KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs couldn't expect to move toward a new chapter without a few old habits sticking around.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson spent time this week campaigning to be put out of their Kansas City misery, whether that's by trade, release or team officials just changing the locks — anything that gets them out of a Chiefs uniform.

"You just feel trapped," Johnson said Wednesday morning during a 23-minute appearance on radio station KCSP 610-AM. "Ever since I came to Kansas City, they've been trying to push me out the door.

"We can do it the easy way."

Hours earlier, a national sports Web site posted a story about Gonzalez's unhappiness and his desire to be traded if the Chiefs don't hire the right coach, and specifically if they hire a college coach such as Iowa's Kirk Ferentz as Herm Edwards' replacement.

"I don't want to deal with that," Gonzalez told Yahoo! Sports during Pro Bowl preparations in Hawaii. "It seems like we're rebuilding anyway, and I don't want to do that. I don't know that I want to do that anymore than I already have been."

Later, Gonzalez softened his comments and said his viewpoint had been misrepresented.

"I want to make sure people know I have not asked for a trade," Gonzalez told FoxSports.com in Hawaii. "I said there are reasons I would ask for a trade, but depending on the coach they bring in and the free-agent acquisitions, I could easily be a Chief next year, too. In fact, that's the direction I want to go. ...

"I have been so fortunate to be with the Chiefs. They've always taken good care of me. I have no complaints and I love the city, but who knows what's going to happen."

A Chiefs spokesman said the team wouldn't respond to the players' comments.

After all, it was nothing Gonzalez and Johnson hadn't said before. They spent chunks of time last season describing their frustration and how they'd like the Chiefs to handle things. Gonzalez wanted the team to retain Edwards, keep the spread offense and commit to Tyler Thigpen as the team's starting quarterback. Johnson, 29, liked Edwards but wanted the opposite offensive philosophy: A run-based scheme that minimized passing and highlighted his rushing talents.

The Chiefs have plenty of questions during what will be an offseason of great transition, and two of the men designated as veteran leaders — at least, that's what the Chiefs hoped they'd be a year ago — raised another big question: Should the Chiefs cut ties with two of their best offensive players?

Johnson said he has not spoken to general manager Scott Pioli and doesn't care to, and he suggested he doesn't care who the Chiefs hire as coach. Johnson said he's never felt comfortable in Kansas City and his mind is all but made up.

"They could easily release me. They could easily trade me," Johnson said. "There are things that could be done that they could be willing to do and should be willing to do."

The problem with both players is that each is signed to long-term deals that include millions of guaranteed dollars. Teams don't typically offer much substance in a trade for top-paid players toward the front ends of their contracts, particularly aging and disgruntled ones.

But the two veterans have said their piece many times this season. Gonzalez wasn't happy he didn't break the receiving yards record for tight ends at Arrowhead Stadium. Johnson was disappointed the Chiefs appeared to be phasing him out of their offense, weeks before they actually did phase him out.

Gonzalez asked former team president Carl Peterson to be traded; Gonzalez was not traded and then said his relationship with Peterson was forever stained. Johnson was involved in two alleged incidents with women and then benched three weeks and suspended an additional week.

Gonzalez said after the Chiefs' season-ending loss at Cincinnati that he wanted Thigpen, Edwards and the spread to be in Kansas City in 2009, or he would follow them out of town. That same day, Johnson said he needed a change of venue to re-energize his career.

Round and round, all that amid the worst season in Chiefs history. And all that from two of the veterans hand-picked to lead and influence the team's young and impressionable roster on the ways of the NFL.

Johnson reiterated Wednesday that his time in Kansas City just seems to be up. And that he thinks it's time to move on.

"No sense in delaying the inevitable," Johnson said.

The running back didn't name names, instead saying that the "suit guys" were responsible for his unhappiness with the Chiefs. He said he harbored no ill feelings toward Peterson or Edwards and that he possesses the support of his teammates.

"Most of the players are on my side," Johnson said.

And if that's true, Pioli and the Chiefs' choice as coach might have more work to do than advertised in veering Kansas City back on course and getting control of a team whose morale has plummeted the past two seasons.

Gonzalez didn't specify teams he'd like to play for, repeating that he'd like to play in a Super Bowl before he retires. Johnson said he'd like to play for Dallas or return to the East Coast, closer to his family in Pennsylvania.

Just not the Chiefs. And Johnson said there wasn't much Pioli or a coach could say to change his mind. The Chiefs could always force them to play in Kansas City next season.

"I could live in the city. I'll just stay in my own hole," Johnson said. "I'd rather have it be a clean break and everybody go about their lives."