Whitlock: Priest can be a real mystery

tk13 · 09-21-2004, 01:06 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/9716262.htm

Holmes can be a real mystery

JASON WHITLOCK

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil isn't trying to be misleading or dishonest when it comes to Priest Holmes' health or Holmes' use in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Yes, Vermeil sounded vague and evasive after Sunday's game when a reporter questioned him about Holmes being sidelined for the final few series against the Panthers. Was Holmes hurt? No, Vermeil claimed. So why wasn't Holmes in the game? Priest was healthy, Vermeil re-stated, sidestepping the question.

On Monday, Vermeil announced that Holmes suffered an ankle and knee injury Sunday and that the league's best touchdown scorer is questionable for this week's game against the Houston Texans.

“It's nothing serious,” Vermeil explained.

So did the injuries knock Holmes out of the Carolina game? No, Vermeil claimed. So what happened? Vermeil, bothered by the questioning, snapped that his team was down 11 points and the coaching staff decided not to use Holmes anymore.

Hmmm. So either Vermeil and his coaching staff quit or the Chiefs are hiding the details of Holmes' injuries.

There's a third option. And it's the option I believe. Vermeil sounds vague and evasive because the Chiefs don't have a firm grasp of exactly what's wrong with their star running back.

Priest Holmes is a very mysterious man and an even more mysterious communicator. He likes Vermeil and the Chiefs' coaching staff, and Holmes respects the Chiefs' front office. But Priest Holmes keeps his business — all of it, even the football stuff — to himself.

The biggest clue that something was wrong with Priest Holmes on Sunday was when he limped/jogged to the sideline and took his helmet off. When the Chiefs have the football, it's rare for Priest to take his helmet off. He's always ready to play.

I'm sure Holmes told Vermeil he could go back into the game, but Vermeil has been coaching football for a long time. He can sense when there's something wrong with one of his players, especially when it's a player you have to read more than listen to. You definitely have to read Priest Holmes; listening to Holmes can be very confusing.

Vermeil may have thought there was something wrong with Priest on Sunday afternoon, but Vermeil didn't know until Monday morning, until he had read a doctor's report and seen Priest hobbling around in an ankle brace.

So after the game, Vermeil didn't want to comment about Holmes. Vermeil didn't want to say something inaccurate. So he tried to say nothing.

On Monday, Vermeil read straight from a doctor's report. He's not trying to hide anything. Vermeil just wants to stick to the facts as best as he knows them. That's the best thing to do when talking about Priest Holmes.

A wise and strikingly handsome columnist once went out on a limb and suggested that Priest would never fully recover from a hip injury. Twenty-seven touchdowns later, the remarkably intelligent columnist had to eat crow in front of Holmes and a thousand spectators at a Westport bar.

This last off-season when Priest was contemplating retirement, he didn't communicate with the Chiefs' coaching staff. He disappeared. Carl Peterson and Vermeil had no idea what was running through the mind of their most important player. They were left worried and wondering just like everyone else.

Again, Priest doesn't have a problem with Vermeil or Peterson. Priest is just mysterious. It's nothing personal. It's just how he is.

My belief is Vermeil doesn't have a clear understanding of the extent of Holmes' injuries because Holmes hasn't told the Chiefs much. Priest could miss a week of practice and tell Vermeil on Saturday that he can go on Sunday. Or Priest could be out three to four weeks. Anything is a possibility.

Let's don't accuse Vermeil of being dishonest while he tries to figure out what's going on with his enigmatic star.

09-21-2004, 01:06 AM	Topic Starter
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2012500	Whitlock: Priest can be a real mystery http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/9716262.htm Holmes can be a real mystery JASON WHITLOCK Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil isn't trying to be misleading or dishonest when it comes to Priest Holmes' health or Holmes' use in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers. Yes, Vermeil sounded vague and evasive after Sunday's game when a reporter questioned him about Holmes being sidelined for the final few series against the Panthers. Was Holmes hurt? No, Vermeil claimed. So why wasn't Holmes in the game? Priest was healthy, Vermeil re-stated, sidestepping the question. On Monday, Vermeil announced that Holmes suffered an ankle and knee injury Sunday and that the league's best touchdown scorer is questionable for this week's game against the Houston Texans. “It's nothing serious,” Vermeil explained. So did the injuries knock Holmes out of the Carolina game? No, Vermeil claimed. So what happened? Vermeil, bothered by the questioning, snapped that his team was down 11 points and the coaching staff decided not to use Holmes anymore. Hmmm. So either Vermeil and his coaching staff quit or the Chiefs are hiding the details of Holmes' injuries. There's a third option. And it's the option I believe. Vermeil sounds vague and evasive because the Chiefs don't have a firm grasp of exactly what's wrong with their star running back. Priest Holmes is a very mysterious man and an even more mysterious communicator. He likes Vermeil and the Chiefs' coaching staff, and Holmes respects the Chiefs' front office. But Priest Holmes keeps his business — all of it, even the football stuff — to himself. The biggest clue that something was wrong with Priest Holmes on Sunday was when he limped/jogged to the sideline and took his helmet off. When the Chiefs have the football, it's rare for Priest to take his helmet off. He's always ready to play. I'm sure Holmes told Vermeil he could go back into the game, but Vermeil has been coaching football for a long time. He can sense when there's something wrong with one of his players, especially when it's a player you have to read more than listen to. You definitely have to read Priest Holmes; listening to Holmes can be very confusing. Vermeil may have thought there was something wrong with Priest on Sunday afternoon, but Vermeil didn't know until Monday morning, until he had read a doctor's report and seen Priest hobbling around in an ankle brace. So after the game, Vermeil didn't want to comment about Holmes. Vermeil didn't want to say something inaccurate. So he tried to say nothing. On Monday, Vermeil read straight from a doctor's report. He's not trying to hide anything. Vermeil just wants to stick to the facts as best as he knows them. That's the best thing to do when talking about Priest Holmes. A wise and strikingly handsome columnist once went out on a limb and suggested that Priest would never fully recover from a hip injury. Twenty-seven touchdowns later, the remarkably intelligent columnist had to eat crow in front of Holmes and a thousand spectators at a Westport bar. This last off-season when Priest was contemplating retirement, he didn't communicate with the Chiefs' coaching staff. He disappeared. Carl Peterson and Vermeil had no idea what was running through the mind of their most important player. They were left worried and wondering just like everyone else. Again, Priest doesn't have a problem with Vermeil or Peterson. Priest is just mysterious. It's nothing personal. It's just how he is. My belief is Vermeil doesn't have a clear understanding of the extent of Holmes' injuries because Holmes hasn't told the Chiefs much. Priest could miss a week of practice and tell Vermeil on Saturday that he can go on Sunday. Or Priest could be out three to four weeks. Anything is a possibility. Let's don't accuse Vermeil of being dishonest while he tries to figure out what's going on with his enigmatic star.
Posts: 54,919