[ To his teammates, Priest Holmes looked like a million bucks upon

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jul 21, 2003 by Rick Dean Capital-Journal

By Rick Dean

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

RIVER FALLS, Wis. --- To his teammates, Priest Holmes looked like a million bucks upon his return to the practice field Sunday.

Holmes, jokingly, says they're counting him short.

"I've been telling people I feel like 15 million bucks --- I just don't have the paycheck," he cracked.

Sunday was a day to make light of the only possible dark cloud on the Chiefs' otherwise sunny training camp horizon. For Priest Holmes was back in the Kansas City backfield for the first time since last Dec. 15 when he sustained the hip injury that blunted one of the most productive seasons ever by an NFL running back and put in jeopardy the future of that runner.

After staying frightfully quiet about his rehabilitation in the seven months since he last played, Holmes spoke volumes about his recovery when he ran at what appeared to be full speed in about 25 offensive plays.

"I thought he looked good," said fullback Tony Richardson. "Obviously, when I'm in there with him I'm blocking for him, but it seemed like he ran by me pretty good. It's a feel thing, but I thought he got to the hole when he was supposed to be there.

"I think he made a positive step forward today," Richardson added. "We've still got a long way to go, but I think he definitely showed today he's on the road to recovery."

Though he took part only in a limited number of plays, both in individual and team situations, Holmes said he felt energized by working with his teammates again. He reported feeling no pain in the left hip that required arthroscopic surgery last March, but would not characterize the level of his performance.

"I'll leave that up to you all to decide," he told a swarm of reporters who watched his every step. "For the first five years of my career, no one ever watched me. All this attention makes up for those first years."

Once doctors convinced him that his hip injury was not the same type that cut short the career of football-baseball star Bo Jackson, Holmes said he knew he could return to a level close to that he showed before the injury. Over the past two seasons he was the NFL's most productive running back in totaling 3,170 rushing yards and 4,446 total yards from scrimmage.

"(Golfer) Greg Norman had this same injury, and he came back to make a lot of money since then," Holmes added. "I really believe I'll be all right."

Yeah, but Norman never got pulled down from behind by Tom Watson while making a charge at Pebble Beach. How Holmes holds up when the real hitting starts will determine whether he gets the money he believes he's deserves.

Hence, the crack about feeling like $15 million was a veiled reminder that Holmes still expects a contract extension --- with a corresponding big-time signing bonus --- sometime before he starts getting hit in earnest. Holmes has threatened in the past not to play if he isn't rewarded for his efforts of the past two seasons.

He seemed to back away from that threat Sunday, however.

"It won't become an issue," Holmes said. "Peterson (Chiefs president Carl) has made it very clear where he stands. He knows my desires, and we'll work this out behind closed doors. But I really believe we'll get it done. We have plenty of time."

Coach Dick Vermeil said Holmes will continue to be limited in these first training camp practices until he feels ready to take on more duty.

"If he gets tired, we'll back it off," Vermeil said. "He'll tell us when he wants to go more, and I'm sure we'll have to slow him down.

"I watched him to see if he favored anything or showed any signs. I didn't see anything different in him. I don't think he turned it loose 100 percent, but other than that he looked fine."

Please see HOLMES, Page 6D

Continued from Page 3D

Holmes: RB believes he'll be OK