No team claimed Larry Johnson off waivers, which means the veteran running back is free to sign with any team and Kansas City must pay him the balance of the $2.1 million left on his contract this season.

The Chiefs released Johnson, 29, on Monday, the day he was due back from his second suspension in the past 12 months. He was suspended for posting a gay slur on his Twitter account and questioning the competence of coach Todd Haley.

With 5,996 yards, Johnson needed just 75 yards to pass Priest Holmes and become the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher. Behind a poor offensive line this season, he's averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.

In his first public comments since a series of Twitter posts began a career-changing mess, Johnson told a syndicated radio show that he didn't want out of Kansas City — but that he thought it was time to move on.

"I felt like I gave Kansas City all that I had as far as being on the field and being upbeat." he said on the Dan Patrick Show.

Johnson blamed the Kansas City media for further spreading that he's a volatile man and blamed a battered line, a revamped playbook and a young team for Kansas City's — and his own — struggles this season.

Browns: Eric Barton will miss the rest of the season. In announcing the former Raiders linebacker was being placed on injured reserve, the Browns didn't reveal his injury or a timetable for his recovery. There are

Seahawks: Seattle re-signed defensive end Derek Walker and released wide receiver Mike Hass.

Etc.: A federal appeals court in Minneapolis backed the judge who ruled against the NFL and let quarterback Michael Vick keep $16 million in roster bonuses from Atlanta. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Judge David Doty's order saying Vick had already earned the bonuses before his dogfighting conviction, so the money wasn't subject to forfeiture. Vick served 18 months in prison and is now with Philadelphia. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello didn't say whether the league planned a further appeal.