Published: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

Chiefs release RB Larry Johnson

Given good blocking and a fresh start, Larry Johnson might still be the power-running Pro Bowler who had back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons for Kansas City.

Are you listening, Seattle? What do you think, Indianapolis? Chicago? Houston?

Or he might be a declining malcontent who’ll only cost money and cause trouble.

To that, every coach and general manager in the NFL is listening. The Chiefs released Johnson on Monday, the day he was due back from his second suspension in the past 12 months.

Any team with a faltering running game is bound to be tempted by Johnson, despite his baggage and his age (he turns 30 on Nov. 19).

“Any player that’s available, we look at,” said Bears coach Lovie Smith. “That’s been our standard policy throughout. That’ll be the case with Larry.”

Houston coach Gary Kubiak agreed.

“When a name like that comes on the free agent market like today, we’ll obviously go back and take a look at him just like any other player,” Kubiak said. “Obviously, he’s been a good player in this league and I’m sure he’ll get a lot of interest from a lot of people.”

REDSKINS — DeAngelo Hall says he was only trying to help a teammate. Mike Smith says he was trying to restore order. If that’s the case, how did the Washington Redskins cornerback and the Atlanta Falcons coach end up in the middle of such an untidy scrum?

The NFL is trying to answer that very question as it investigates the altercation that happened in the second quarter of Atlanta’s 31-17 victory over Washington at the Georgia Dome on Sunday. It’s anyone’s guess what fines or suspensions will result from the sequence of events that found former Falcons player Hall on the wrong sideline surrounded by a throng of wrong-color jerseys.

n Safety Chris Horton damaged a ligament in his left big toe during Sunday’s 31-17 loss to Atlanta. He’s out a minimum of four to six weeks — and it will be four to six months if a specialist decides the toe needs surgery.

Offensive lineman Mike Williams, who has started the last four games, is out two to four weeks after tearing a ligament in his ankle.

Clinton Portis took a helmet-to-helmet blow as he was tackled at the end of a running play during the first quarter on Sunday. He will undergo a test today to help determine his availability for the Broncos game.

BILLS — 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 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 (3-5) plays at Tennessee (2-6).

PACKERS — Green Bay outside linebacker Aaron Kampman played most of Sunday’s loss at Tampa Bay with a concussion before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. His availability for the Packers’ upcoming game against Dallas is unclear.

BUCCANEERS — Tampa Bay finally won its first game of the season, but safety Sabby Piscitelli still had a bad day.

Police say burglars broke into his house in Tampa Sunday afternoon while he was playing the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium.

The house was ransacked and a TV was stolen.

GIANTS — Backup New York Giants linebacker Gerris Wilkinson will be sidelined up to two months following surgery to repair a dislocated right wrist.

PANTHERS — Carolina lost perhaps their most productive defensive player when tests showed weakside linebacker Thomas Davis has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

BENGALS — Receiver Chris Henry will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his broken left forearm.

CHARGERS — San Diego said it’s sold enough tickets to lift the local TV blackout of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

BROWNS — Cleveland has not yet sold out next Monday night’s game against Baltimore and are facing their first TV blackout since 1995.

TAYLOR RELEASED — Former football star Lawrence Taylor has been released on bond following his arrest in a Miami-area traffic accident.

According to Miami-Dade County jail records, Taylor was charged Sunday with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, a second-degree misdemeanor. He was released on $500 bond later that night.