Post by lazarus on Jul 12, 2003 12:31:51 GMT -5
Posted on Sat, Jul. 12, 2003
By IVAN CARTER
The Kansas City Star
On Wednesday, Priest Holmes declared himself healthy for the opening of training camp and expressed a desire for a new or extended contract.
On Friday, Chiefs general manager/team president Carl Peterson responded.
"As I've said all along and as I've discussed with Priest and his agent: We want him back to being 100 percent Priest Holmes," Peterson said. "Based on how he's doing, how he's feeling and how we feel about where he is, I certainly will consider a contract extension. Not a new contract, a contract extension."
Holmes signed a five-year, $8 million contract that included a $2 million signing bonus upon joining the Chiefs in March of 2001. He is scheduled to be paid, including bonuses, $2.25 million this year, $2.5 million in 2004 and $2.75 million in 2005.
Peterson emphasized that he will not tear up Holmes' current contract and offer a new one, because of salary-cap ramifications. If he were to tear up Holmes' current deal, the prorated portion of Holmes' signing bonus would accelerate into this season's salary cap.
"That would be killer on our cap," Peterson said. "That's why I've said that I'll consider an extension based on what I've already seen and based on how he's feeling."
On Wednesday, Holmes said he hoped any new contract or contract extension would include a signing bonus comparable to those earned by other top NFL running backs.
Cincinnati's Corey Dillon received a $10.5 million bonus, the Jets' Curtis Martin a $10 million bonus, the Rams' Marshall Faulk a $9.3 million bonus and the Jaguars' Fred Taylor an $8 million bonus.
Peterson declined to discuss specifics of a potential extension or how much of a bonus Holmes might receive.
"I agree with Priest's agent (Todd France) that any contract talks be kept between us," Peterson said. "I think that's the best way to handle it."
Peterson did speak optimistically about the status of Holmes' surgically repaired hip, saying he watched Holmes work out this week and feels confident he is progressing well enough to participate when training camp opens next week.
Holmes, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on the hip in March, has resumed weight training, is sprinting, running pass patterns and even pulled a tractor around the practice field.
"On Tuesday I saw him running the stadium stairs -- he was really hitting it hard," Peterson said. "I told him: `Priest, you've made the team. You just need to tell (coach thingy Vermeil) and myself how much you need to get ready. I told him: `If you have one failing, it's a lack of patience.' I think he admitted that himself, that he rehabbed a little too hard earlier."
Peterson said he, Vermeil and Holmes will meet soon to talk about how much work Holmes will receive in training camp and during the preseason. The Chiefs will play five preseason games.
Two of the games, including the Aug. 4 preseason opener against Green Bay in Canton, Ohio, will be played on artificial turf and another, an Aug. 23 game at Seattle, will be played on FieldTurf, the same artificial surface where safety Jerome Woods suffered a season-ending leg injury last August.
"I don't think you'll see him doing blitz drills, and we're certainly not going to hand him the ball 25 times against Green Bay," Peterson said. "That just wouldn't be smart. A lot of it we'll leave up to him and how he feels. The important thing is that he's ready to go in September when the games count."
By IVAN CARTER
The Kansas City Star
On Wednesday, Priest Holmes declared himself healthy for the opening of training camp and expressed a desire for a new or extended contract.
On Friday, Chiefs general manager/team president Carl Peterson responded.
"As I've said all along and as I've discussed with Priest and his agent: We want him back to being 100 percent Priest Holmes," Peterson said. "Based on how he's doing, how he's feeling and how we feel about where he is, I certainly will consider a contract extension. Not a new contract, a contract extension."
Holmes signed a five-year, $8 million contract that included a $2 million signing bonus upon joining the Chiefs in March of 2001. He is scheduled to be paid, including bonuses, $2.25 million this year, $2.5 million in 2004 and $2.75 million in 2005.
Peterson emphasized that he will not tear up Holmes' current contract and offer a new one, because of salary-cap ramifications. If he were to tear up Holmes' current deal, the prorated portion of Holmes' signing bonus would accelerate into this season's salary cap.
"That would be killer on our cap," Peterson said. "That's why I've said that I'll consider an extension based on what I've already seen and based on how he's feeling."
On Wednesday, Holmes said he hoped any new contract or contract extension would include a signing bonus comparable to those earned by other top NFL running backs.
Cincinnati's Corey Dillon received a $10.5 million bonus, the Jets' Curtis Martin a $10 million bonus, the Rams' Marshall Faulk a $9.3 million bonus and the Jaguars' Fred Taylor an $8 million bonus.
Peterson declined to discuss specifics of a potential extension or how much of a bonus Holmes might receive.
"I agree with Priest's agent (Todd France) that any contract talks be kept between us," Peterson said. "I think that's the best way to handle it."
Peterson did speak optimistically about the status of Holmes' surgically repaired hip, saying he watched Holmes work out this week and feels confident he is progressing well enough to participate when training camp opens next week.
Holmes, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on the hip in March, has resumed weight training, is sprinting, running pass patterns and even pulled a tractor around the practice field.
"On Tuesday I saw him running the stadium stairs -- he was really hitting it hard," Peterson said. "I told him: `Priest, you've made the team. You just need to tell (coach thingy Vermeil) and myself how much you need to get ready. I told him: `If you have one failing, it's a lack of patience.' I think he admitted that himself, that he rehabbed a little too hard earlier."
Peterson said he, Vermeil and Holmes will meet soon to talk about how much work Holmes will receive in training camp and during the preseason. The Chiefs will play five preseason games.
Two of the games, including the Aug. 4 preseason opener against Green Bay in Canton, Ohio, will be played on artificial turf and another, an Aug. 23 game at Seattle, will be played on FieldTurf, the same artificial surface where safety Jerome Woods suffered a season-ending leg injury last August.
"I don't think you'll see him doing blitz drills, and we're certainly not going to hand him the ball 25 times against Green Bay," Peterson said. "That just wouldn't be smart. A lot of it we'll leave up to him and how he feels. The important thing is that he's ready to go in September when the games count."