Sure, there was an occasional fine, suspension, or scolding. Some players, for example, were told they couldn't tweet during games.

Then came Larry Johnson.

The Kansas City Chiefs released the two-time Pro Bowl running back yesterday in part because of what he wrote on his Twitter feed 2 weeks ago.

Originally, Johnson was only suspended for dissing head coach Todd Haley and making gay slurs on the social network.

Upon further review, it seems the Chiefs have had enough of his antics. Of course, Johnson's tweets weren't the only reason he lost his job.

This is a guy who was benched for three games last year for violating team rules. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell then tacked on a fourth game of his own.

This is a guy who has had several run-ins with the law for abusive behavior toward women.

This is a guy who had it all and frittered, make that twittered, it away.

Johnson has apologized for his most recent egregious behavior, and odds are that some running back-starved team will pick him up.

But is he really sorry? Has he learned anything?

Or is he just another one of those guys who thinks he's entitled to four or five second chances?

Sock her or soccer?

Last Friday, a University of New Mexico player was suspended for grabbing the ponytail of a BYU player and slamming her to the turf.

Sunday, players from Woonsocket and Tolman, two high school teams in Rhode Island, got into a tussle. Punches were thrown, hair was pulled and a brawl broke out in the bleachers.

Rhode Island Interscholastic League officials are investigating.

- Tom Mahon

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