Priest to return in 2007? (1 Viewer)

[-OZ-]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?i...e=ESPNHeadlines

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Running back Priest Holmes will not return to the Kansas City Chiefs this season.

Holmes

However, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said Tuesday that recent medical tests on Holmes have been encouraging and Holmes hopes to return for the 2007 season. Tuesday was the last day the Chiefs could have activated Holmes.

"He does not, at this time, plan to give up football," Peterson said. "We're looking at another evaluation in January or February of '07."

The three-time Pro Bowler, who turned 33 last month, has not played since Oct. 30, 2005, when he was injured on a hit by Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman in a game at San Diego. The hit left him with head and neck trauma, diagnosed by three spinal specialists.

He missed the last nine games of the season after skipping the last eight games of the 2004 season with a knee injury. He has appeared in all 16 games in a season only four times since breaking into the NFL in 1997.

Peterson said Holmes, who is under contract through 2009, told him on Friday that he wanted to remain on the physically unable to perform list through this season.

"We're 12 weeks into the regular season," Peterson said. "Without getting into the medical aspects of it, I think there were some questions as to whether he could have himself ready to play."

Peterson declined to say whether Holmes would have been able to return had he gotten the same evaluations earlier in the season rather than within the past week.

Holmes had his best year in 2003 after a lucrative contract extension, rushing for 1,420 yards and setting an NFL record with 27 touchdowns. Seattle's Shaun Alexander broke the record with 28 TDs last year.

Since Holmes' injury, though, Larry Johnson has emerged as Kansas City's marquee running back and Holmes has been all but invisible, staying at his home in Texas instead of working out with the Chiefs in Kansas City.

That was nothing unusual for the intensely private and enigmatic back who became a surprise star after going undrafted out of Texas.

He joined Baltimore as a rookie free agent in 1997, rushing for 1,008 yards the following season, before taking on a reduced role behind Jamal Lewis. He came to Kansas City as an unrestricted free agent before the 2001 season, when he led the league in rushing with 1,555 yards and earned his first Pro Bowl berth.

He ran for 1,615 yards in 2002, third in the league, despite missing the last two games with a hip injury that prompted the Chiefs to take Johnson with their first-round pick in the 2003 draft.

"With Priest, you can never count him out," said Holmes' agent, Todd France. "In my mind, there's no question. In his mind, there's no question.

"In everyone else's mind, he's been second-guessed his entire career, and people have been wrong."

Peterson said he has maintained regular contact with Holmes and the team understood and supported the running back's decision to stay in Texas.

"He felt that until he could play where he'd like to be, at 100 percent, and to practice at 100 percent, he didn't want to be a distraction," Peterson said.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

So did Priest get paid this year? If so I have to wonder if this is just some under-the-table pension thing.

 

[MLBrandow]

Hope and Real are two different things.

Priest isn't playing because he can't get a doctor to clear him. His neck injury never fully healed and never will fully heal. So, when he plays, and he takes one bad hit, he could be quadraplyzed.

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

As I have said countless times on here.....this is strictly about Priest getting his money....no way a 34 yr. old RB comes back to play.

Heck, the guy isn't even around the team. As a KC guy, that has irked me ever since this happened. Priest is holding on because he wants all the money from the contract extension he agreed to back in '03 that kicked in this season.

Some type of settlement HAS to be reached this offseason, as his cap # is just too high. To put it bluntly, Priest has the organization by the balls and is not going to let go, even if it would help the team. That us why I think this is going to end ugly.

Purely speculation, but I could see a lawsuit of some sort.

 

[TitusIII]

Freaking "Roid" Merriman! Animals, animals, I tell ya...

 

[Bri]

As I have said countless times on here.....this is strictly about Priest getting his money....no way a 34 yr. old RB comes back to play.Heck, the guy isn't even around the team. As a KC guy, that has irked me ever since this happened. Priest is holding on because he wants all the money from the contract extension he agreed to back in '03 that kicked in this season.Some type of settlement HAS to be reached this offseason, as his cap # is just too high. To put it bluntly, Priest has the organization by the balls and is not going to let go, even if it would help the team. That us why I think this is going to end ugly.Purely speculation, but I could see a lawsuit of some sort.

It's tough when an injury ends your career, moreso for someone that the world can't wait to return to the game. I have no issue with Peterson giving him all the time he wants to decide what he wants to do. The Chiefs haven't won a Supe in "forever" and have been thru their share of coaches. He put fans in the seats. He scored a zillion TDs when their D couldn't stop the other team from scoring that many and.....why not? Peterson is loaded. It's "no skin off his back" and it's not affecting the team at all. Young Bennett was highly regarded in Minny and he was a FA many followed this offseason. They had no trouble landing him. Gaudy stats by a RB? LJ has that coverred. Regularly 4k yard QB Trent Green is still there. Great TE Tony G is there, so is Kennison. The D has signed Surtain and Bell in recent years and went after Law. How has his salary affected them at all? The cap increased this year, maybe that's an even swap in gain/loss, maybe not...big deal.Are you worried Peterson will have a bank account of 700 million instead of 695 million or whatever he has?Lawsuit is ridiculous speculation. Show me one time where the Chiefs organization wasn't "behind" Priest.

 

[Bri]

As I have said countless times on here.....this is strictly about Priest getting his money....no way a 34 yr. old RB comes back to play.

Wasn't Mike Anderson 32 or 33 last year when he made his comeback? It's far fetched but it's not as far fetched as most people make it out to be.

 

[wannabee]

So did Priest get paid this year? If so I have to wonder if this is just some under-the-table pension thing.

He got paid this year. Here is a news blurb I read today:Chiefs officially end Priest Holmes' year

Published Tue Nov 28 1:28:00 p.m. ET 2006

(Rotoworld) The Chiefs announced Tuesday that Priest Holmes will finish the 2006 season on the reserve/PUP list.

Impact: Priest who? The Chiefs were nice enough to pay Holmes $710,000 this season for his previous contributions to the organization when they knew he wasn't likely to play. While GM Carl Peterson said Holmes could return next season, he's more likely to retire. Holmes' 2007 salary is $4 million.