[ Holmes' record assault remains a silent one ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 9, 2002 by Rick Dean Capital-Journal

Holmes' record assault remains a silent one

By Rick Dean

The Capital-Journal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- Priest Holmes wasn't the only one who didn't want to talk about his run on a couple of Marshall Faulk's records.

Neither Holmes nor Faulk talked to the media after Holmes scored two touchdowns in Kansas City's 49-10 romp over Faulk's St. Louis Rams.

The two scores gave Holmes 24 TDs for the season and brought him within two of tying Faulk's NFL single-season record (26 in 2000). Holmes also totaled 148 yards from scrimmage (132 rushing and 16 receiving) to give him 2,104 yards from scrimmage this year. Faulk's NFL record is 2,429.

In increasing his rushing TD total to 21, Holmes also closed to within four rushing TDs of tying Emmitt Smith's league record (25, 1995) for single-season rushing TDs. Only Smith and former University of Kansas standout John Riggins have scored more rushing touchdowns in a season than Holmes and four other players who also have 21.

In scoring for an 11th straight game, Holmes tied Baltimore's Lenny Moore (1963-64) and Smith (94-95) for the league's longest streak of games with a touchdown. He also ran his season point total to 144, which bettered Nick Lowery's team record of 139 and continued his run at Paul Hornung's NFL scoring record of 176, which he amassed as a runner and a kicker.

But Holmes, for the third time this season, sent word through a team spokesman that he would not address the media massed around his locker after the game.

The injured Faulk, who was held to 48 yards from scrimmage (only 13 rushing), was equally non-communicative. Asked to comment on Holmes, the former NFL Most Valuable Player didn't break stride and walked out to the team bus.

Other teammates spoke for Holmes, however.

"I just wish he would get more recognition and attention around the league," Chiefs center Casey Wiegmann said.

Added St. Louis defensive back Dexter McCleon: "They did exactly what we didn't want to happen. They got that early lead and then turned the ball and the game over to Priest. He runs so hard. He can control a game, and he did that today against us."