Larry Johnson's record-breaking career as a Kansas City running back is over.

The Chiefs confirmed yesterday that they had run out of patience with his off-the-field problems and released Johnson the day he was due to come back from his second suspension in a year.

Johnson, who turns 30 on Nov. 19, was just 75 yards away from breaking Priest Holmes' team rushing record.

The decision by the Chiefs (1-7) was not a surprise.

"A part of him is excited and a part of him is very regretful," Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Associated Press. "There's a lot of feelings going on right now. It's analogous to breaking up with a girlfriend. Maybe you saw it coming, but it still hurts when it happens."

A No. 1 draft choice out of Penn State in 2003, Johnson was one of the best running backs in the NFL in 2005 and 2006, rushing for more than 1,700 yards in each of those Pro Bowl seasons.

On Oct. 25, in what turned out to be his final episode with the Chiefs, he posted on his Twitter account several insults to fans, questioned coach Todd Haley's credentials and used a gay slur.

He repeated the slur the next day to reporters and was suspended for two weeks. At Schaffer's urging, the Chiefs cut the financial penalty in half, saving him about $315,000.

Johnson was the subject of an online petition last week calling on the Chiefs not to let him break the team rushing record.

His apology for the online comments came almost exactly one year after issuing a similar apology for alleged incidents involving women in Kansas City night clubs.

In 2008, then-coach Herm Edwards benched him for three straight games for violating team rules. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him a fourth game for violating the league's player conduct policy.

This year, in 132 carries behind inconsistent blocking, he averaged only 2.7 yards per carry. He ends his Chiefs career with 5,996 yards rushing and 55 touchdowns.

SIDELINE INCIDENT

LEAGUE LOOKING INTO FALCONS, 'SKINS CASE

The NFL is looking into Sunday's altercation between Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall and members of the Falcons near the Atlanta bench.

League spokesman Randall Liu said the incident will be reviewed for possible discipline.

Hall ended up surrounded by Falcons players and coaches after teammate LaRon Landry was whistled for a late sideline hit on quarterback Matt Ryan during Sunday's game at the Georgia Dome. Hall claimed Atlanta coach Mike Smith tried to put his hands on him "in a harmful way."

Redskins coach Jim Zorn said a review of the video seemed to verify Hall's side of the story.

Hall said he will complain to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Atlanta won the game, 31-17.

Hall spent last week criticizing the Falcons for the way they treated him before he was traded to Oakland after the 2007 season.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards expects to be cleared to play this weekend after missing nearly a month recovering from a concussion.

Edwards said he felt rested and refreshed after practicing yesterday in Buffalo's first workout since a four-day break because of the bye week.

He added he's "ready to go" but hasn't been informed if he'll start Sunday when Buffalo plays at Tennessee.

Panthers: Carolina weakside linebacker Thomas Davis has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Davis' season-ending injury came without getting hit in Sunday's loss to New Orleans.

Davis ranks second on the team behind fellow linebacker Jon Beason with 69 tackles.

Redskins: Washington running back Clinton Portis is recovering from a concussion and is doubtful to play in next week's game against Denver.

Portis took a helmet-to-helmet blow as he was tackled at the end of a running play during the first quarter against Atlanta on Sunday.