Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has, in a statement released by his agent to The Kansas City Star, apologized for his words and actions of the past 48 hours.

Johnson posted demeaning comments directed at Chiefs coach Todd Haley on his Twitter profile hours after Sunday's 37-7 loss to the Chargers. Johnson used a gay slur in one of his Twitter posts while responding to a follower, and he used another slur Monday after telling reporters he wasn't speaking publicly until Thursday.

Larry Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, spoke to The Star this afternoon and said that LJ's tweets Sunday night were intended to be a compliment to his father and not meant as a slight to coach Todd Haley. Schaffer's comments reiterated what he told ESPN's Bill Williamson on Sunday night.

"He was trying to make a statement about his dad," Schaffer said, "and obviously he didn't articulate it well. For that, he's probably guilty as charged.

Editor's note: More updates on this story are here.

The Chiefs were afraid of this. If they weren't, they should've been. A player's frustration has boiled over with the losing, Todd Haley's approach and the overall messiness of how Kansas City's season has so far gone.

After Sunday's 37-7 loss to the Chargers, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson expressed frustration. He indicated that, despite the change surrounding the franchise with a new coach and new general manager, one important factor has not changed during LJ's career: losing.

SD _ FG Kaeding 19; 6 plays, 17 yards, 2:36 drive time, 11:37 remaining.

SD _ Jacob Hester recovered blocked punt in end zone (Kaeding kick); 9:13 remaining.

Cassel was picked off for the third straight possession when Steve Gregory intercepted early in the period. San Diego took over at the KC 18 . . . Rivers’ pass of 18 yards to Gates put the Chargers inside the 5. That led to the field goal . . . The Chiefs never touched Hester on his way to blocking the punt . . . The Chiefs turned it over on downs again when Larry Johnson was stopped for a loss of a yard on fourth down from the San Diego 39 . . . Billy Volek replaced Rivers at quarterback for the Chargers. With San Diego merely trying to run out the clock, the Chargers ran three times and punted . . . Matt Gutierrez and not Brodie Croyle replaced Cassel at QB for the Chiefs, who were also running the ball to kill the clock.

KC _ Dwayne Bowe 7 pass from Cassel (Succop kick); 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:12 drive time, 9:48 remaining.

SD _ Sproles 58 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick); 3 plays, 64 yards, 1:26 drive time, 5:45 remaining.

Cassel passed 24 yards to Bobby Wade for the first big play of the half. The Chiefs later faced a fourth and one from the San Diego 25. Cassel threw for Bowe and the Chiefs gained the first down at the 16 on Quentin Jammer’s pass interference penalty. Bowe’s touchdown came on fourth and 1 . . . On San Diego’s possession, the Chiefs held the Chargers without a first down for the second time and Kansas City took over after the punt at its 35 . . . First Charles and then Wade were open down the field on Kansas City’s first two plays but Cassel threw long each time. After Cassel scrambled on third down for short yardage, the Chiefs gave the ball back . . . Sproles’ TD came when Rivers beat a blitz and Sproles was uncovered on a screen pass. Sproles ran past Brandon Carr and Jon McGraw on his way to the end zone . . . Cassel didn’t overthrow an uncovered Wade on a 20-yard gain past midfield but the Chiefs turned it over on the next play when Sean Ryan deflected Cassel’s pass to San Diego linebacker Tim Dobbins . . . Cassel and Wade got mixed up on KC’s next possession and the result was a pass nowhere near the receiver. Paul Oliver intercepted and returned it 34 yards to the KC 2. The Chiefs held on downs when Tomlinson’s fourth down run from the 1 was stopped short.

SD _ FG Kaeding 20; 10 plays, 82 yards, 5:27 drive time, 9:49 remaining.

SD _ FG Kaeding 39; 7 plays, 45 yards, 1:06 drive time, 0:01 remaining.

The Chargers continued to rip the Chiefs in the new period. Rivers passed to Jackson for 51 yards. Safety Jon McGraw was running with Jackson down the field but never turned around to look for the ball, allowing an opening for Jackson to make the catch. Antonio Gates later took a screen pass 25 yards to the Kansas City 2. The Chiefs held, twice stuffing Tomlinson and getting a break when Chris Chambers dropped a pass in the end zone. That set up the first field goal . . . On their next possession, the Chargers made yet another big play when Jackson ran right by third cornerback Mike Richardson to catch another 51-yard pass. The drive stalled and San Diego came away with no points when Kaeding’s 43-yard try went wide right . . . The Chiefs finally put together a productive drive. Cassel scrambled for five yards to give the Chiefs one first down and Jamaal Charles took a draw play 15 yards for another to the Chargers' 33. The Chiefs had to settle for a field goal but Ryan Succop's 43-yard attempt was wide right . . . Darren Sproles ran for 21 yards to put the Chargers past midfield. Rivers threw for 22 yards to Jackson, putting San Diego at the KC 17 with 10 seconds left. After an incomplete pass into the end zone, the Chargers took the field goal.

SD _ Malcom Floyd 3 pass from Philip Rivers (Nate Kaeding kick); 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:00 drive time, 7:32 remaining.

SD _ Vincent Jackson 10 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick); 8 plays, 41 yards, 3:32 drive time, 1:23 remaining.

After the teams traded punts, San Diego made the game’s first big play when LaDainian Tomlinson broke loose up the middle and ran for 36 yards past midfield, A six-yard run by Darren Sproles later allowed the Chargers to convert on third and 4 to the KC 21. Rivers scrambled for 11 yards and was given five more on a late hit penalty by Corey Mays. Floyd’s touchdown came on third down . . . Dwayne Bowe fumbled after catching a short pass on Kansas City’s next play but the Chiefs retained the ball when San Diego was penalized for being offside. The Chiefs gave up the ball on downs at their 41 when Matt Cassel’s sneak on fourth and one came up well short . . . The Chargers made good use of the short field. Jackson’s 12-yard catch was the big play on the drive to his TD . . . The Chiefs lost Rudy Niswanger to a knee injury on Cassel's unsuccessful sneak. When the Chiefs got the ball back, left tackle Wade Smith was moved to center and Barry Richardson was the new left tackle.

Jarrad Page is inactive for today's game and this apparently has more to do with a benching than an injury. Page was listed as probable on the latest injury report. Jon McGraw will start at free safety.

Branden Albert and Bobby Engram also won't play. Wade Smith will start again at left tackle while the Chiefs apparently will go with Lance Long, promoted this weekend from the practice squad, as the slot receiver.

The Chiefs made a late roster move before Sunday's game against San Diego, promoting wide receiver Lance Long and releasing rookie Quinten Lawrence. Long likely will be used primarily on special teams and could try returning kickoffs. The Chiefs haven't been comfortable with their kickoff returns since before training camp.

Long, also a rookie, had been on the practice squad since joining the team last month.

The Chiefs started the three-week clock on running back Kolby Smith, who participated in practice today. The Chiefs now have three weeks in which to elevate Smith to the active roster. If they fail to do so in that timeframe, he can't practice or play the rest of the season.

But look for the Chiefs to eventually activate Smith. The Chiefs have to figure out a role for Smith, but he may be able to help their ailing running game in some manner.