Chiefs release controversial back Larry Johnson

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Kansas City Chiefs released controversial running back Larry Johnson on Monday, the day he had been scheduled to return from suspension for "conduct detrimental to the club."

Johnson, 29, was ordered last month to stay away from training and team activities while the Chiefs and the NFL investigated alleged comments made by the player.

"We made a decision to release Larry Johnson from his contract," Kansas City said head coach Todd Haley told a news conference on Monday.

"Over the last couple of weeks (general manager) Scott (Pioli) and I have expended a lot of time and energy, along with (board chairman) Clark Hunt, talking about this and figuring out the direction to go.

"We decided it was in the best interests of the Kansas City Chiefs organization to move forward. It was the totality of the situation and even before I was around here."

According to the Kansas City Star, Johnson posted demeaning comments, directed at Chiefs coach Haley, on his Twitter feed hours after the 37-7 loss to the San Diego Chargers on October 25.

DEROGATORY LANGUAGE

The newspaper reported Johnson also used derogatory language in a reply to a follower on Twitter and to a reporter.

The Star said Johnson had issued a statement to them, through his agent, apologizing for his behavior and language used.