Had the New Orleans Saints won, they could have celebrated both the victory and Sean Payton's new contract.

As it was, word that the team's owners had given the coach an extension through the 2012 season was merely some good news that tempered a sour day.

"I'm grateful to the Saints and the Benson family for that opportunity and the confidence they have in myself," Payton said following yesterday's 29-24 loss to the Washington Redskins. "And we're going to work our tail off to bring a championship to this city, but we've got a lot of work to do."

Payton's deal was confirmed by the team before kickoff. He was already signed through 2009, so the new agreement adds three years to his contract.

"I wish we could've won the game for him on the day he got his contract extended," running back Reggie Bush said. "But it was a tough game, tough loss. But obviously that's great for him."

Payton, in his third season with the Saints, went 17-15 his first two years and took the team to the NFC championship game in 2006. The loss to the Redskins dropped this year's record to 1-1.

"I love his style of offense and I love his aggressiveness and just his leadership," quarterback Drew Brees said. "All those things that you want in a head coach, he's got it. He's played the quarterback position before, so I just felt like we were right there on the same page with everything, so he was a big part of why I came to New Orleans."

CHIEFS

RUNNING BACK JOHNSON UNHAPPY WITH ROLE

Early in the third quarter, Larry Johnson rumbled up the middle for a 2-yard gain, his 12th carry against the Oakland Raiders.

It turned out to be Johnson's last — and he didn't like it.

Unhappy with his role in a dismal offense, Johnson lashed out at Kansas City's coaching staff and front office yesterday, saying he didn't see himself being a part of the team in the future.

"Something's going on — I just don't know what it is," Johnson said after a 23-8 loss to Oakland in the Chiefs' home opener. "I'm going to sit down and talk with someone."

A two-time Pro Bowler, Johnson joined Eric Dickerson and Terrell Davis as the only players to rush for more than 1,750 yards in consecutive seasons. He's third on Kansas City's all-time rushing list in just his sixth season and has been known as a workhorse back, owning Chiefs records for carries in a season (416) and a game (39 in 2006).

Once a star, Johnson has turned into a disgruntled bit player for a struggling franchise.

He played just seven games last season due to a foot injury and enhanced his reputation for being sullen and brooding by questioning the coaching staff's decisions.

Johnson had a relatively successful start to this season, running for a team-high 74 yards on 22 carries in a hard-fought 17-10 road loss to the defending AFC champion New England Patriots.

He didn't have nearly the same impact against the Raiders, finishing with 22 yards for a 1.8 per-carry average, and complained about it afterward.

"I've been here long enough to know that if I'm not getting the ball, then I'm tired," he said. "If I'm not tired and I'm not getting the ball, something's going on and I've got to deal with it."

The Chiefs were once a dominating running team, pounding opponents with huge offensive linemen and talented running backs like Johnson, Priest Holmes and Christian Okoye.

Kansas City isn't that team anymore, those linemen replaced by inexperienced youngsters, the running game nearly nonexistent. The Chiefs managed just 1,248 yards rushing a year ago — 541 fewer than Johnson had in 2006 — and have averaged a paltry 3.41 yards on 46 carries this season.

The Raiders all but shut down Kansas City's running game yesterday, holding the Chiefs to 55 yards on 19 carries — 15 of that on a rumbling scramble by quarterback Damon Huard.

Trailing 13-0 midway through the third quarter, Kansas City abandoned its running game, forced into a passing offense to make up the ground.

"We felt coming into the game that we'd have some shots, some runs that we felt we'd be able to run and we didn't do it," Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said.

INJURIES

Bears: Chicago return specialist Devin Hester was carted to the locker room with an apparent rib injury during the third quarter of yesterday's game against Carolina.

Hester grabbed the left side of his rib cage after a kickoff return and walked to the sideline. He was then taken inside for treatment.

Hester set an NFL record last season by returning four punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. Carolina held him to three kickoff returns for a 21.7 average and two punt returns for 9 yards before the injury.

Raiders: Oakland running back Justin Fargas had to leave yesterday's game against Kansas City with a groin injury.

Fargas was injured midway through the second quarter when he tried to run a pass route down the sideline. Lined up against middle linebacker Pat Thomas, Fargas pulled up lame well before JaMarcus Russell's pass arrived, then fell to the ground holding the inside of his leg.

Fargas stayed on the ground for a few seconds, then limped to Oakland's sideline. He had 43 yards on nine carries before the injury after leading the Raiders with 97 yards on 18 carries against Denver last week.

Chiefs: Kansas City quarterback Damon Huard didn't play the final three quarters against Oakland yesterday after suffering what the team called mild head trauma.

Huard started in place of Brodie Croyle, who separated his shoulder against New England last week. The 12-year veteran was in for Kansas City's first two series, but didn't return after throwing an interception late in the second quarter.

Bengals: Tight end Ben Utecht hurt his chest on Cincinnati's first play of the game yesterday and left the field on a cart.

Carson Palmer's pass went off Utecht's hands as Tennessee linebacker David Thornton hit him in the chest. Utecht lay on the field for several minutes, then got up slowly.

He was wobbly as he walked off the field with assistance, then got onto a cart and was taken to the locker room.

Falcons: Atlanta rookie tackle Sam Baker was hit in the head in the first half and did not return. Coach Mike Smith said his status will be evaluated today.

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