Larry Johnson seems to sense that, too.

After watching an exasperated coach Herm Edwards spend large portions of his daily media sessions fielding more questions about Johnson than the Jets -- Kansas City's opponent Sunday in Giants Stadium -- Johnson felt obliged to apologize after Edwards' post-practice session on Wednesday.

"This is the first time in my life that I woke up and was kind of disgusted with myself and the way my life and my career is headed right now," Johnson said after apologizing to the Hunt family, club officials and teammates.

"I anticipate seeking help to get better and get my life on track," Johnson added. "I know that I alone put myself in these critical situations and environments to where things don't come out favorably for me. All I can do is promise you that as a man, I'm still growing and as a man everyone makes mistakes.

"In times of darkness, you've got to look for the light and that's what I plan on doing, regardless of what suspensions and fines are being handed down. I will take them as they give them out."

Johnson did not take questions from reporters after giving his statement.

His response came after Edwards announced that Johnson was being deactivated against the Jets for a second straight game. It still remains to be seen whether a league suspension is forthcoming, and Edwards hinted strongly Wednesday that it might be.

Wednesday was a busy news day for Edwards as he announced that backup quarterback Damon Huard would join young starter Brodie Croyle on injured reserve after sustaining ligament damage in his throwing hand.

Second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen will make his second start of the season, with another second-year player, Ingle Martin, serving as his backup.

The Chiefs also signed a backup (Quinn Gray) and a backup punter (Steve Weatherford) in case rock-steady punter Dustin Colquitt can't play on an injury to his right (non-kicking) leg.

Still, with all the personnel movement, dealing with the Johnson sideshow has moved to center stage for the 1-5 and rapidly sinking Chiefs.

Solving the LJ problem, in fact, may be easier than dealing with a 29th-ranked offense that can't move the sticks, or a 31st-ranked defense that can't stop anybody. Or, identifying a quarterback for both the short- and long-term future.

After all, you can sit Johnson for a couple games, or more. It isn't as easy to change 21 other starters.

Johnson was inactive for the 34-10 home loss to Tennessee last week. Edwards, in fact, told him not to even bother coming to the game.

"The best thing for us to do last week was try to concentrate on playing football, not worry about if he was here, if he's not here and all that stuff," Edwards said. "It becomes too much of a circus atmosphere, and that's not fair to anybody."

The Chiefs' whispered explanation for the disciplinary action then was that Johnson had been late to team meetings and other obligations. But there was more.

The club also knew that Johnson had been involved in yet another club incident involving a woman during the previous week's bye. A woman accused LJ of spitting a drink on her and threatening her boyfriend over comments she allegedly made. Police took an incident report, but no charges were filed. Yet.

But charges were filed earlier that week after a February incident in which a woman alleges that Johnson put his hands in her face while walking through yet another Kansas City club. Johnson faces a municipal court date in December to answer charges of simple assault in that case.

All told, Johnson has now been involved in four such reported incidents. Three have resulted in charges being filed, but no case has yet come to trial.

Still, Johnson's record with his employer is far from clean.

The Chiefs keep hoping the running back with two 1,750-yard rushing seasons to his credit, and $19 million in guaranteed Chiefs money in his pocket after he held out for a new contract in 2007, will get the message and get his act together.

But they're still waiting. And now the NFL is investigating whether Johnson's ongoing behavior violates the league's personal conduct policy and will result in a suspension.

"I think we all have the ability to change if we choose to," Edwards said. "But that's a choice. We all have to make choices in life. We all have to change some things we do as people sometimes, so we'll see where that's at."

SERIES HISTORY: 33rd regular-season meeting. Chiefs lead 16-15-1 in addition to splitting two postseason games. The teams have met three times since 2002, which the Chiefs taking the first two meetings. But the Jets won last year, 13-10 in overtime, at Giants Stadium after Brodie Croyle rallied the Chiefs to a 10-10 tie with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation.