KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 2, 2005) -- The Kansas City Chiefs dropped receiver Johnnie Morton from their squad, two weeks after he was asked to stay away from spring workouts.
The Chiefs wanted to cut Morton's $3 million annual salary, a move he was unwilling to make.
"We appreciate Johnnie Morton's effort during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs," Chiefs president Carl Peterson said in a statement. "We wish him the best in the future."
Morton's was the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 1994 draft by Detroit. He played in 126 regular-season games, catching 469 passes for 6,499 yards and scoring 35 touchdowns.
In his three seasons since coming to Kansas City as a free agent, Morton played in 43 games, catching 134 passes for 1,932 yards and eight touchdowns.
But Morton, 33, landed in Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil's doghouse after dropping some passes in Kansas City's 2003 playoff loss to Indianapolis.
The Chiefs drafted Florida State wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe in April.
