Grueling month after grueling month, running back Priest Holmes finally passed his physical and dialed Kansas City Chiefs’ General Manager Carl Peterson‘s digits to indicate he will be in camp on time. The headlines haven’t looked this good since Greg Robinson resigned. And by good, I mean stellar. Don’t believe the hype that The Kansas City Star‘s Jason Whitlock is throwing out there. Bottom line: Holmes doesn’t roll like that; there is no way Holmes is on board with some kind of Peterson-brewed scheme to toy with running back Larry Johnson and his desire to do the same thing Holmes wanted/told a national television audience from the sidelines several years ago — “Get paid.”
So let’s throw all the controversy talk in the waste basket, right next to Fatlock‘s burnt ends sandwich wrappers, because that’s all it is: garbage. Carl Peterson and the Kansas City Chiefs’ front office might be stubborn, but they’re far from foolish. They know Holmes can contribute to this football team. They’re also aware of Holmes’ age, injury history, and the fact that Johnson is, by all intents and purposes, the most valuable tool in Arrowhead Drive’s shed. I said before that there is no way the Chiefs open the season without Johnson, and I still believe that.
If Johnson holds out, which, he technically still has not done, and the talks remain as far apart as they are now, he may not report in time for the season. What if he doesn’t report for the first four games? The first seven? The whole campaign? Then what? His contract is up and he gets picked up by someone else and paid LaDainian Tomlinson money? Wrong. Peterson would franchise his ass. He’d probably do it again the following year, too. This holdout won’t last, assuming of course, that it actually gets started.
In a perfect world, Johnson does the honorable thing and keeps his word by finishing the contract he signed. You know, his first National Football League contract, the one that says he’s binded through this football season. But the world of sports and athletes are far from perfect. Johnson knows that, the Chiefs know that, everyone knows it. Peterson, therefore, is already engaged in contract talks with Johnson’s agent; all parties are interested in getting this deal done, signed and over with, so that the team may focus on the main thing.
Like Johnson’s team worth, it’s also no secret that Peterson dislikes parting with his draft picks. All things point to this deal getting done. Now, Holmes’ return, might result in Peterson saving a few of the Hunt family’s Georges, but not likely anything significant. In my estimation, the largest contribution Holmes’ return offers the Chiefs is that of confidence for Head Coach Herman Edwards‘ youth movement. When the younger players on the team realize that there’s a strong linebacking corp with two young talented safeties and two skilled veterans on the corner, they match that with the best tight end to ever play the game, a first-round-draft-pick receiver and the tightest backfield in football, they’ve got to feel good about their chances to be competitive in the AFC West this year. They’ve got to.
Imagine Holmes and Johnson lined up behind quarterback Damon Huard. Wideouts Eddie Kennison and Dwayne Bowe will keep the secondary in check, while the linebackers must hone in on Tony Gonzalez, and maybe even Kris Wilson at the same time. You hand the ball off to Holmes with Johnson blocking, or vice versa, and it will be up to a corner to come off of assignment and make the post-first-down tackle. I wouldn’t want to have to scheme against that offense.
One thing Fatlock mentioned in today’s column should be considered. And that’s that this whole Holmes scenario will in fact be more significant come season opener. That’s true. But isn’t everything on a much larger scale when the season kicks off?
Until then, I’m pumped for Holmes’ return. He can do no harm to the franchise. His presence on the field only makes the Chiefs more poised, more loaded for a late-season push toward the playoffs (playoffs?!?!). Most Chiefs fans will agree. Flashing the diamond cutter while supporting Team Priest is about the easiest multi-task there is.