I wish this guy would leave KC...

**hermhater** · 10-25-2007, 04:07 PM

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

**chief31** · 10-26-2007, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by DrunkHillbilly

Fishy??? What, I can't want him to retire because I would hate to see him do any further damage to himself while at the same time think that taking the money was wrong? Your title needs to be Opinion Police!

Never did I say he was faking an injury or that " the injury shouldn't take that long". I also never said the Chiefs did the right thing either.

Not in those exact words, no.

Now if your opinion ( because that's all it is ) is that the Chiefs were trying to compensate for something they didn't give him in the first place, I can live with that. I just think it is funny to hear some people say ( not you) it wasn't about the money. Please!! It's always about the money!

Well, it wasn't about the money. The money is always a factor, but you yourslef have pointed out that Priest has made his money. Also, he had a choice. He could either stay at home and collect a check, or go to work and collect the same check. How do you figure that that is about the money?

I simply think that accepting the money and not keeping in contact with the people that are paying you, keeping them updated on your status, keeping in touch with teammates that are obviously concerned about your condition and status and basically keeping yourself part of the team was wrong! IMO, by doing these things, he didn't even act like he wanted to be part of the team!

Originally Posted by DrunkHillbilly

Don't be an *** and compare War Heroes to Football players!!!
I have no doubt you are proud of you granfather as well you should be. I just get a bit offended when this happens. There is NO comparison!!!

You are the a**! That is his granfather, not yours. You have absolutely no right to tell him not to make a comparison between his grandfathers financial situation to someone elses. You aren't so stupid as to believe that he was trying to say anything about how much of a hero Priest is, by comparing the two. It was about finances and you know it.

Originally Posted by DrunkHillbilly

I don't disagree with the teams loyalty. If that's why they kept him on the payroll then that's why. However, he did sign the original contract. So for one to imply that he got screwed in the first place doesn't hold water with me.

But LJ was clearly getting screwed with the origional contract that he had signed. You were all over the "PAY LJ NOW!!!" band-wagon, weren't you?

**DrunkHillbilly** · 10-26-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by chief31

You are the a**! That is his granfather, not yours. You have absolutely no right to tell him not to make a comparison between his grandfathers financial situation to someone elses. You aren't so stupid as to believe that he was trying to say anything about how much of a hero Priest is, by comparing the two. It was about finances and you know it.

But LJ was clearly getting screwed with the origional contract that he had signed. You were all over the "PAY LJ NOW!!!" band-wagon, weren't you?

UHHHH, I don't believe Priest was trying to get an extension! Had he been and had he not been injured and was putting up the same numbers he was, I would have said the same thing about him getting paid!

**chief31** · 10-26-2007, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by DrunkHillbilly

UHHHH, I don't believe Priest was trying to get an extension! Had he been and had he not been injured and was putting up the same numbers he was, I would have said the same thing about him getting paid!

.................................................. ......................

However, he did sign the original contract. So for one to imply that he got screwed in the first place doesn't hold water with me.

It's a contract. On the one hand, you say that if he signed the contract, then he isn't getting screwed. But, on the other hand, you say that LJ was negotiating for a contract extension. As if LJ didn't sign his origional contract, then refuse to live up to his end of that bargain.

**DrunkHillbilly** · 10-26-2007, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by chief31

It's a contract. On the one hand, you say that if he signed the contract, then he isn't getting screwed. But, on the other hand, you say that LJ was negotiating for a contract extension. As if LJ didn't sign his origional contract, then refuse to live up to his end of that bargain.

It happens all the time!! More so than not! I just told you that if it were Priest, I would say give him the damn money!!!
You know as well as anybody does that if we didn't pay him, someone would have and he would have came in here and ran all over us and every other team in the league. I guess your going to tell me now that had Priest not gotten hurt, he wouldn't have asked for an extension. Contracts rarely come to an end without renegotiation. You know this you just want to argue.

**chief31** · 10-26-2007, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by DrunkHillbilly

It happens all the time!! More so than not! I just told you that if it were Priest, I would say give him the damn money!!!
You know as well as anybody does that if we didn't pay him, someone would have and he would have came in here and ran all over us and every other team in the league. I guess your going to tell me now that had Priest not gotten hurt, he wouldn't have asked for an extension. Contracts rarely come to an end without renegotiation. You know this you just want to argue.

Your opinion about one guy, was that he deserves more money and should get a fat contract, while neglecting his current contract. But for the other guy, it was "He signed the contact."

You can't see the hypocracy in that?

**DrunkHillbilly** · 10-26-2007, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by chief31

Your opinion about one guy, was that he deserves more money and should get a fat contract, while neglecting his current contract. But for the other guy, it was "He signed the contact."

You can't see the hypocracy in that?

What part of if the shoe were on the other foot don't you understand? I would have backed Priest if he were in the same position.

If you will look back, I said 18-20 would be fair in my eyes to LJ. Not 22 or 23 whichever he got. Never was there mention of a FAT contract.

My point about signing the contract was that if he wasn't happy with the original contract, why sign it? He was obviously happy then. LJ was a rookie. He would have taken anything. Priest knew the game. Like I said, this isn't some unheard of process. Guys ask for extensions all the time. Just like teams cut the rug out from players all the time. Personally, I think they both should have to see the contract through but that just isn't how it works.

**chief31** · 10-26-2007, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by DrunkHillbilly

What part of if the shoe were on the other foot don't you understand? I would have backed Priest if he were in the same position.

If you will look back, I said 18-20 would be fair in my eyes to LJ. Not 22 or 23 whichever he got. Never was there mention of a FAT contract.

My point about signing the contract was that if he wasn't happy with the original contract, why sign it? He was obviously happy then. LJ was a rookie. He would have taken anything. Priest knew the game. Like I said, this isn't some unheard of process. Guys ask for extensions all the time. Just like teams cut the rug out from players all the time. Personally, I think they both should have to see the contract through but that just isn't how it works.

Good. We agree in principle.

Eventhough, on Priest side, I haven't heard him lobbying for more money...Yet.