Holmes says he'll return to top form

[The_Philster]

Chiefs halfback Priest Holmes said Wednesday that he is as optimistic as he's ever been about the upcoming season and his comeback from last season's hip injury.

"I'm excited to be back on my feet again running,'' Holmes said on WHB-AM Wednesday. "The reason I'm still excited is that just four months ago I was on crutches.''

Holmes, who spent an hour on the Kansas City radio station, said that he's been running for two months and he's even been pulling a tractor to built up the strength in the legs and see how the hip responds to stretch. He expects a full recovery from the injury....

more (http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/clayton_john/1578737.html)

[Gunzlingr]

Chiefs running back Priest Holmes finally broke his silence and dropped a bit of a bombshell Wednesday.

Holmes, who limped off Denver's Invesco Field because of a hip injury that ended his season in December and underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his hip in March, talked at length for the first time since then on Wednesday.

He declared his hip healthy for the opening of training camp, and as first reported by The Star in March, talked about his desire to receive a new or extended contract by the time the Chiefs line up for their Sept. 7 season opener against San Diego -- or he will sit out that game.

"I want to get paid," Holmes said Wednesday night. "I'll be ready to go when training camp starts, and I'm looking forward to getting on the field and helping the Kansas City Chiefs win a championship. I think we have the kind of team that can do it."



MORE (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/6269177.htm)

[The_Philster]

For the first time this offseason, Kansas City Chiefs president Carl Peterson has indicated the team will consider enhancing the contract of star Priest Holmes, upgrading a five-year contract signed in 2001 when the tailback was acquired as an unrestricted free agent.

But in an interview with The Kansas City Star, Peterson offered two conditions: Holmes, who is still recovering from hip surgery, must demonstrate he is fully recovered. And any reworked deal will be an extension to Holmes' current contract, which still has three years remaining, as opposed to a totally new contract.

"Based on how he's doing, how he's feeling and how we feel about where he is (in terms of rehabilitation), I certainly will consider a contract extension," Peterson told the paper. "Not a new contract, a contract extension."...

more (http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1580090.html)

[BillsFever]

RIVER FALLS, Wis. - After the first day of training camp, Kansas City running back Priest Holmes said he's confident he will regain the form that made him into one of the NFL's top players over the past two seasons.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil certainly liked what he saw on Sunday from his star running back.

"I was really pleased," Vermeil said. "All the speculation was more speculation than fact. I thought he looked very good. I watched to see if he favored anything or showed any signs, and didn't see anything different."

Holmes said his priority during training camp is to prove that he's overcome the hip injury that sidelined him in December for the rest of last season. If he can do that, he said, then his other major concern - getting a contract extension - should take care of itself.

"I feel like $15 million, but I just don't have the paycheck," he said. "It's not going to become an issue, because of the fact that (general manager Carl) Peterson has made it very clear how he stands with everything we're doing. It's one of those things that will be a mutual understanding."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6347451.htm

[The_Philster]

Priest Holmes took handoffs and caught passes Sunday. The Kansas City tailback made cuts. He showed speed. He lowered his body into would-be defenders, albeit minus their pads.

And he didn't limp.

"All the speculation was more speculation than fact," Chiefs Coach Dick Vermeil told reporters on the first day of training camp at River Falls, Wis. "He looked very good. I watched to see if he favored anything or showed any signs, and I didn't see anything different."...more (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/orl-spt-charrycol072203,0,1914567.column?coll=orl-sports-football)

[The_Philster]

Priest Holmes' long, tireless quest for recognition and reward could reach its flash point this season.
Two years and 3,170 rushing yards after he fled Baltimore for a better opportunity with the Kansas City Chiefs, Holmes wants to be compensated like the Pro Bowl back he is.

To make his point, he recently said if he doesn't get a new or extended contract by the team's Sept. 7 season opener against the San Diego Chargers, he will sit out the game...
more (http://www.sunspot.net/sports/football/bal-sp.kmurray27jul27,0,2066389.story?coll=bal-sports-football)