Browns' general manager out

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns invisible general manager has disappeared.

George Kokinis, the hand-picked GM of first-year coach Eric Mangini who was rarely seen or heard in Cleveland, left the team Monday under unexplained circumstances after less than one year on the job.

After reports surfaced that Kokinis was fired, the team issued an awkwardly worded statement saying Kokinis "is no longer actively involved with the organization." The Browns also denied reports that Kokinis was escorted from team headquarters.

Kokinis' apparent ouster came one day after Browns owner Randy Lerner said he wanted to hire a "strong, credible, serious" football adviser to help run his struggling 1-7 team. Kokinis was hired on Jan. 23, two weeks after the Browns named Mangini as their fourth coach since 1999.

CHARGERS CUT CHAMBERS: The San Diego Chargers have released wide receiver Chris Chambers a day after he had a key catch in a 24-16 win over the Oakland Raiders.

Coach Norv Turner said the Chargers released Chambers because of the emergence of Malcom Floyd and the need to sign a linebacker because of an injury to Tim Dobbins on Sunday.

Chambers was demoted Sunday in favor of Floyd, yet still had a big catch in the win over the Raiders, which lifted the Chargers to 4-3.

CHIEFS SHORTEN JOHNSON'S SUSPENSION: The Kansas City Chiefs, apparently fearful of losing in arbitration, agreed Monday to cut Larry Johnson's suspension in half for making gay slurs.

The agreement saved the running back about $315,000. The Chiefs issued a terse announcement saying they had made the settlement in conjunction with the NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association. Originally, they suspended the former two-time Pro Bowler two weeks, which would have cost him about $330,000.

He will still miss the game at Jacksonville this week and not participate in team activities until Nov. 9. The Chiefs had said the suspension was for conduct detrimental to the team.

CABLE TO BE EVALUATED: The Oakland Raiders will undertake a "serious evaluation" of allegations that coach Tom Cable has a history of violent behavior toward women.