Bennett Traded

[KCRob23]

Holmes eligible to practice with Chiefs this week

By ADAM TEICHER

 

Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will finally get a chance to work out with the rest of the team this week at practice.

 

Facing what soon could be an excess of running backs, the Chiefs traded Michael Bennett to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

 

What the Chiefs received in return was immediately unclear. The Chiefs declined to confirm the deal, but Bennett said he was informed of the trade by officials of both teams.

 

“It was a shock to me,” Bennett said. “It really caught me off-guard. I heard the speculation for the past few days, but nobody from the Chiefs said anything to me, so I guessed it wasn’t going to happen. I was wrong. It’s a business. It’s just one of those things that happen.”

 

Although he was the starting halfback during Larry Johnson’s training-camp holdout, Bennett quickly became expendable once Johnson signed his contract extension. Bennett played sparingly in recent games, and rookie Kolby Smith has been getting more snaps in practice recently, an indication he was about to encroach on at least some of Bennett’s playing time.

 

Priest Holmes is eligible to return to practice this week. Coach Herm Edwards said earlier Monday that Holmes would participate Wednesday when the Chiefs begin preparations for Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Oakland.

 

Asked when Holmes might be ready to play in a game, Edwards said, “I don’t know. I’d like to see him practice first. I’ll be able to answer that Wednesday after practice or Thursday.”

 

Since the start of the regular season, Holmes has been on the Chiefs’ non-football injury list. That meant under NFL rules Holmes was ineligible to practice or play until the Chiefs had finished their sixth game.

 

The Chiefs moved to 3-3 with Sunday’s 27-20 win over Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium.

 

Assuming that Holmes practices Wednesday, the Chiefs would then have three weeks to decide on one of three options: activate him to the 53-player roster, release him or place him back on the non-football injury list, which would in effect end his season.

 

Holmes, who turned 34 last week, hasn’t played or practiced in two years. He left the field during a game against the Chargers in San Diego after receiving a hit that left him with tingling in his extremities.

 

Holmes only last summer was cleared to play. His arrival at training camp was greeted with great fanfare, but he reported in something less than optimum physical condition, so his long-anticipated return to the field was delayed.

 

Although he hasn’t been practicing or playing, Holmes has been at Arrowhead Stadium nearly every day, and he appears in much better physical condition than when he arrived for camp.

 

“He’s been here,” Edwards said. “I’ve been talking to him, about every other day or so. We talk about where he’s at, how he’s doing, what we’re thinking. We’ve communicated. He knows what I expect and I know where he’s at right now. When I talked to him last week, he wanted to know if this (current week) was the week. I said, ‘Is it?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ So I said, ‘Let’s go.’ ”

 

Edwards said Holmes would begin practice not running Chiefs plays, but those of the upcoming opponent. That’s a duty usually reserved for backups and practice-squad players, not a former rushing champion and one-time single-season touchdown record-holder like Holmes.

 

But Edwards indicated Holmes could work his way up quickly.

 

“You’ve got to find a way to get him in the game,” Edwards said. “But we haven’t seen him practice yet. You’ll get a sense of that from how he does in practice. That’s all you can go by. It’s no different than anybody else. You get a feel for when it’s time to get him in a game.”

 

Holmes might have a difficult time returning to the form that made him one of the league’s top running backs early in this decade. But the Chiefs can’t afford not to find out.

 

Johnson’s miserable season continued against the Bengals. He ran for 119 yards, but it took him 31 carries. He scored his first touchdown of the season, but he lost another one when he fumbled just short of the goal line. He gained just 13 yards in 15 carries in the second half.

 

Bennett wasn’t any better in limited playing time. It’s little wonder the Chiefs have played along with Holmes’ return or that Edwards indicated Holmes would play if he earned it.

 

“I always try to tell the players that if you’re a productive guy, we’ll get you the ball,” Edwards said. “If you’re not a productive guy, we’ll give it to somebody else.”

 

The Bucs were searching for a running back after losing starter Cadillac Williams for the season because of a knee injury and backup Michael Pittman for several weeks because of an ankle injury.

 

“I’m sure I’ll get to play down in Tampa, but I’m kind of sorry to leave the Chiefs,” said Bennett, acquired by the Chiefs from New Orleans last year for a draft pick. “I felt this was a great place. I got to be like a big brother to a lot of the other players. I’ve spent all night talking to guys on the team and saying good-bye.”

[ROYALWITCHEESE]

Hmmm. So there are now 3 questions involving this trade:

 

1) What is Bennett's value in Tampa? My guess is at least a time share situation and eventually more.

 

2) What does this say about Holmes? Could he really get some touches? My guess is a few per game.

 

3) What does it say about Smith? Should LJ go down is he the starter? If so that makes him quite valuable...

[yankee22ap]

Will he be the starter ?

Edited October 16, 2007 by yankee22ap

[Hat Trick]

Hmmm. So there are now 3 questions involving this trade:

 

1) What is Bennett's value in Tampa? My guess is at least a time share situation and eventually more.He's got some value, but its a wait and see situation, it took Bennett a while to learn the offense here so I imagien a little of the same in TB

 

2) What does this say about Holmes? Could he really get some touches? My guess is a few per game.Once back in the flow, he's going to get 5-10 a game IMO

 

3) What does it say about Smith? Should LJ go down is he the starter? If so that makes him quite valuable...In the short term yes, and all depending on what Holmes shows he has left in the tank

[irish]

I think Bennett is a must add in any league as I see him as the starter for the Bucs before long. Graham has done nothing in his limited time as starter. He's more of a COP or situational guy it seems. Bennett may have some issues with pass protection at first but in terms of running the ball he should be just fine.

[Hat Trick]

Hey Caveman Nick: "at 34, I would not bet on Holmes being a good long term solution"

 

When I said long term I meant this FF season

 

You and some may want to question Priest, but the Chiefs and many others haven't and he's always proved his pundits wrong

[irish]

at 34, I would not bet on Holmes being a good long term solution

 

 

Hey Caveman Nick: "at 34, I would not bet on Holmes being a good long term solution"

 

When I said long term I meant this FF season

 

You and some may want to question Priest, but the Chiefs and many others haven't and he's always proved his pundits wrong

 

I think that's what Nick was thinking as well and to be honest with you...I agree with him. I think Smith has a better shot of filling the void if LJ went down. IMO, Holmes is finished and doesn't have any value this season or beyond.

[Caveman_Nick]

Hey Caveman Nick: "at 34, I would not bet on Holmes being a good long term solution"

 

When I said long term I meant this FF season

 

You and some may want to question Priest, but the Chiefs and many others haven't and he's always proved his pundits wrong

 

 

Preist Holmes is one of my all time favorite players. I am not trying to disrespect him, but at 34 and trying to make a comeback from a spinal injury, I am saying that I would not bet on him. As a matter of fact, I truly wish he would choose not to do this, because I do not want to see him get hurt.

[keggerz]

Preist Holmes is one of my all time favorite players. I am not trying to disrespect him, but at 34 and trying to make a comeback from a spinal injury, I am saying that I would not bet on him. As a matter of fact, I truly wish he would choose not to do this, because I do not want to see him get hurt.

+1

[Hat Trick]

IMO, Holmes is finished and doesn't have any value this season or beyond.

 

Well I disagree, guess we'll see.

[Mystykoekaki]

IMO, Holmes is finished and doesn't have any value this season or beyond.

 

Somebody gets it!

Edited October 16, 2007 by Mystykoekaki

[Hat Trick]

Holmes could play as early as THIS week.

 

"My sense right now is that he will be ready to go," Peterson said. "I've said a thousand times, those people who question Priest Holmes are very foolish. Throughout his entire career, he's always come back. When he called me last spring shortly before training camp and told me he would like to do this one more time, I felt that I owed him that opportunity."

 

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3066364

[Chadman]

I think the simple fact that Bennett was traded signals a couple things to me. First, they are going to stay committed to LJ and the run moving forward, and that they are convinced that Smith and Holmes are both viable options to take his place and be a part time recipient of carries/passes. To me, it says more that Holmes is expected to get a real chance to be a player again.

 

I second the opinion that if he gets a chance, he will do plenty with it. Now, how much of a chance, in my view, is the issue, and I don't think LJ will provide much of an opportunity. I don't think they would have paid him to the extent they did, when they did, if they didn't plan on him being the long term solution as THE MAN.

 

I think we see a real NFL trend to have more than one good back in the fold, and use them. Having watched Bennett as a Viking (behind some terrific offensive lines) and as a Chief (also behind some top lines), I think he is not worthy of anything more than a part time third down back, or emergency player. Getting rid of him speaks volumes to me, and I don't expect Bennett to do much in Tampa, from what I've seen him "accomplish" in his time in two good running/receiving situations previous to the new one.

[muck]

Any word on what we got? I'd be floored if it was anything more than a 5th round pick.

[bushwacked]

Having watched Bennett as a Viking (behind some terrific offensive lines) and as a Chief (also behind some top lines), I think he is not worthy of anything more than a part time third down back, or emergency player. Getting rid of him speaks volumes to me, and I don't expect Bennett to do much in Tampa, from what I've seen him "accomplish" in his time in two good running/receiving situations previous to the new one.

 

I'm with you long term, but based on the level of competition he currently has at Tampa Bay, I see no reason why he can't be the primary RB and catch some passes out of the backfield (bonus in PPR leagues). I think he is can be a great flex option from here on out.

[onbrake]

Bennett is no more then a third down back or if TB gets down by more then 2 tds he will be in there.the Bucks were tooting Grahams bell long before Caddys injury.He is still the man in TB give the man a break his first game came against TENN no runs the ball on TENN.This week will be a different story.Dont drop Graham for an old RB.

[bushwacked]

Bennett is no more then a third down back or if TB gets down by more then 2 tds he will be in there.the Bucks were tooting Grahams bell long before Caddys injury.He is still the man in TB give the man a break his first game came against TENN no runs the ball on TENN.This week will be a different story.Dont drop Graham for an old RB.

 

 

Hmmm, maybe your right. But from his stat lines, he looks to atrocious. Minus one 28 yard run against St. Louis, he is barely over 3 yards per carry.

[FordFairlane]

Bennett did run the West Coast Offense under Dennis Green in Minnesota, so he might pick up Gruden's scheme quicker than expected.

[MonkeyOne]

Any word on what we got? I'd be floored if it was anything more than a 5th round pick.

 

All i've heard is this "undisclosed picks in 2008 and 2009 based on performance criteria."

[onbrake]

I think u will see Bennett this week maybee 5 carries or so.After that 10-12 carries.He is just to soft to be more then that.

[Jolly Rodgers]

I think u will see Bennett this week maybee 5 carries or so.After that 10-12 carries.He is just to soft to be more then that.

 

Yeah who cares though. At this point, the Bucs just need someone who has legs that work...

[bushwacked]

I think u will see Bennett this week maybee 5 carries or so.After that 10-12 carries.He is just to soft to be more then that.

 

Could be. It's no doubt that Bennet is injury prone. I'm just thinking that Tampa Bay could be looking for someone to carry the load; at least until PItmann comes back.

 

I looked at the week that Graham "started" and it looked like up until Pittman got injured; Graham had 2 runs and one target as a WR; to Pittman's 4 runs and 3 targets as a WR.

 

Small sample size that could mean absolutely nothing.

[onbrake]

I would say Pittman would be a nice pick up to stash away for a couple weeks until then Graham the man.

[Cunning Runt]

I would say Pittman would be a nice pick up to stash away for a couple weeks until then Graham the man.

 

Methinks you're wrong. Graham has shown pretty much nothing.

[Caveman_Nick]

Gruden did make a stud out of Charlie Garner....you never know how Bennett will fare......