Football Johnson gives father credit over Haley

[GotGibson?]

Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has belittled his rookie head coach on his Twitter account, saying Todd Haley has "nuthn" when it comes to NFL-quality credentials.

The remarks were posted several hours after the Chiefs were routed at home 37-7 by San Diego.

One tweet read: "My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches." That is followed by: "My father played for the coach from "rememeber the titans". Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn."

Haley did not play high school or college football. He attended college on a golf scholarship. He was hired by first-year general manager Scott Pioli to replace the fired Herm Edwards.

"I talked to Larry about it and he was focusing more on pumping up his father than anything else," Johnson's agent Peter Schaffer said. "He wasn't trying to downgrade anyone ... yes, everyone is frustrated after a loss like this but I wouldn't put too much into it."

Johnson had 49 yards on 16 carries in the Chiefs' defeat. Kansas City has a bye next week.

A spokesman for the Chiefs said Monday it was not certain if the tweets, posted under the alias of "Toonicon" were posted by Johnson. The Kansas City Star reported, however, that Johnson had said the online alias is his and the account includes a link to Johnson's personal Web site.

The final post read: "Make me regret it. Lmao. U don't stop my checks. Lmao. So 'tweet' away."

The tweets drew responses, including one that referred to a nightclub incident in which Johnson was accused of spitting in someone's face. Johnson's response include a three-letter homophobic slur.

Johnson's account has since been made private.

 

[GotGibson?]

Johnson apologizes for gay slur

Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson issued his second apology in 12 months Tuesday and was told to stay away from the team while the NFL and the Chiefs complete their investigation into his use of a gay slur.

As Johnson was releasing his apology, a national gay rights advocacy organization called on the league and the team to take disciplinary action against the two-time Pro Bowler.

The latest chapter in Johnson's stormy career began Sunday night when he questioned coach Todd Haley's football credentials on his Twitter account.

He used the slur during an exchange with one of his Twitter followers. A day later, he used it again as he brushed off reporters and told them he would not comment, according to the Kansas City Star, which recorded the comment.

Haley refused to address the matter Tuesday, saying it was still being investigated.

"I'm just not going to comment any further because there is some stuff going on," Haley said.

Johnson, who turns 30 next month, signed a five-year contract extension in 2007 that included $19 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $45 million. The team could be checking to see whether Johnson violated contract provisions that would allow the Chiefs to cut him with reduced financial obligation.

Last spring, an arbitrator ruled that the Chiefs could release the running back and not owe him $3.5 million in guaranteed money because he had violated contract conditions by pleading guilty to disturbing the peace in another incident.

The issue became moot when the team elected not to cut him and until he began tweeting on Sunday night, the often-volatile Johnson had been on good behavior.

The Chiefs said they have told Johnson he would not be allowed to practice with the team or participate in team activities until the matter was resolved, though he has not been suspended. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would have no comment pending the investigation.

Johnson, who needs only 75 yards rushing to become the Chiefs' all-time leader, apologized to Haley, the team, fans and the league "for the words I used."

"I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate," he said through a spokesman. "I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said."

The apology sounded similar to one he made almost exactly a year ago after one woman accused him of throwing a drink on her and another said he had pushed her. The incidents happened separately in Kansas City nightclubs and led to his being sentenced to two years' probation after pleading guilty to two counts of disturbing the peace.

"I'm going to work to that point to get my life back on track and know that I and I alone put myself in these critical situations and environments to where things don't come out favorably to me," he said on Oct. 22, 2008.

At the time, Johnson was benched for three games by then-coach Herm Edwards and suspended for a game by commissioner Roger Goodell.

On Tuesday, Johnson apologized to "all the kids who view athletes as role models. I was not a good role model yesterday and hopefully I can become a better role model. We all make mistakes, and the challenge is to learn from them.

"I will do my best to learn from this one as I move toward becoming a better person, teammate, and member of the Kansas City Chiefs team and community."

Johnson's agent said all his client could do now was wait.

"It's up to the NFL to investigate it and see what they want to do, and we will respond accordingly," Peter Schaffer told The Associated Press. "We've apologized. Larry's trying to move forward. It is what it is right now."

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, called on the NFL and the Chiefs to take disciplinary action and seize a chance to educate "on the dangers of homophobia in sports."

Such slurs are used to "ridicule and harass young gay and transgender athletes on local sports fields across America," Barrios said.

Barrios said he welcomed the apology.

"Larry Johnson's apology sends an important message that there is no excuse for using anti-gay epithets," Barrios said.

Drafted in the first round out of Penn State in 2003, Johnson was one of the best running backs in the NFL in 2005 and '06, rushing for more than 1,700 yards in each season. This year, like the Chiefs, he has struggled, averaging only 2.7 yards per carry.

Kansas City has a bye week.

 

[GotGibson?]

Johnson suspended until Nov. 9

The Kansas City Chiefs have suspended running back Larry Johnson until Nov. 9.

The club is on its bye week so Johnson will miss one game, at Jacksonville on Nov. 8.

The three-sentence news release issued Wednesday night said only that Johnson, who turns 30 in a few weeks, was suspended for conduct detrimental to the club.

Johnson used a gay slur twice within a 24-hour period Sunday night and Monday, first on his Twitter account and then again Monday morning after telling reporters he was not talking.

The Chiefs said they would have no further comment on Johnson's status "at this time."

 

[GotGibson?]

Johnson to appeal suspension

Larry Johnson's appeal of his suspension by the Kansas City Chiefs will be filed on Friday.

The hearing on the suspension, which followed Johnson's criticism of coach Todd Haley on Twitter and twice using a gay slur -- once in a Twitter posting and again in front of reporters -- is expected to be held by Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the two sides are continuing to talk to see if they can find a way to bridge any differences to avoid the hearing.

Johnson has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team through Nov. 9, meaning he will miss one game -- and about $600,000 in wages -- unless a deal is struck or the suspension is set aside on appeal.

In an e-mail on Thursday, Schaffer told The Kansas City Star that while the appeal of the suspension moves ahead, he and the Chiefs are working on a settlement that could affect the two-time Pro Bowl running back's future.

Asked if that settlement could involve Johnson leaving the Chiefs, Schaffer replied, "Not necessarily," according to the Star's report.

When reached by the newspaper by phone Thursday night and asked whether he expects Johnson to play for the Chiefs again, Schaffer said, "Larry Johnson is a member of the Chiefs right now."

Schaffer declined to detail the settlement discussions, according to the report.

"The best-case scenario is we find a way to keep it positive," he said, according to the Star. "There's a lot of things in play, and nothing has been decided."

In 2007, Johnson signed a five-year contract extension that guaranteed him about $19 million and could be worth as much as $45 million. If the Chiefs released him, they would be on the hook for the rest of his 2009 contract, according to the Star.

Johnson, who needs just 75 yards to break the team's career rushing mark, first used the gay slur on his Twitter account in an exchange with one of his followers last weekend. Earlier, he had posted comments that called Haley's qualifications into question.

Then, in a whispered remark Monday after telling reporters in the locker room he was not talking, Johnson repeated the slur, according to the Star, which has posted audio of the alleged comment.

Johnson issued an apology on Tuesday, almost exactly 12 months after apologizing to the team and its fans and ownership for two incidents in Kansas City nightspots that led to his pleading guilty to disturbing the peace.

Those problems caused him to be benched for three games in 2008 and suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell for an additional game.

 

[GotGibson?]

Johnson still suspended, fined less

The Kansas City Chiefs and running back Larry Johnson agreed to a settlement.

Schaffer told The Associated Press that nothing had been signed, but he expected it to be.

Johnson is still suspended for two weeks until Nov. 9 after twice using a gay slur and questioning coach Todd Haley's qualifications on his Twitter account. But Johnson will be docked just one game check instead of two. Players are paid weekly over 17 weeks.

Schaffer said the agreement will save Johnson about $300,000. The two-week absence would cost him about $630,000. He might still face punishment from the league.

"We've been working hard at it since Thursday," Schaffer said. "We think we have a positive resolution and we'll be able to move forward in the right direction."

Johnson, who needs just 75 yards to break the team's career rushing mark, first used a gay slur on his Twitter account in an exchange with one of his followers last weekend. Earlier, he had posted comments that called Haley's qualifications into question.

Then, in a whispered remark Monday after telling reporters in the locker room he was not talking, Johnson repeated the slur, according to the Kansas City Star, which has posted audio of the alleged comment.

Johnson issued an apology on Tuesday, almost exactly 12 months after apologizing to the team and its fans and ownership for two incidents in Kansas City nightspots that led to his pleading guilty to disturbing the peace.

Those problems caused him to be benched for three games in 2008 and suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell for an additional game.

The Chiefs have consistently said they would have no comment on the situation and a spokesman could not be reached Saturday night.