Priest Holmes done for year, and maybe forever?

[RhymesayersDU]

Chef Fan, Give Me Some Insight If You Have Any...

Anyways, just got this IM from a buddy of mine:

RotoWorld.com and FantasyFootball.com have learned that Priest Holmes will not play in week 10 and is unlikely to play again this season.
Sources close to the situation report that his career is in jeopardy. Larry Johnson will start in week 10 when the Chiefs visit the Buffalo Bills, and Johnson's value should be very high for the rest of season if Holmes shuts it down.

From what I've heard, possibly brain damage. Again, no link, just speculation I guess. Anybody heard anything?

[rbackfactory80]

I hope not, as much as I hate the Chiefs I do respect his play. Get well Priest.

[Needa Pass Rush]

Try this.....

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13093765.htm


Posted on Sat, Nov. 05, 2005


Holmes sees spine specialist; Vermeil stresses season is not over

BY ELIZABETH MERRILL

Kansas City Star


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An air of uncertainty lingers over the health of Priest Holmes, and it may go beyond the Pro Bowl running back missing Sunday's game with Oakland.

Coach Dick Vermeil said Saturday that Holmes won't play on Sunday, that he's being evaluated by a well-known spinal specialist, and that Holmes is expected to undergo more tests in coming days.

Holmes' issue isn't just the concussion he suffered in last weekend's helmet-to-helmet collision in San Diego, but also the after effects of a shoulder injury from the first Oakland game in September.

He went to California late last week to be evaluated by Robert Watkins, a spine surgeon and co-director of the Los Angeles Spine Surgery Institute at St. Vincent Medical Center. His expertise, according to a St. Vincent Web site, ranges from innovative spine surgeries to treatment of sports-related injuries.

Watkins is renowned for treating serious back, neck and spine injuries. His patient list includes Milwaukee Bucks point guard T.J. Ford, who underwent cervical spine surgery in May 2004, and Royals reliever Scott Sullivan. Ford was out for a year before returning to the basketball court this summer; Sullivan missed half the 2004 season and all of 2005 with a lower-back injury and recently filed for free-agency.

Watkins recently treated Giants cornerback William Peterson, who's out four to six weeks with a lower back injury.

Vermeil downplayed the significance of Holmes seeing Watkins, saying he's referred his friends and other players to the doctor. Vermeil said defensive tackle John Browning visited Watkins about the back problems he's played with since 1998.

"If a player wants a second opinion," Vermeil said, "that's a good place to send him.

"He treated the high school fullback I played with in Calistoga. He deals with back injuries and neck injuries. He has a great reputation. He's been around athletes. He's not an alarmist. I sent people there when I was with the Rams."

Holmes, the Chiefs' career rushing leader, has had injuries cut short two of his last three seasons. He missed the final eight games of 2004 with a strained MCL in his right knee and was inactive in the final two games of 2002 with a right hip injury. Vermeil said Saturday he hasn't received any information that would suggest that Holmes, 32, is out for the year.

"I haven't been told that, and Priest hasn't been told that," Vermeil said. "They want to do some further tests. The more people who end up evaluating an NFL football player's injuries, the more opinions you get and it just keeps going and going.

"I don't think there's any threat of that at all."

Holmes has rushed for a team-high 451 yards on 119 carries and appeared refreshed in a two-back rotation with Larry Johnson. With injuries rocking the offensive line, Holmes has found ways to be more creative, fighting for nearly every yard he's gained.

But as driven as he's been on the field, Holmes has been equally as obsessed with listening to his body when it tells him he can't perform. Holmes told reporters last week that this was an injury that couldn't be physically seen and determined.

"It's one where you have to go through different tests," Holmes said, "then once that is determined they will do everything to protect me but make sure I can get out there as quickly as possible."

Holmes was back in Kansas City early Saturday and was in the locker room after the Chiefs' short walk-through practice. As the team scattered to spend the rest of the day off, a few fans lingered outside the stadium. At least one of them was wearing Holmes' No. 31 jersey.

By late Saturday, it was unclear when that number would be called again.

"I don't even know if he's in any pain," Vermeil said. "When he left Thursday he said he was fine. What we're doing is a thorough examination. When you're going through thorough examinations, you don't allow them to play until (they've finished) the exam."

[RhymesayersDU]

I hope not, as much as I hate the Chiefs I do respect his play. Get well Priest.
Agreed, it's sad when any player has to leave the game because of injury.

[watermock]

Priest was/is a fine player and I keep missing the hit, but I heard it was brutal...with old players on the chefs dropping like flies, and a very risky last play win that might of backfired...the chefs are on their last run...

That play backfires, Dick3Meal is a goat, instead he's some coaching genius...I just think Oakland sucked worse than KC.

Holmes doesn't have anything left to prove and KC isn't going to do anything even if they get to the playoffs. Wayne Cherbet got his head cracked yet again and is likely done as well. Man, I played SS on a horrible Jr. High team and took some concussions that back then were barely acknowleged...then I got buried by some guy with a 8th grade beard and was knocked out...then I was buried by some other gorilla on a halfback option pass...hey dimwit...turn around...our line is terrible...it's not a fly pattern...

That pretty much wrapped up my career after I was carried off the field with a broken collarbone and seperated shoulder...I also had ruined my elbow pitching in two leagues earlier...that was also history...I was just to small to make the jump...I didn't mature at all till 16 and graduated at 17...I really enjoyed it and was quite a star for awhile...just too late developing...at any rate, getting knocked out isn't fun...I got hammered by this guys thigh pad saving yet another TD...I bounced like a ping pong ball...I debated and chased band girls on the drum...Ha!

Anyway, that sucks, Priest is one of the few Chef players I have alot of respect for...noone handed him anything...he lived in the shadow of Ricky Williams at Texas and lingered in I think Baltimore...

[Bob's your Information Minister]

This is the same source that reported Trent Green's career was in danger after his leg procedure earlier this year.

T-rich was on sirius nfl network and said everything is precautionary. Priest was in working out today and he doesnt see him being out long if at all.

[Arkie]

Vermeil said Saturday he hasn't received any information that would suggest that Holmes, 32, is out for the year.

"I don't think there's any threat of that at all."

[24champ]

I expect him to play against us in December.

[orange crusher]

The chefs organization hasn't exactly been forthcoming about Priest's injuries in the past though either.

[ludo21]

We will see how he is. If he cant go it will be a big blow to the Chiefs.

[Broncoman13]

This is the same source that reported Trent Green's career was in danger after his leg procedure earlier this year.

T-rich was on sirius nfl network and said everything is precautionary. Priest was in working out today and he doesnt see him being out long if at all.

I hope you're right in that he isn't gone for good. Priest Holmes is a pretty good, high character guy. If he wasn't a Chef he'd probably be one of my favorite players in the game.

On the flip side, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he had to shut it down for the season. I don't want him to be hurt and I don't wish it on him, but I've got Larry Johnson and I'm ready to make a run! I'd be sitting pretty with Larry Johnson, Warrick Dunn, and Julius Jones at RB. Then I'd have Moss, Boldin, McCardell, Chatman/Ferguson at WR.

Hope you're alright Priest...

[GonzoLays]

I respect Priest Holmes more than any opponent we play. He just has a certain greatness about him when he plays. The cuts, the jukes and his uncanny ability to get into the endzone is unparalled among running backs for the past five seasons (outside of LT). Plus the man is only 5'8" and went undrafted coming into the league. He's the man.

IF his career is over, he has nothing to hang his head about. He was amazing when he was healthy.

[Elway 4 Life]

Vermeil said Saturday he hasn't received any information that would suggest that Holmes, 32, is out for the year.

"I don't think there's any threat of that at all."

Based on his track record I would say it's a safe assumption that we wont see him again this year. He is one of two cheifs that I have ever liked the other being derrick thomas. I wish him well. Larry johnson is a very capable backup and could probably be a starter for half the teams out there. He must go down!!!!

[NaptownChief]

I hope he doesn't take any serious risks coming back. The neck/head thing is nothing to mess with. My mother-in-law just a couple months ago went over some rough railroad tracks and jarred her head and neck a little...Couple months passed and the neck and shoulder pain got bad enough she went to the emergency room...Turned out she had herniated the disc severe enough that it was compressing about 3/4th of the spinal column. Right before the surgery could get scheduled she lost all feeling in her legs. They performed the surgery and she has gotten some feeling back in both legs but can't walk and they suspect she probably never will again. Only 58 years old. Definitely nothing to take lightly when it comes to that type of injury.

[Bronx33]

Head injuries are never easy to over come.

[Malcontent]

Consider the source people. These a**clowns will say anything to spark a thread on our beloved Mane.

Seriously, Holmes is one of the leagues' good guys, and I hope the guy isn't done.

PS. Does anyone else think Corey Dillon is pussyfootin' around alot tonight?

[Garcia Bronco]

That's horrid news...that guy could flat out run

[FantomForce]

That is to bad, he was an awesome player but Larry Johnson looks to be taking his place. I just hope that we still sweep in narrowhead

[Bob's your Information Minister]

The last two posts are hilarious.

[TotallyScrewed]

Nappy, sorry to hear that, 58 is way too young. Spinal injuries suck. Quite frankly I'm surprised that more don't occur given the size and speed of the players these days.

What surprised me about the article...

"I haven't been told that, and Priest hasn't been told that," Vermeil said...."I don't even know if he's in any pain," Vermeil said. Does DV talk to his star players?? Didn't he also have a lack of information about what was going on with Trent???

Not having any pain isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to spinal injuries...think about it, sheesh.

[Sodak]

I'd rather have the Broncos beat a healthy Chef team in December.

Get well Priest!

[ro_50]

I hope Priest is well.

[SNR_Chief]

The chefs organization hasn't exactly been forthcoming about Priest's injuries in the past though either.Let's not forget their delay on coming foward about Priest's Bo Jackson injury that dramaically killed his second-level burst and made him suck for the rest of his career Hilarious!

[Mile High Shack]

neck injuries...can't joke about

although I almost did and Priest being a glory hound

but get well Priest......the better Texas back........better than Ricky Williams was

[Cochise]

Vermeil said something on the local radio today about how he thought he might play this week. It could have not been a 'today' clip I was hearing but just FWIW.

You don't always get the real story on injures from the FO that is for sure.

[Crushaholic]

Vermeil is just trying to throw off that "vaunted" Buffalo defense...:crazy:

[watermock]

Let's not forget their delay on coming foward about Priest's Bo Jackson injury that dramaically killed his second-level burst and made him suck for the rest of his career Hilarious!

Pretty funny...he came back, but only had one more great season in him...keep dreaming the whole offense is getting old...if you couldn't see the team speed had declined against Oakland you were blind...

It's not even something to discuss...it's just a fact...

[Needa Pass Rush]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13093194.htm

Are the Chiefs' offensive troubles because of their aging blockers? Yikes!

BY JOE POSNANSKI

Kansas City Star


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City is an offensive lineman kind of town. That's what makes this Chiefs season troubling so far. The Chiefs have lost three of their last five games. They are 29th in total defense, and they were beaten decisively by the three good teams they have faced.

All of that's troubling, sure.

But one impressive win over the Oakland Raiders makes that stuff go away.

The offensive line alarm, meanwhile, isn't going away any time soon. Suddenly, people look at the Chiefs offensive line - the core and rock of the Chiefs for 15 years_and say: "You know what? I don't think these guys are playing as well."

Of course the players and coaches say that's nonsense. They say the offensive line is still playing at that high level Kansas City football fans have come to take for granted.

Is that true? Well, it has always been hard to judge offensive linemen without the use of coaching film and 65 free hours to break it down. If you ask Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil right after Sunday's game how, say, center Casey Wiegmann, played, believe me, he will have absolutely no idea.

But there are some things you can see. There are bold and telling statistics: Priest Holmes, for the first time in his career, is averaging fewer than 4 yards per carry. Quarterback Trent Green has thrown only six touchdown passes. Tight end Tony Gonzalez is way down in yardage.

Here's one crucial statistic: The Chiefs have been the league's best the last couple of years at scoring touchdowns inside the red zone_inside the other team's 20- yard line. The last two years, the Chiefs have scored touchdowns 82 out of 113 trips to the red zone_about 73 percent.

This year? The Chiefs are getting into the red zone as much as ever. They are not scoring. The Chiefs have scored touchdowns 12 out of 26 trips. That's 46 percent. You don't have to be a mathematician to know that's not nearly as good.

Beyond the statistics, though, there is something that you can see on the field. Green very clearly seems to be getting hit more. Holmes and Larry Johnson are not finding those big openings as often. Last week, after the Chiefs lost to San Diego, Vermeil admitted that, until they had no choice, the coaches were reluctant to let Green drop back seven steps and throw downfield.

The coaches did not feel like they could protect their quarterback.

So, there is something very real happening here. And it has to be hard for people in Kansas City to accept. Over the last 15 years, the Chiefs have been many different things. They have been built around defense, around offense, around special teams, around power, around speed, around Chester McGlockton, around tailgating, but there has been one enduring identity, a least in the mind of Kansas City fans:

That Chiefs offensive line will knock you around.

Look: Even during the 10 dry offensive years, from 1991 to 2000 -- years when the Chiefs did not have a single 1,000- yard rusher and did not once finish in the top five in scoring_offensive linemen were Kansas City rock stars. Center Tim Grunhard was, and remains even now, a Kansas City celebrity. Guard David Szott was beloved. Will Shields is certainly one of the most admired men in town.

And you probably remember that in 1998, versatile offensive lineman Glenn Parker was named the team's most valuable player. Everybody loved Glenn Parker.

See, there is something about blue- collar, hard-working offensive linemen that appeals to the Kansas City football fan.

This decade, it got better. Dick Vermeil arrived in 2001, and the Chiefs have scored more points than any team in the NFL in the 4 1/2 seasons since. The offensive line was the big reason. The Chiefs traded for future Hall of Famer Willie Roaf. They developed star guard Brian Waters. And in those four years, Chiefs offensive linemen have been named to the Pro Bowl eight times, most in the NFL (this does not even include perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez).

This group of Chiefs has been called the best offensive line in football so many times, even the players have grown tired of hearing it.

"When people were pumping us up and saying we were the best in the NFL, we weren't really biting on to that," Waters told a reporter. And then a little later: "All the hype over us getting all these different labels ... that came from different people. It's kind of hard because we're fighting something that we never said."

Well, people in this town believed it. And now, it's hard to know what to believe. Waters is among those who say that while the Chiefs offensive line has had some injury issues, all in all it is still performing at a very high level.

"I'm kind of miffed," he said . "If people would just go back and look at the stats over the same amount of time, there really is no difference."

Waters is right to a point. The Chiefs have allowed two sacks per game this year, exactly the same rate they allowed sacks last year. And the Chiefs are still on pace to rush for almost 2,100 yards, a good year by almost anyone's standard.

But a look at a couple more key Chiefs statistics tells a gruesome story.

Third- down conversion percentage:

2002: 41.6

2003: 41.8

2004: 47.2

2005: 34.4

Yards per pass attempt:

2002: 7.9

2003: 7.7

2004: 8.3

2005: 7.4

It's right there for you. The Chiefs are not picking up first downs. And the Chiefs are not completing passes down the field. The offensive line can't take all the blame. The Chiefs have not developed a second receiver. Holmes is 32. Green is not having as good a year. Etc.

But, it seems obvious to anyone watching that the line is not playing as well as the last three or four years. They are not opening up as many big holes. They are not giving Green as much time. Why not? Age is a good guess. Roaf is 35 (and out for Sunday's game). Shields is 34. Wiegmann is 32. Linemen certainly have more staying power than most other positions in the NFL, but at some point even the greatest linemen ever_and both Roaf and Shields should be in the Hall of Fame someday - can no longer play at that supreme level.

In sports, the fall happens fast.

"If you do the right things technically, you can get away with some things," Grunhard says. "Eventually you realize no matter how much study you do, how much film you watch, your body can't get in the right position to succeed."

Of course, the Chiefs are hardly dead. They are 4-3, and their next three games are against teams with losing records. Things might look a whole lot better at Thanksgiving. The Chiefs line may be old, but there's a lot of pride there.

"Older players are always better," Waters says. "A lot of offensive lines today have a lot of younger but yet more talented and athletic players. They don't know what they're doing."

These Chiefs definitely know. They know this is the last chance.

[Pat Bowlen]

I played SS on a horrible Jr. High team and took some concussions that back then were barely acknowleged
They're showing up just fine online, don't worry.

[BroncoBuff]

To paraphrase the great American philosopher Cher . . .

"If we dug his grave every time one of you eggheads told us he was about to die, we'd be all the way to China by now!

Priest has been "on the brink" before . . .

[BroncoBuff]

Hey, Al Czervik!

Welcome to the Mane!

But I hear the only reason you showed up is, you might BUY the place!

[al czervik]

Thanks for the welcome Buff....

"I'll tell ya, country clubs and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate."

Al Czervik

[BroncoBuff]

Thanks for the welcome Buff....

"I'll tell ya, country clubs and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate."

Al Czervik
Looks good on you, though . . .

[SoCalBronco]

Thanks for the welcome Buff....

"I'll tell ya, country clubs and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate."

Al Czervik

"Oh, this your wife, huh? A lovely lady. Hey baby, you must've been something before electricity."


That was a hell of a film.


Welcome to the board, Al.

[24champ]

Thanks for the welcome Buff....

"I'll tell ya, country clubs and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate."

Al Czervik
http://sk1pper.com/welcome_4.jpg

[ClevelandBronco2]

I hope he doesn't take any serious risks coming back. The neck/head thing is nothing to mess with. My mother-in-law just a couple months ago went over some rough railroad tracks and jarred her head and neck a little...Couple months passed and the neck and shoulder pain got bad enough she went to the emergency room...Turned out she had herniated the disc severe enough that it was compressing about 3/4th of the spinal column. Right before the surgery could get scheduled she lost all feeling in her legs. They performed the surgery and she has gotten some feeling back in both legs but can't walk and they suspect she probably never will again. Only 58 years old. Definitely nothing to take lightly when it comes to that type of injury.

I hope that your mother-in-law's predicament bears no relation to Priest Holmes' situation.

I'll pray for your mother-in-law now and for Mr. Holmes as soon as you guys are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

Kidding about that. I just said a prayer for the Priest.

[KipCorrington25]

If coach would've put me in fourth quarter... we'd have been state champions, no doubt. No doubt in my mind. You better believe things would have been different. I'd have gone pro...in a heartbeat. I'd be makin' millions of dollars and... livin' in a... big ol' mansion somewhere. You know, soakin' it up in a hot tub with my soul mate.

[NaptownChief]

My gut feeling was that Holmes would retire after this season before the injury....I would think if this is serious it would definitely put him over the hump. He has made his money and I'm guessing the Chiefs would be fairly generous with an injury settlement if he were to retire. Factor in that LJ was probably going to be anointed the man next year anyway should be enough to get him to step aside.

[al czervik]

While KC has had several FA's that exceeded expectations, Priest was the best by a long shot. Marcus would probably come in a close second.

[westcliffe]

They're showing up just fine online, don't worry.


Now THAT's comedy!!