Holmes to report to training camp

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Three-time Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes, knocked out of football by a devastating hit 21 months ago, will report to camp on Saturday in a surprise development that could have intriguing consequences for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The return of the team's all-time leading rusher also adds an interesting twist to the situation surrounding Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, who has vowed to hold out of camp until he gets a new contract.

Ironically, the Chiefs drafted Johnson over the objection of then-coach Dick Vermeil in the first round in 2003 partly to gain leverage over Holmes, who was involved in a contract dispute of his own at the time.

The Chiefs announced Wednesday that Holmes had informed them he will report to their camp in River Falls, Wis., on Saturday, the day after they hold their first full workout.

''In my conversation with Priest, he was excited about playing,'' Chiefs president Carl Peterson said in a news release.

Many thought Holmes, who turns 34 on Oct. 7, was done. Since suffering neck and head trauma in the hit by San Diego's Shawne Merriman on Oct. 30, 2005, he has kept his distance from the Chiefs, staying at home in Texas and having virtually nothing to do with the team.

But the Chiefs, hopeful he might one day resume a career that has seen him rush for 5,933 yards since signing as a free agent in 2001, kept him on the physically unable to perform list and kept paying his salary.

Although age and nearly two years of inactivity suggest his skills could be badly eroded, his history says otherwise. He had hip surgery after the 2002 season that some felt would end his career. But he rebounded the next year to rush for 1,420 yards and score an NFL-record 27 touchdowns

Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters, one of Holmes' closest friends on the team, said last month he would not be surprised at all to see him play this year, and play effectively.

''One thing we've learned about Priest is you should never try to second-guess him,'' Waters said at the time. ''If Priest says he's ready to play, you know he's going to have kept himself in shape. You know he's going to be ready to resume his place as one of the best in the business. You don't ever want to count Priest out.''

Head coach Herm Edwards said the Chiefs would proceed cautiously with Holmes to gauge his conditioning and readiness. He also seemed to send a message to the moody Johnson that Holmes will not be counted on as the starter.

''The combination of Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes has previously proved very difficult to stop in the past,'' Edwards said. ''At this point, we will need to proceed slowly to determine where he is from a health and conditioning standpoint. Hopefully, he's able to come back and continue his career with the Chiefs."

''I believe Priest Holmes is a team guy and has indicated to me his desire to help this team. If he's able to come back, he understands and accepts the fact that he would have a different role than when he was the starter. I look forward to monitoring his progress throughout training camp.''

Holmes was cleared to play in 2007 after being examined by the team's orthopedic doctors in Miami.

The Chiefs and Johnson, in the meantime, remain far apart. Johnson is demanding guaranteed money in the $28 million range, although he remains under contract for two more seasons. He will be fined more than $14,000 every day he misses camp.

Johnson stewed impatiently for more than two seasons while Holmes maintained his spot as the Chiefs' starting running back. But when he got his chance in October of 2005 with Holmes' severe injury, Johnson responded brilliantly and emerged as one of the league's finest running backs. Last season he set an NFL record with 416 carries and rushed for 1,789 yards, breaking the team single-season record for the second year in a row.