ASSOCIATED PRESS

DOUG TUCKER

AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- 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.

Johnson was only 75 yards away from breaking Priest Holmes' team rushing record. 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.

"He's a very good back," said running back Kolby Smith, one of Johnson's closest friends on the Chiefs.