08 seasons). Only one remains with the team: guard Brian Waters.

The Chiefs traded defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota in '08, traded tight end Tony Gonzalez earlier this year, saw quarterback Trent Green sign with Miami, watched left tackle Willie Roaf and right guard Will Shields retire and released running back Larry Johnson.

--C Rudy Niswanger was just two weeks removed from spraining the MCL in his left knee, but he played the entire game against Jacksonville and held up pretty well both in his performance and physically. Niswanger was helped a bit when the Jaguars opened in a 4-3 defense instead of the 3-4 they had used the week before.

--FS Jon McGraw continues to try to rebound from a muscle strain in one of his thighs. McGraw did not dress for the Jacksonville game, but the Chiefs hope to have him back on the practice field this week in preparation for their trip to Oakland.

--DE Tyson Jackson had the best game of his rookie season against Jacksonville. Jackson has been spending time before and after practice working with former NFL defensive end Anthony Pleasant, and that extra effort appears to be paying off. He was credited with seven tackles against the Jaguars.

--G Andy Alleman filled in for Mike Goff on the right side, and the Chiefs coaching staff was pleased with his overall play. It was Alleman's first start with the team, and he handled the running game well but struggled a bit in pass protection. If Goff continues to have shoulder problems, Alleman will get more playing time.

REPORT CARD VS. JAGUARS

PASSING OFFENSE: D -- Until the game's final three minutes, the Chiefs were unable to do anything through the air. When QB Matt Cassel finally hooked up with WR Chris Chambers for a couple of touchdown passes, it was too late to catch the Jaguars. Pass protection was again very spotty, as Cassel went down for three sacks.

RUSHING OFFENSE: D -- Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith split the running duties and actually did a pretty good job, as they produced 53 yards on 10 carries. The problem for them is that offensive coordinator Todd Haley didn't call enough running plays -- only 12 in the game.

PASS DEFENSE: F -- The Chiefs continually fall victim to giving up big plays in the passing game, and that happened again, as they allowed a 61-yard TD pass and completions of 33 and 45 yards. Kansas City again had no interceptions, and the Chiefs managed just one sack.

RUSH DEFENSE: D -- Overall, the Chiefs defensive front did a good job against Maurice Jones-Drew, as they held him to just 3.3 yards per carry. A good performance from rookie DE Tyson Jackson helped a lot, as did aggressive tackling by OLBs Tamba Hali and Mike Vrabel.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D -- What turned out to be the winning score for the Jaguars was set up by a 44-yard punt return. It's the first time the Chiefs punt coverage has been gashed all year. Kansas City got nothing in the return game. K Ryan Succop and P Dustin Colquitt turned in solid efforts.

COACHING: D -- The offense did not react well to the Jaguars switch to a 4-3 defense, seemingly taking some 57 minutes to adjust. Haley also did not call enough running plays at a time when he's trying to keep his offense on the field longer.