10-31-2007, 05:49 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
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 Priest Holmes Hurt Chiefs with Selfishness?
Quote:
According to my e-mail, voice mail, Carl Peterson and FOP friends of Priest Holmes I owe Kansas Citys 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.coms 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 Citys 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, were 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.
Im going to clarify my position on Priest Holmes one last time, and then be done with it.
I dont 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 cant 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.
Were 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.
Were 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. Its 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.
Im not blasting Priest Holmes. Trent Green shouldve retired last year. But dont you think Green couldve found a doctor to prescribe a years 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.
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