THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2007
SPORTS
NFL
7B
Holmes waits for a chance
Associated Press
Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes works out during football training camp in River Falls, Wis., Sunday, July 29, 2007. Holmes has a message for holdout All-Pro Larry Johnson: If you don't want the job, I'll take it.
Injury keeps running back out of game
BY DOUG TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY,Mo. — Helmetless and frustrated, Priest Holmes had to stand around and watch Sunday while the Kansas City Chiefs went through another practice without him.
The former Pro Bowl running back had hoped to get medical clearance and be removed from the physically unable-to-perform list and take part in his first actual practice on Sunday. But with general manager Carl Peterson out of town reportedly attending to negotiations with holdout running back Larry Johnson, Holmes' status remained the same.
"It's not a setback. We just have to wait until Carl gets back in town," said Holmes. "I'm not sure when he'll be back."
Holmes has remained on PUP since he unexpectedly decided to come to training camp last month in River Falls, Wis., and attempt an improbable comeback at the age of 33. He hasn't played or practiced since sustaining severe head and neck trauma in Oct. 2005 during a game at San Diego.
Coach Herm Edwards said he wanted to make sure not to hurry Holmes.
"He's not ready. We had a long talk," Edwards said. "The doctor said it's OK for him to participate. But in his mind, and in our mind, we felt where he's at right now he's not 100 percent with his legs underneath him. He's laid off for a long time. I told him today, I'm not going to rush you. I'm definitely not going to rush you."
Holmes, the Chiefs' career rushing leader, scored 27 touchdowns in 2005 for what was then an NFL record. He is the Chiefs' career rushing leader.
After being examined by team physician Dr. Jon Brown, Holmes was on the field but without his helmet, something required for players on PUP. While teammates went through a tough, physical practice, Holmes jogged, stood around and ran phantom passing routes away from everyone else.
"Dr. Brown wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page. Instead of me coming out and possibly violating my PUP (status) by putting my helmet on," Holmes said. "That's the only reason why you see me out here with shoulder pads and no helmet. I can mirror just about everything that they're doing. But I can't put on the helmet while I'm still on the actual PUP list."
The Chiefs have to be careful not to take him off the list too early. If he's activated but then cannot perform, they would either have to cut him or place him on injured reserve, putting him out for the season. A possibility is they would keep him on PUP into the regular season and then make a decision no later than the ninth week.
"We don't want to be put in a situation where all of a sudden you take him off PUP and you start practicing and you say two days from now, I'm really not ready yet," Edwards said. "Well, that's OK for you but it's not OK for the football team."
Without Johnson or Holmes, the Chiefs' running game has been feeble in two preseason losses. They netted only 61 yards in an 11-10 loss to Miami last week even though Dolphins defensive starters Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas and Keith Traylor did not suit up.
There also has been speculation that Holmes has proved a distraction. And Edwards was caught in a somewhat embarrassing situation when he said Holmes was in the stadium during the Dolphins game only to discover later that he had flown home to San Antonio and not attended.
"He's come to work every day, never been late," Edwards said. "He went home for the preseason game Thursday. I talked to him during the day. I didn't anticipate him going
SOCCER
home. I thought he was going to the game. He went home to see his family. I told him the next day, 'All you have to do is tell me so I know where you're at.'
"Priest Holmes has not been a distraction. For him to do what he's trying to do, I applaud the guy."
New England kicks KC back
Associated Press
Kansas City Wizards defender Jose Burciaga Jr., right, kicks at the ball in front of New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman in Kansas City on Sunday.
Twellman takes Revolution to victory
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Twwellman scored in the 72nd minute to give the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Sunday night.
Twellman raced in from the far post and punched the ball into an open net for his 10th goal of the season.
New England, in its second road game in three days, improved to 11-5-6 with 39 points and extended its lead in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference to six points over D.C. United and New York Red Bulls, who were tied in second.
Twellman's goal came after Shalrie Joseph sent a long pass forward to Khano Smith on the left side.
S m i t h
drove hard
into the
New England is now 11-5-6 with 39 points. The team now has a six point lead over D.C United and New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference.
Wizards' end and nearly got to the end line before firing a pass across the mouth of the Kansas City goal.
distant fourth.
The Wizards,
8-7-5 with 29
points, are a
Attendance for the game at Arrowhead Stadium was announced at 9,035.
NFL
Blunder in Baltimore: injuries, penalties plague Ravens-Giants game
BY DAVID GINSBURG ASSOCIATED PRESS
BALTIMORE — A hard-hitting preseason game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens produced far more injuries than touchdowns.
New York won 13-12 Sunday night, but both teams lost key players during the game.
Two members of the Giants' starting defense left in the second quarter. Safety Will Demps.
"We made mistakes and committed penalties after not doing either of those last week. I thought we'd have better focus."
Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle and receiver Mark Clayton both sprained their ankles.
BRIAN BILLICK Baltimore Ravens' head coach
In their preseason opener, a 29-3 rout of Philadelphia, Baltimore did not commit a turnover and was penalized only three times. Against the Giants, Baltimore had one turn
who started all 16 games last season, dislocated an elbow, and cornerback Sam Madison pulled a hamstring.
New York also lost two offensive players. Wide receiver Michael Jennings had three catches for 31 yards before rupturing his Achilles' tendon, and Steve Smith, who caught a touchdown pass, left with a concussion.
one turnover and received nine penalties in the first half alone.
"That was a disappointing first half," Ravens coach Brian Billick said at halftime. "We mademistakes and committed penalties
The game was as sloppy as it was physical. New York (1-1) was penalized 11 times for 106 yards, and Baltimore (1-1) was called for 11 penalties totaling 66 yards.
after not doing either of those last week. I thought we'd have better focus, I really did."
one interception. He said that tonight was no indication of how the team will play all season.
Ravens quarterback Steve McNair played three series, going 5-for-8 for 29 yards with
"It just wasn't there tonight," McNair said.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning played deep into the second quarter, going 10-for-13 for 114 yards and producing the game's lone touchdown.
The Ravens took advantage of a turnover by Manning to go up 3-0 in the first quarter. After a sneak by McNair came up short on fourth-and-1 from the New York 20, Manning fumbled without being hit, and Baltimore recovered on the 12. Matt Stover then kicked a 33-yard field goal.
Manning made amends by capping an 80-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Smith.
After a scoreless third quarter, New York's Josh Huston kicked field goals of 50 and 30 yards around a 40-yarder by Baltimore's Rhys Lloyd, who also added a 38-yarder with 2:39 left.
Stover kicked a 47-yard field goal late in the first half to make it 7-6.
Wednesday, August 22
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Associated Press
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Troy Smith runs the ball during the fourth quarter of a pre season football game against the New York Giants in Baltimore on Sunday. The Giants won 13-12.
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