Chiefs release RB Johnson

Given good blocking and a fresh start, Larry Johnson might still be the power-running Pro Bowler who had back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons for Kansas City.

Are you listening, Seattle? What do you think, Indianapolis?

Or he might be a declining malcontent who'll only cost money and cause trouble.

To that, every coach and general manager in the NFL is listening. The Chiefs released the controversy-plagued Johnson on Monday, the day he was due back from his second suspension in the past 12 months.

On his Twitter account two weeks ago, Johnson had questioned 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.

In spite of Johnson's baggage and his age - he turns 30 on Nov. 19 - any team with a faltering running game might be tempted to take a chance. The Seahawks' running game ranks 30th and lead back Julius Jones has been sputtering. Just last week, they released backup Edgerrin James.

The Colts' running game also has stalled. But Indianapolis might be more interested in filling holes in the secondary, and the Colts have Donald Brown, a rookie running back they believe will be capable of big things.

Johnson was only 75 yards away from breaking Priest Holmes' team rushing record, 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. It's analogous to breaking up with a girlfriend. Maybe you saw it coming, but it still hurts when it happens."

If anyone figures he can recapture the power, quickness and durability that made him one of the best backs in the league in 2005 and '06, Johnson is sure to be snapped up. But since rushing for a team-record 1,789 yards on an NFL-record 416 carries in 2006, he's never been quite the same.

Running behind a poor line for the Chiefs (1-7), he has averaged only 2.7 yards a carry this season.

BENGALS: Receiver Chris Henry will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his broken left forearm.

Coach Marvin Lewis said that Henry will be placed on injured reserve this week, ending his season. He broke the forearm on his only catch Sunday during a 17-7 win against Baltimore that kept the Bengals (6-2) in first place in the AFC North.

BILLS: Quarterback Trent Edwards expects to be cleared to play Sunday after missing nearly a month recovering from a concussion.

PANTHERS: The team lost perhaps its most productive defensive player when tests showed weakside linebacker Thomas Davis has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Davis' season-ending injury came without getting hit in Sunday's loss to New Orleans. He was backpedaling when stopped to plant and his knee buckled. He crumpled to the turf as Drew Brees threw a 17-yard pass to Pierre Thomas in the fourth quarter.

REDSKINS: Safety Chris Horton damaged a ligament in his left big toe during Sunday's 31-17 loss to Atlanta. He's out a minimum of four to six weeks - and it will be four to six months if a specialist decides the toe needs surgery.

INVESTIGATION: The NFL is looking into Sunday's altercation between Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall and members of the Falcons near the Atlanta bench.

League spokesman Randall Liu said the incident will be reviewed for possible discipline.

Hall ended up surrounded by Falcons players and coaches after teammate LaRon Landry was whistled for a late sideline hit on quarterback Matt Ryan during Sunday's game at the Georgia Dome. Hall claimed Atlanta coach Mike Smith tried to put his hands on him "in a harmful way."

LT ARRESTED: NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been released on bond following his arrest in a Hialeah traffic accident.

According to Miami-Dade County jail records, Taylor was charged Sunday with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, a second-degree misdemeanor. He was released on $500 bond later that night.