Chiefs’ running back Larry Johnson has apparently pulled an about-face and is now willing to stay in Kansas City. (Johnson had originally asked to be traded following the 2008 season.)

Johnson had previously said he wanted to be traded. However, agent Peter Schaffer pointed out that Johnson is now interested in playing for the new Chiefs regime. Schaffer said, as an act of good faith, Johnson attended the Chiefs’ offseason workout program that began Monday. New Chiefs coach Todd Haley told reporters Monday everyone on the team “has a clean slate.”

Johnson’s grievance against the team is set to be heard Wednesday. It is over unpaid bonus money from last season. Still, Schaffer said that Johnson’s issue was with the former Kansas City brass and that he and new Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli are communicating.

“Everyone has an open mind about this and we continue to communicate,” Schaffer said. “I think the Chiefs know that Larry is a very talented young man. I think everyone is looking to moving forward.”

Johnson was suspended for a total of four games by the team and the NFL last year for off-field issues. Last week, he received probation for two separate nightclub incidents. Johnson, 29, has had a rocky career in Kansas City and last year’s incidents prompted speculation that he could be on his way out of town. He still could be traded or released, but Johnson now seems open to returning.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Chiefs even want L.J. back. Rumor has it that if they win their grievance against him, they’ll likely release him soon after. But maybe they’ll change their mind, too. After all, he’s still a quality player and even though he’s nearing the dreaded age of 30 for running backs, he clearly can still play at a high level. Everything depends on whether or not the new regime wants to take a risk in keeping the often-volatile running back.

The Chiefs have filed a grievance against running back Larry Johnson and feel as though that his one-game suspension in 2008 was a break of contract. The Kansas City Star speculates that the Chiefs will probably release Johnson if they win the grievance.

At issue is $3.75 million of guaranteed money Johnson is due from the Chiefs in the contract extension he signed in August 2007. Generally, NFL salaries are not guaranteed, but Johnson’s contract calls for payments of $3.5 million this year and $250,000 in 2010 that the Chiefs must pay regardless of whether he plays for them.

The Chiefs claim the one-game suspension he received from the NFL last year for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy is a breach of his contract and frees them from having to pay the guaranteed money.

One source familiar with the situation said that should the Chiefs win the grievance, they would probably release Johnson, suggesting the team wouldn’t be going through the trouble if they didn’t intend to free him from his contract.

Johnson has asked to be traded or released since the end of last season. Unhappy with a diminished role with the Chiefs, Johnson said in the locker room in Cincinnati following the season’s last game that he wanted to continue his career playing for another team.

What an absolute headache. A couple years ago, Johnson threw a tantrum because the Chiefs weren’t moving fast enough on a contract extension. Then he requested a trade or his outright release at the end of last season and now the Chiefs have to go through the legal system in order to avoid paying Johnson $3.75 million in guarantees, which was a boneheaded move made by former GM Carl Peterson.

L.J. just isn’t worth the heartburn anymore for the Chiefs. Some team will jump at the chance to take the woman beater running back, but at 29, one has to wonder if his on field production will even be worth it in a year or two.

Notable Free Agents: Jason Babin, DE; Rocky Boiman, LB; Oliver Celestin, FS.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $33,000,000

Draft Order: 3

Top Needs: The Chiefs have a variety of holes to fill this offseason, from the interior of their offensive line, to linebacker to safety and No. 2 wide receiver.

Offseason Outlook: Despite the lack of overall roster talent, the Chiefs aren’t a bad situation to walk into for new GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley. The team has plenty of cap space, a high draft pick and not one marquee free agent to re-sign. Pioli is essentially working with a clean slate to begin his era in Kansas City.

That said, there are some underlining issues on the horizon. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, two players who will be counted on to spark the revival in Kansas City, have both expressed a desire to be traded this offseason. Gonzalez has wavered a bit in his demands, but it’s clear that LJ wants out of KC and maybe Pioli will grant his wish as long as the Chiefs can land proper compensation for the star back.

Another area Pioli might address is at quarterback, where incumbent Tyler Thigpen played well enough in the second half of the season to merit a crack at the starting spot, but probably isn’t the long-term answer. Considering Pioli is coming over from New England, he could look into what it would take to acquire Matt Cassel. Don’t count on it though. KC has the No. 3 overall pick and certainly won’t part with that high of a pick for Cassel, especially when you consider he might have been a product of the Patriots’ outstanding offensive system. Don’t be surprised if Thigpen is the Chiefs’ starter under center again next year.

In the same week that Tony Gonzalez expressed his desire to bolt Kansas City, Larry Johnson also is asking the Chiefs to either trade or release him.

From Rotoworld.com:

Larry Johnson told 610 Sports in Kansas City Wednesday morning that he wants a “clean break” from the Chiefs.

L.J. believes the organization hasn’t backed him, and it’s ruined his public image. He must not realize there is a new GM in town and KC will have a new coach shortly. Johnson also thinks he was on the trade block at the October deadline, and that the Chiefs “have been trying to trade me ever since I got here.” It’s pretty clear that L.J. was told he was great too many times by too many people in the mid-2000s. He’s lost touch with reality.

I agree with the writers at Rotoworld. Here’s a guy that caused a stink two years ago when he thought he wasn’t getting paid enough. So in August of 2007, the Chiefs signed him to a six-year, $45.05 million contract, which included $19 million in guarantees and a $12.5 million signing bonus. In October of last year, Johnson was suspended one game for allegedly pushing a woman at a nightclub, which also brought him simple-assault charges.

And now he’s saying the organization hasn’t backed him? Get a grip. They paid him what he wanted to be paid, stood by him when he got into trouble off field and now he thinks he can pick and choose what teams he wants to play for. Ridiculous.

Depending on whom the Chiefs name as their next head coach, tight end Tony Gonzalez would like out of Kansas City so that he has a chance to play in a Super Bowl before his career finishes.

And apparently Gonzo isn’t the only one who might want out of Kansas City as running back Larry Johnson is growing frustrated over the lack of direction by the Chiefs.

Speaking in the dressing room of the players’ hotel Tuesday, Gonzalez said he expects to hear of a decision about Kansas City’s next coach by Thursday. The 12-year veteran tight end and Pro Bowl regular restated his basic desire to go elsewhere, the week after spending time in Tampa in advance of the Super Bowl. Gonzalez is hoping to finish his career with an appearance of his own in the title game; he has appeared in the playoffs only three times in his career, losing each time.

And if Gonzalez gets his wish of a new home, he might not be alone, as teammate Larry Johnson also reportedly desires to leave the Chiefs – who, according to Gonzalez, aren’t making it easy for some players to want to stay.

“We traded away our best defensive player [Allen], by far. A game changer and you trade him away,� Gonzalez said. That’s just too much, and that’s sending a message to the guys on the team.�

I don’t fault either player for wanting to bolt, but with the hiring of Pioli as general manager, the Chiefs are finally heading in the right direction. Will they compete for the playoffs next year? Sure, maybe. Who would have thought that the Dolphins and Falcons would make the playoffs last year? One good offseason could turn around an entire franchise and Pioli has certainly built winners before.

I would love to see Gonzo go to another team and compete for a Super Bowl because he deserves that opportunity. But the Chiefs just made the first step in turning around their misfortunes and I would have to imagine Pioli would make a sound hire for head coach. So maybe Gonzo should stick around and continue helping the franchise he’s played for his entire career.