KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Holdout running back Larry Johnson agreed to a five-year contract extension and joined the Kansas City Chiefs for practice Tuesday, surprising teammates who broke into scattered cheers when he jogged unannounced onto the field.
"Lar-ry! Lar-ry!" many players chanted. They had already been practicing for about 45 minutes when No. 27 suddenly appeared in their midst and began running plays.
Johnson, 27, set the NFL record with 416 carries last year while rushing for 1,789 yards, snapping the team record he set the year before. His six-year deal includes a $19 million guarantee.
After practice, Johnson quickly dressed and left without speaking with reporters. A team spokesman said he would hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson said a fine of $14,280 per day for missing 25 days of training would be paid, meaning the holdout cost Johnson about $357,000.
But Peterson joked that with his new deal, Johnson would have no difficulty paying up.
"I think there'll be a little left," he said.
Peterson said Johnson called him Monday night "and wanted to chat."
"We met privately," he said. "I could see that he very, very much wanted to get on the field. He explained that to me, that he wanted to be out here with his teammates. I don't know if I've ever seen a guy sign his contract that fast. But he wanted to get out here today and get going."
Without Johnson, the Chiefs have struggled offensively while going 0-2 in their first two exhibition games.
"To be very candid, if he was out beyond the third (preseason) game, that's when I start becoming concerned about veterans," Peterson said.
Johnson's unexpected appearance on the practice field sent a bolt of electricity through what had otherwise been a boring, routine workout in the muggy Midwestern heat.
For a moment, quarterback Brodie Croyle didn't know what everyone was hollering about.
"We were actually in the huddle at the time," he said. "I looked over and saw him. It was good to see No. 27 out there."
Peterson said he was taken aback when Johnson immediately jumped into drills, first blocking on a play and then taking a swing pass from Croyle.
"Frankly, I thought he'd be running on the sidelines," Peterson said.
During his holdout, Johnson was working out at a facility in Arizona.
"He is in really good shape. I have been monitoring his progress," Peterson said. "He's been working very hard. I don't think it will take him long to get up to speed. But there's a soreness aspect you've got to go through. He expressed to me last night he knew that and he didn't want to waste any more time sitting out."
Coach Herm Edwards said Johnson would not play in Thursday night's exhibition game against New Orleans but would be fully ready by the season opener Sept. 9 at Houston.
EAGLES RELEASE TROTTER: Middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was released by the Eagles on Tuesday, a surprising end to the Pro Bowl player's second stint with Philadelphia.
Coach Andy Reid informed Trotter of his decision Monday night during an emotional meeting. Trotter was a fan favorite because of his intensity, big hits and candor.
"Jeremiah and I have been together for many years and he's played a vital role in helping this team win a lot of football games," Reid said in a statement. "He developed himself into a Pro Bowl middle linebacker through a lot of hard work and desire. In my mind, he will always be a Philadelphia Eagle and I'm sure he feels the same way."
LIONS' 'BIG BOY' TO PRACTICE The Detroit Lions took Shaun Rogers off the physically unable-to-perform list Monday, making one of their best players eligible to practice for the first time this year.
Rogers was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004 and 2005, when the defensive tackle recorded a career-high 5 1/2 sacks. But he enters the season with questions about his play and weight.
"Knowing Big Boy, he likes it better that way," Detroit defensive tackle Cory Redding said last week. "He likes it better when he's fighting up stream. He don't like going with the flow.
"I have no doubt in my mind he will be ready."
PACKERS MOVES: The Green Bay Packers released safety Marviel Underwood and signed rookie fullback Erryn Cobb on Tuesday.
Underwood was in the mix for a starting job last season until a season-ending knee injury in the Packers' first preseason game. He spent the offseason rehabilitating his knee but wasn't quite back to the same level as last year.
WALLACE GETS EXTENSION: Seneca Wallace agreed to a four-year extension with Seattle on Tuesday that will keep him under contract through the 2010 season. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season, but is now locked up after agreeing to his second extension in 12 months.
VIKES INK FERGUSON: Veteran receiver Robert Ferguson agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday.
Ferguson, who was cut by NFC North rival Green Bay on Friday, also visited his hometown Houston Texans before deciding to join the Vikings' inexperienced group of receivers.