It's probably immoral to let Priest play
All of the talk regarding Priest Holmes returning to the Chiefs leaves out one important thing: For an NFL running back, the guy is basically crippled and any kind of significant playing time might result in the dude getting seriously hurt.
Head and neck injuries are the worst, if you know anyone unfortunate enough to have sustained this kind of trauma . . . You already realize that their wounds never completely heal.
I only hope that Holmes knows this and is content to go through the motions at 1/4 speed. Already, he has talked about a "leadership" role on the team which is basically a joke because nobody respects a player who is forced to pick up the tee after kickoff because that's the only real contribution they can make to the team.
Nope, the life of an aging athlete isn't pretty but it pays surprisingly well. It's best to think of Priest Holmes as a formerly great but now punch drunk boxer who really needs this last payday if he's going to do anything with his life other than rot in a flophouse.
Yet, the fact that Larry Johnson is leaving the Chiefs in favor or going on a ghey escapade with Jay-Z or whatever puts the busted up neck of Priest Holmes in jeopardy. It turns out that Priest Holmes is a much better human being than Larry Johnson (It's not that hard to do but the comparison would probably improve Michael Vick's image right now). Anyway, given that Priest is currently in training camp and Johnson looks a bit greedy because he's holding out and asking for $25 million just to carry a ball (no homo?) has caused people to start clamoring for the broken down running back to return to the top spot.
And because Herm Edwards is so incompetent and bereft of any original ideas, there's a chance that the Chiefs head coach could listen to the mob of JoCo fans who don't know the first thing about football and don't care if Priest Holmes lives the rest of his days as a paraplegic.
Let's not forget that NFL's retirement plan is an embarrassment and Priest doesn't really stand to make any kind of decent income once his playing days are over.
The crowd at Arrowhead doesn't care about players once they're off the field . . . And with what JoCo folks are paying in parking, admission and facepaint to mock the near genocide of the Native Americans, I can't say I blame them.
Yet, none of these FACTS matter much to a guy who is seriously injured. So, I can only hope that Priest Holmes doesn't get to play, finds a cozy spot on the bench and simply picks up his check with a modicum of dignity. The alternative is that the Chiefs coaching staff, management and fans will have contributed to brutally maiming a player simply because they were looking for false hope in the wrong place on a Sunday afternoon.
posted by Tony Permalink
As someone who did break his back in the prime of his career as a all conference college footballer, you are right you never get back to where you were before the injury. Priest is playing a very dangerous game that may have far greater reaching complications besides a low bank account.
BUT I do know how he feels even after I crushed 3 vertebrae, I still tried to come back and play for 2 years after that. Because I didn't know what else to do. I had no other drive in life, and football was the only thing I knew how to do...Not like Dexter Manley, I read better then most and hold down a pretty decent job, but when you're 20 something, and for 12 years all you have done was prepare for a job in the NFL it is hard to imaginbe not doing that job....I can't even fathom what it would be like to play at his level and then have to lose it.
Immoral? No. Stupid, yes. Besides he's just there to put on a uniform and stand on the sideline, Yell "Go Team" and collect a pay check.
Which sound like a pretty good gig if you ask me.
Very nice piece, Tony. No ghey.
Give the guy some credit, he is not a cheerleader with a uniform, he is a professional athlete and an inelligent man. Priest Holmes is well aware of his own capabilities, even when people doubt him as an athlete. As they have his entire career.
He would not be the first to recover from a serious injury. Have you forgotten Garrison Hearst? Tedy Bruschi returned after a mild stroke and temporary paralysis.
I am not saying this is the "smartest" thing for these men to do. We are however talking about intelligent men who are capable of performing other jobs and tasks. I mean comeon Michael Irvin is a sports broadcaster and he just convinces me that I can do anything if they are going to pay him to talk about football for thousands of dollars.
Anyway, my point is. It may take time for him to recover and he may never recover fully. But please give the man more respect than you have. He is not some "meat head" football player.
Give the guy some credit, he is not a cheerleader with a uniform, he is a professional athlete and an inelligent man. Priest Holmes is well aware of his own capabilities, even when people doubt him as an athlete. As they have his entire career.
He would not be the first to recover from a serious injury. Have you forgotten Garrison Hearst? Tedy Bruschi returned after a mild stroke and temporary paralysis.
I am not saying this is the "smartest" thing for these men to do. We are however talking about intelligent men who are capable of performing other jobs and tasks. I mean comeon Michael Irvin is a sports broadcaster and he just convinces me that I can do anything if they are going to pay him to talk about football for thousands of dollars.
Anyway, my point is. It may take time for him to recover and he may never recover fully. But please give the man more respect than you have. He is not some "meat head" football player.
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