[onlooker]

Good thing they have that kid from Penn St., Larry Johnson.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will miss the rest of the season because of the lingering effects of a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Holmes, 32, a three-time Pro Bowler whose 66 touchdowns between 2002-2004 are an NFL record for any three-year span, was injured Oct. 30 during the Chiefs' loss at San Diego. He was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Injuries have caused Holmes, the Chiefs' career rushing leader, to cut short two of his last three seasons. But he has shown flashes of his old self while rushing for 451 yards and six touchdowns on 119 carries. He also has 21 catches for 197 yards, including a 60-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in a victory over Washington on Oct. 16.

"We're going to miss him," coach Dick Vermeil said. "He's more than a football player for this organization."

The Chiefs will now turn to Holmes' backup, Larry Johnson, who has averaged 5.2 yards per carry, with 506 yards on 97 attempts. Johnson had two touchdowns in the 27-23 victory Sunday over Oakland, including a 1-yard vault on the final play of the game. He has frequently complained he was not being given enough carries.

"Larry Johnson has already carried the load. He knows he can do it," Vermeil said. "He just doesn't have a Priest Holmes backing him up like he backed up Priest Holmes."

Holmes missed last week's game against Oakland and in the past two weeks has seen spinal-injury specialists in California and Florida. Speculation had been rampant he would be out for an extended period, although the Chiefs (5-3) said they were hopeful he would soon return to the lineup.

Earlier Wednesday, the team denied the injury would lead to Holmes' retirement. Television station KSHB reported Wednesday that doctors found a lump on Holmes' spine and were concerned about possible paralysis should he take a direct hit. Citing a highly placed source it didn't identify, the station said Holmes could announce his retirement as soon as Thursday.

But both the team and an employee at the firm run by Holmes' agent, Todd France, rejected suggestions Holmes would retire because of the injury.

"All the speculation, television, the media throwing things out all shook him up," Vermeil said of Holmes. "Someone said he had a tumor on his spine. He thought it was very unfair."

[bigboydan]

Good thing they have that kid from Penn St., Larry Johnson.

he was in dick's dog house last season too, as well as training camp this year. i guess heres his chance to shine.

[onlooker]

he was in dick's dog house last season too, as well as training camp this year. i guess heres his chance to shine.

He already has over 500 yards rushing on 97 attempts. Also has 6 rushing TDs. This just may jump start Johnson's career and end Holmes's.

[bigboydan]

and just think, they were about ready to cut ole larry johnson earlier this year

[onlooker]

and just think, they were about ready to cut ole larry johnson earlier this year

Then KC would of been in trouble, but I think they will be fine with LJ in the backfield.

[bigboydan]

they should be fine, as long as he stays healthy.

[bigboydan]

his pops says his son isn't going to retire

Holmes' dad says retirement not in Priest's plans

November 11, 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas City running back Priest Holmes, out for the rest of the season, is taking a break back home in Texas and is not thinking about retirement, his father said.

There had been speculation earlier this week that Holmes might retire after seeing three medical specialists following a helmet-to-helmet collision against San Diego on Oct. 30. He missed last Sunday's game against Oakland, and the Chiefs placed him on injured reserve Wednesday because of head and neck trauma.

His father, Herman Morris, said Holmes is irritated and disappointed about another early end to his season. But he plans to be back.


``He's not contemplating retirement,'' Morris told The Kansas City Star in Friday's edition. ``He wants to go out on top. He wants to go out his way. He plans on walking off, at God's will, writing his own script, not having someone else write it for him.''

Morris said Holmes initially hoped he would return to action in four weeks, after doctors recommended he avoid contact for at least 30 days. Morris said his son didn't want the controversy over his physical condition to be a distraction to the Chiefs, who are 5-3 heading into Sunday's game at Buffalo.

``He wants the city to have a winning team,'' Morris said from San Antonio. ``He just hopes the media frenzy and the speculation don't affect the players and the organization.''

Larry Johnson, often disgruntled in his role backing up Holmes, rushed for 107 yards and scored two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-23 win over the Raiders. In his first start of the year, Johnson got the game-winning score by vaulting from the 1 into the end zone as time expired.

``What we want Priest to do is get healthy and get ready to play next year,'' coach Dick Vermeil said Thursday. ``And we've got to get this football team ready to play. That's the cold, harder part of this business. It just keeps right on going.''

[onlooker]

Sounds like Barry Sanders dad, talking for his son.

Time will tell if Holmes will retire.