An online petition calling for the Kansas City Chief's Larry Johnson to be fired has gained signatures from over 10,716 people who feel the player should be dismissed following gay slurs published on his Twitter account.

The all-star football player is a mere 80 yards away from breaking the all-time rushing record currently held by Priest Holmes, an honor many feel Johnson does not deserve. The petitioners are calling for general manager Scott Pioli to take action soon so he does not have the opportunity to break the record and gain more praise.

The petition reads:

"Allowing Larry Johnson to attain a record is something that can never be erased," the petition reads. "In a year where the team is trying to look toward the future with many young players, please don’t add to the collective morose this city is feeling by allowing one of the truly great players, people, and role models in this city’s sporting history to be replaced in the record books by someone who we don’t like and who doesn’t like us."

The homophobic comments were directed towards Chiefs coach Todd Haley, questioning his qualifications and calling him a "Christopher street boy," a reference to NYC's Christopher Street, a neighborhood known for its gay pride.

Jason Shukeat, one of the petitioners, calls Johnson an "embarrassment" to the team and said his return would be a "travesty."

"Between beating women and voicing slurs toward fans and media, there is absolutely no reason this trash should even have a job, much less become the franchise's all-time leading rusher," Shukeat commented. "With new management and coaching this year, Johnson needs to be gone to show that the attitude within the organization has changed and that we will not stand for thugs on this team."

Though team representatives have not commented on the petition and the possibility of Johnson's dismissal, he has publicly apologized for the incident on October 22, for which he was suspended and ordered to pay a $315,000 penalty.

"I regret my actions," he said. "The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate. I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said."

Johnson continued, "I'm going to work to that point to get my life back on track and know that I and I alone put myself in these critical situations and environments to where things don't come out favorably to me."

This incident is not the first brush with misconduct for Johnson, who has been arrested four times since being drafted in 2003 for various degrees of battery, once for spitting in a woman's face at a nightclub in Kansas City.

Johnson has served two years probation and was ordered to attend a domestic violence diversion program for an earlier arrest.

Despite the charges, Johnson's contract with the Chiefs was extended in 2007, potentially earning him $45 million and including a guaranteed $19 million.

Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, says he has learned from his action and is hoping others have learned from it as well.

"My hope is that people learn that something positive can come out of this and that there are words that should not be used because they demean people," said Schaffer.

Johnson is due to return to the field on Monday.

What do you think: are the gay slurs in addition to his previous record enough to fire him, or should we all give the guy a break? Do you think he's paid his dues or should he be let go? Sound off in the comments!

via FOX News