Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress can keep his $1 million bonus, but the Kansas City Chiefs are not obligated to pay running back Larry Johnson his guaranteed salary and bonuses over the next two seasons.

That was the ruling NFL Players Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Special Master Stephen Burbank issued Monday after the union's grievance hearing last week.

Burbank ruled bonus money already earned cannot be forfeited by a player, meaning the Giants cannot dock Burress $1 million he earned as part of a new contract he signed in August, Berthelsen said.

As for Johnson, Burbank ruled that if the Chiefs cut him, they do not have to pay him a $3.5 million guaranteed salary next season because he breached his contract after being suspended last season, Berthelsen said.