NFL NOTEBOOK: Chiefs decide to cut ties with troubled Johnson
The Kansas City Chiefs released controversy-plagued running back Larry Johnson on Monday, the day he was scheduled to come back from his two-week suspension.
On his Twitter account two weeks ago, Johnson questioned Chiefs coach Todd Haley's competence, insulted followers and used a gay slur. He repeated the gay slur the next day to reporters and was suspended for two weeks.
''We decided it was in the best interests of the Kansas City Chiefs' organization to move forward at this time,'' Haley said.
In spite of Johnson's baggage and his age -- he will turn 30 on Nov. 19 -- any team with a faltering running game might be tempted to take a chance on him. Johnson was 75 yards away from breaking Priest Holmes' team rushing record of 6,070 yards, and his agent said he greeted his release with mixed feelings.
''A part of him is excited and a part of him is very regretful,'' Peter Schaffer told the Associated Press. ''There's a lot of feelings going on right now.''
Johnson was one of the best backs in the league in 2005 and 2006. But since rushing for a team-record 1,789 yards on an NFL-record 416 carries in 2006, he never has been the same. He was averaging only 2.7 yards per carry this season behind a poor offensive line.
MANGINI MUM ON QB: Embattled Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini declined to reveal his starting quarterback for the team's game next Monday against the Baltimore Ravens.
During the Browns' bye week, Mangini said he would announce ''early next week'' whether Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn would start against the Ravens. But in his weekly news conference, Mangini said he would wait until Wednesday before making his choice public.
''I know where I'm headed, but we'll talk about that Wednesday,'' he said. ''I haven't talked to the quarterbacks about it yet, so that's part of it.''
INJURY REPORT: Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair the broken left forearm he suffered Sunday against the Ravens. Henry had 12 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns this season.
• Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis is recovering from a concussion he suffered on a helmet-to-helmet hit Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons and is doubtful to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
• Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards said he expects to be cleared to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans after missing nearly a month recovering from a concussion suffered Oct. 18 against the New York Jets.
• The Green Bay Packers said linebacker Aaron Kampman played most of the game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a concussion. His status for the game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys is unclear.
• Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suffered Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
NOTES: Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was released on $500 bond after his arrest Sunday in Hialeah, Fla., for leaving the scene of a car accident involving property damage. There were no injuries, and troopers didn't conduct a sobriety test.
• Police say burglars broke into Buccaneers safety Sabby Piscitelli's home Sunday while he and his teammates were playing the Packers. The house was ransacked, and a TV was stolen.
Sun-Times wires