Larry Johnson Cut by Kansas City

Larry Johnson's time in Kansas City is apparently over as the Chiefs announced Monday that they have released the oft-troubled running back into the ether of NFL free agency.

Johnson was, of course, fresh off a suspension based on his recent social media activity and attitude towards reporters, although the official release from the Chiefs doesn't really indicate why he's gone (though it should be obvious):

The Kansas City Chiefs released RB Larry Johnson on Monday. In 75 games (55 starts) with Kansas City, Johnson rushed 1,375 times for 5,996 yards (4.4 avg.) with 55 touchdowns. He also registered 151 receptions for 1,369 yards (9.1 avg.) with six TDs. He concluded his Chiefs career with 30 100-yard rushing games and also added two 100-yard receiving games.

Johnson established an NFL single-season record with 416 rushing attempts in 2006 when he set a franchise single-season mark with 1,789 rushing yards. He originally entered the league as the Chiefs first-round selection (27th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Penn State.

In all likelihood, the Kansas City front office will discuss this further at some point, but the reality is that this had to happen. Not only is the Chiefs' season all but over at this point, but Johnson was playing the role of the proverbial "team cancer" and simply could not get along with the new regime.

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Additionally, fans had gone so far as to create an online petition asking general manager Scott Pioli and Co. to make sure that Johnson did not pass Priest Holmes as the team's all-time leading rusher, based simply on his behavior. Add in the lack of any real production from Johnson this year and it's pretty clear that the Chiefs made the right move in cutting bait.