I wish this guy would leave KC...

[hermhater]

Holmes' selfish ways have hurt the Chiefs

By JASON WHITLOCK

The Kansas City Star





According to my e-mail, voice mail, Carl Peterson and FOP — friends of Priest Holmes — I owe Kansas City’s 34-year-old running back an apology.
According to my respected colleagues at The Star, local TV stars Jack Harry and Frank Boal and ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli, last Sunday Priest Holmes completed a remarkable comeback by playing against the Oakland Raiders.
King Carl made a point to stroll by me in Kansas City’s victorious, postgame locker room and triumphantly announce, “Priest Holmes is back.”
Back from what, quitting?
Seriously, it gets old playing the role of bad guy, but someone has to do it. It seems like when it comes to discussing or analyzing athletes, we’re locked in this never-ending game of good or evil, hero or goat, right or wrong.
Most of us are filled with a little of both. Priest Holmes certainly is.
I’m going to clarify my position on Priest Holmes one last time, and then be done with it.
I don’t dislike Priest Holmes. For reasons I do not know, I believe he intentionally tries to confuse people, particularly the news media, coaches and front-office executives. That is his right. For that reason, I believe virtually nothing that comes out of his mouth. I believe his actions.
He quit football. Nothing wrong with that. He tired of the game, took an opportunity to walk away and collect a 2006 paycheck while sitting at home. I say he “quit” because his actions indicate just that. Players get injured all the time, and you can’t get them away from the game, the locker room, the film study, the fellowship with teammates and coaches.
Anyone remember Trent Green? How did he react when injured a year ago or even this season in Miami? They carried Trent Green off on a stretcher, strapped to a gurney like a death-row inmate, and he was back in the locker room begging to play in a couple of weeks.
Holmes? He walked off the field in San Diego in 2005 after absorbing a hit from Shawne Merriman. No one has ever offered a clear, concise explanation of his injury. Jack Harry, at one time, described it as a “tumor” for his viewers. Whatever, Holmes was never hospitalized, as far as I know. There was no extensive rehab. As best as I can remember, Holmes’ Los Angeles doctor prescribed rest.
We’re not talking about Kevin Everett relearning to walk, Lance Armstrong surviving chemotherapy, Mike Alstott coming back to football after having a disk in his neck removed and replaced with a vertebra from a cadaver, Alonzo Mourning recovering from kidney disease.
We’re talking about a hard hit, tingling in Holmes’ fingers, inconclusive tests and a prescription of rest.
Holmes rested in San Antonio, away from his teammates and away from his employer. According to Holmes, he spent his time away from football connecting with his five children. Great. It’s good that Holmes wants to be a father to his kids. Many responsible men balance parenting with career demands and wife demands. Most good fathers would love to spend 22 uninterrupted months connecting with their children.
I’m not blasting Priest Holmes. Trent Green should’ve retired last year. But don’t you think Green could’ve found a doctor to prescribe a year’s worth of rest to recover from his concussion, if he was looking for a way to sit at home and get paid?
Now, sometime over the summer, the Chiefs tried to talk Holmes into announcing his retirement. Holmes declined, and in late July he announced he would report to training camp. Again, there was no clear, concise explanation of what had transpired to magically make Holmes healthy enough to play. Holmes credited a dream.

I credit Carl Peterson. He basically told Holmes to retire or play. There were no more free paychecks for “resting” in San Antonio.
I wish Holmes much success this season. A lot of people are rooting for Holmes because they’ve soured on Larry “LJ-Z” Johnson. LJ-Z has been a poor teammate. In comparison, Holmes looks like a good teammate.
I’m not so sure. The reality is Holmes could’ve worked out with the Chiefs during the offseason and reported to training camp ready to contribute. Had Holmes been with the team in March, demonstrated he was serious about playing, participated in exhibition games, perhaps Carl Peterson could’ve dealt with LJ-Z more aggressively in contract negotiations. Who knows? Peterson might’ve pulled the trigger on a trade with the Packers.
Holmes’ selfishness hurt the Chiefs. It can’t all be explained away because Holmes has convinced everyone he’s different. If that’s the case, then Larry Johnson is different, too, and we should all just accept it.
We don’t have to accept it. The Chiefs have two running backs who allow their selfish tendencies to undermine team progress.


http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/331872.html

[timsatt1]

if you think about it, what could he do BUT keep quiet?

2 years ago, could he say...i am training for a comeback? NO! they would not give him two years. they would push him to miss one season and be back the next. What team has ever given someone two years. He knew he couldnt come out with this plan publicly. 2 years is unheard of.

HOWEVER, two years is the right thing to do FOR HIM. Get his body ready and play when it is truly ready. Priest is a very smart individual in my opinion. I hope he shocks people this year. He is a big threat...block, catch, run. BIG PIMPIN.

LJ is very immobile and not versatile like Priest.

[hermhater]

I'm not sure I agree with all of what Fatlock says, but rehabbing for 2 years???? With pay??? Seriously!

When one gets a neck and/or spinal injury, one is smart to take their time deciding ones future.

I'm anxious to see what Priest will do for us this year. We are in a good position to really start developing some chemistry on offense, imo

sux

That is what you would get if you hurt yourself at any other job.

if you think about it, what could he do BUT keep quiet?

2 years ago, could he say...i am training for a comeback? NO! they would not give him two years. they would push him to miss one season and be back the next. What team has ever given someone two years. He knew he couldnt come out with this plan publicly. 2 years is unheard of.

HOWEVER, two years is the right thing to do FOR HIM. Get his body ready and play when it is truly ready. Priest is a very smart individual in my opinion. I hope he shocks people this year. He is a big threat...block, catch, run. BIG PIMPIN.

LJ is very immobile and not versatile like Priest.

I respect your opinions DH, but dude, are you serious?

You say you are a Chiefs fan, but don't want PRIEST to heal and come back???

Are you in an alternate dimension? This could ONLY be good for the Chiefs?

Please explain your stance on this issue.










That is all.

[greg3564]

The play where Priest ran it to the outside near the end of the game is just scratching the surface. I think Priest still has it in him to put up some serious yards. He has great ability to bounce off tackles and burst off to the sidelines and stretch plays. LJ is a "hit em' head on" kind of player. Not a bad thing if the offense can open a hole up the middle more often. With the O line playing the way it is now, I think Priest is a more ideal choice. Priests' smaller stature and nimbleness to avoid tackles is better suited right now. Hopefully dummy Herm can use Priest more and put LJ on the sidelines for a while.

[chief31]

I'm not sure I agree with all of what Fatlock says, but rehabbing for 2 years???? With pay??? Seriously!

Some people, when proven wrong, just show bitterness and find some other excuse to remain negative about things. Never to admit their mistakes.

Instead of saying "Wow. I guess I was wrong about the guy", They forego any admitions with an attack from some other angle.

[sling58]

I am glad Priest is back. I have loved watching him on the field since the day he doned the #31 for the Red and Gold. As for Fatlock, he is an idiot!

[DrunkHillbilly]

Some people, when proven wrong, just show bitterness and find some other excuse to remain negative about things. Never to admit their mistakes.

Instead of saying "Wow. I guess I was wrong about the guy", They forego any admitions with an attack from some other angle.

Are YOU serious???? Pull your head out man!!! Reguardless of what Canada says, timsatt is right. It is unheard of to sit out for two full years, not communicate with your employer and still get paid!

Herm, I am definetley not a Priest hater. I do however think he may have either intentionally or unintentionally held the Chiefs hostage. CP was reporting all the time that there had been very little contact with Priest during those two years off. If as some say, he really didn't care about the money and was all about the team, why didn't he free up that money and let the team use it? I understand the logistics of how the salary cap works 31 so before you start spouting the NFL rules.......

31, how was I wrong about the guy? All I ever did was express my opinion about what I thought he should do. I still think he should retire! If his injury was SOOO serious that he had to sit out for two seasons, then there is a BETTER than avg chance he could do further and potentially more damage to his self now! Just like a post prior, guys get hurt all the time and they are back within weeks.

You guys need to stop getting it twisted! I have said in the past that Priest is one of my favorite players. I own 3 of his jersey's for god sakes! I just don't think it was right for him to take the money when he obviously knew he wasn't going to be there for a significant amount of time! The team could have possibly used that money.

[anaeelbackwards]

i somewhat agree with drunkhillbilly, 2 years on the injured list and rehabbing is a while and still getting paid... if it were larry johnson, people would be asking for his head!

[Canada]

i somewhat agree with drunkhillbilly, 2 years on the injured list and rehabbing is a while and still getting paid... if it were larry johnson, people would be asking for his head!

Would you guys honestly give up two years pay for the good of your employer??

[sling58]

Would you guys honestly give up two years pay for the good of your employer??

Nope free money!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't see anything wrong with what he did, everyone would take 22 months off and get paid for it. If you say you wouldn't your lying.

Get off his case already about it. My Grandpa has been drawing disability from the military for taking a bullet in the stomach in Korea, does he need to quit collecting his money just because he hasn't re-enlisted?

[DrunkHillbilly]

Would you guys honestly give up two years pay for the good of your employer??

I wouldn't, obviously you wouldn't but apparrently we aren't as ethical and upstanding as everybody is saying Priest is.

Also, the $40k-100k thta the avg person makes is far less than what he was being paid. I know I would start to feel a little guilty after a year or so especially if I had not even talked to my employers in the same amount of time. Just collected the check every Monday!