From the KC Star this morning: Apologies if this has been posted already. I looked and didn't see anything.

Holmes seeks second opinion

Vermeil says trip doesn't mean injury is worse

The Kansas City Star


The Chiefs excused Priest Holmes from practice Wednesday so he could go to Florida to get a second medical opinion on his ailing right knee.

Holmes was unavailable for comment, but coach Dick Vermeil said the second opinion was not a sign that Holmes' injury, which the Chiefs are calling a grade-2 strain, is worse than they indicated.

“He's concerned because this is a thing he's done before (in Baltimore),” Vermeil said of the injury.

Holmes is highly unlikely to play in Monday night's game against New England at Arrowhead Stadium, but Vermeil said Holmes would not need surgery and would play again this season.

“You just can't predict when it's going to heal enough to allow him to play,” he said.

Derrick Blaylock is expected to start against the Patriots. In the Chiefs' first game without Holmes this season, Blaylock ran for 186 yards in New Orleans last week.

Thanks CD....

Hate it when someone like Holmes is just sitting on my bench instead of playing like I need him too. *sigh*

Just a question. Is there a chance that priest is having the doctors check the knee to see if he wore a brace that he could play without hurting the knee anymore? I haven't seen anyone on any board suggest this.
Ramrock

What's most telling to me from this latest news is that The Cheifs are now calling his injury a Grade 2 MCL Strain- which if I am not mistaken is normally a 4-6 week injury.

Weren't they initially calling it just a minor "sprain" day to day, blah blah blah.....

If KC loses on Monday night their playoff hopes are just about shot right- so why risk further injury by bringing Priest back at all for a game or 2 at the end?

I think the writing is all over the wall on this one.

I believe this is the same kind of problem he had in Baltimore... he couldn't play with a brace then so I don't think he is looking at that. I think he is looking more at needing surgery and being done for the year.

I have to always remind myself that the Dr's that teams have on call are not necessarily on the players side as much as they are on the teams side. Sort of like the Monty Python thing with the knight that gets him arm cut off and says it's just a flesh wound.... Dr to coach about player with leg broken in three places... "it's just a flesh wound, he can play next week."

If I'm not mistaken, the difference between a sprain (which is minor) and a strain is that a strain involves some tearing, even if only slight. Think Michael Bennett.

You're right Sky. The team doc's are gettin' paid by the team not the players.

Good reading: "You're Okay, It's Just a Bruise": A Doctor's Sideline Secrets About Pro Football's Most Outrageous Team
by Rob Huizenga.

Mort has said all along that this kind of injury is normally a 4-6 week thing. We'll see, but I'll be happy to start playing Blaylock this week while he's out.

I think so. IIRC, that's what Taylor suffered during the third or fourth preseason game in '00 and he wasn't back until Week 5.



It sounds to me like first doctor either misdiagnosed it or someone in the Chiefs' organization is lying to us. If he can't play on it with a brace after almost two full weeks and is going back for a second opinion, my guess is that it's a grade two SPRAIN and he'll be out for at least the next three games. And given that the Chiefs' season is more or less over now (they'll be 3-7 after NE takes them down), it's possible that he may not be back on the field until X-mas.

More commentary from Fanball...

OUR VIEW

Holmes had knee issues in Baltimore that prompted the Ravens to draft Jamal Lewis and let Holmes walk in free agency. Priest also ruptured an ACL in college at Texas, opening the door for Ricky Williams. Vermeil insisted that the need for a second opinion does not indicate that the injury is more serious than originally anticipated and reinforced that the team believes that Priest will not need surgery and would play again this season. The bottom line is that Holmes' owners will likely be starting Derrick Blaylock again this week, and we'll pass along further detail from this second examination as soon as it is available.

Doesn't sound good...

Obviously he's out Monday, and I'd say there a good chance he misses the week 12 game on the 28th also. From week 13 on it's a wait and see IMO.

We touched on this in a previous thread and my fears are now being imagined. Well, at least I was able to get Blaylock on the WW. He won't be Priest Holmes, but then again he was fine last week. Admittedly running against a weak D but, I think he'll be ok.

He also did ok against the Falcons a few weeks ago too.

I think Blaylock is better than people think especially with that OL in front of him. It wouldn't shock me to see 80-100 and a TD from him Monday. The Pats have the 13th ranked rush D not a top 5 rush D.

A sprain is stretch or tear of a ligament.

A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon.

I'd expect over 100 yds from Blaylock on Monday. No offense to Priest, but a great offensive line can do wonders for a back's numbers. Jamal Lewis, Shaun Alexander, and Marshall Faulk have all benefitted tremendously from running behind studs like Ogden, Jones, and Pace, respectively.

well, Blaylock seems pretty injury prone....so if Holmes is gone even for 4 weeks...I doubt Blaylock will last anywhere beyond the MNF game which should be rather physical...

I have LJ...so I hope I can consider him trading value in the near future