KC's Johnson Suspended for Slurs

Update: Johnson and the Chiefs have come to an agreement. Since the Chiefs are on a bye and don't play until next week, Johnson could have lost two checks, but Johnson will only be docked one. This agreement comes on the heels of Johnson filing a grievance against the club.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (right) has done it again.  Last season, Johnson had  "run-ins" with incidents involving women and nightclubs. This time, Johnson is in the spotlight for his usage of gay slurs in both a Twitter post (which has been removed) and during a local media gathering on Monday. Johnson has been suspended until November 9 for what the Chiefs termed as "conduct detrimental to the team".

In the end, what will the Chiefs front office decide to do with L.J.? Two distinct possibilities.

There is the possibility that the Chiefs would merely make Johnson inactive for the remainder of the season and KC will attempt to deal the troubled running back during the offseason. You can't trade him now as the trade deadline has passed. This "approach" falls into the "out of sight, out of mind" theory. See Jon Gruden-Keyshawn Johnson, Tampa Bay situation.

You would first ask exactly what would a team be willing to give you for a running back that is 30 years old? That's the age where most backs are considered to be starting on the downside of their careers. The most you could possibly gain is maybe 5th round pick or possibly another "aging" player despite the fact that Johnson was a first round pick. I don't think you could get both a pick and a player. But we've seen GM Scott Pioli (left) work magic before. Considering Johnson's resume', I don't think even Pioli can here.

Or how about this? The Chiefs could decide just to merely sever its ties with Johnson. That's not a stretch. It's a real possibility. Just get the guy out of there and send him on his way. There may be too big a gap to be mended between Johnson and the Chiefs, specifically head coach Todd Haley. Johnson's Twitter post also included a questioning of Haley's coaching credentials. By simply releasing Johnson, the air around the Chiefs complex may be lighter.

Considering the Chiefs are on a bye this week, the KC front office could have dragged its collective heels on this, but kudos to them for making a prompt decision (also a no-brainer).

The suspension will cost L.J. about $535,000. A lot of loot to lose because you're simply lost.