"Call for a 'Priest', we just lost Johnson"

As all but the most faithful of Chief fans mourn the lose of Larry Johnson, and their season, the organization appears to have been planning for it. They've called in the 'Priest' to administer the last rites of the offense, their star running back, and handing over control to their Father of yardage.

It seems like eons since we last used the name Priest Holmes and the phrase "starting running back", but those days are amidst us again.

When discussions started popping up in late July and early August about the reemergence of this prolific running back, , it appeared that it was crazy, to say the least, that we would see him revive his career at any level, let alone play in a game. This running back once holding the single season record for most touchdowns in a season... now he is coming off a three year hiatus with no guarantees bey0nd L.J.'s return.

He not only proved through spring training release and reattempt that he could, that his drive would prove to be as strong as ever. Now it is even more evident that he may in fact see significant time on the field. I do not believe that this is going to revive either his career or the flailing offense of the Chiefs, but it may at least cushion the blow of a disappointing season with one of the cities most believed of football characters.

As if the inability of veteran Huard (8 TDs, 9 INTs) and Brodie Croyle's poor decision-making skills, the loss of L.J. should be absolutely crushing to Chief's fans. The defensive secondary, the emergence of Rookie Dwayne Bowe, and the career records of Tony Gonzalez are the only things that keep fans going to games. Maybe the return of Priest can keep them in their seats and save the corporate ownership from holding flea markets and bake sales in the parking lot next spring to keep the doors open.

FANTASY IMPACT: As much as I can't believe that I am saying this, Priest could have more of an impact than most of the injury replacements popping up around the league right now. Heck, Holmes may have more impact than the majority of the starting running backs in the league, as it stands today. He should have more of an impact than back-up running backs Echemandu (HOU) and the recent departed Michael Bennett (TB), more consistent than Fargas (OAK) and Jesse Chatman (MIA), and have better second half statistics than starters Alexander (SEA), Gore (SFO), and Jones (NYJ). I won't neglect to mention several others who have been spotty, if showing up at all [Edge (ARI), Dunn (ATL), Maroney (NE)].

So break out all your old Priest Holmes jerseys, paint you face Chief's red, and watch him make his return to the gridiron this coming Sunday as the Chiefs play host to one of the worst run defenses in the league, the Denver Broncos.

Statistocrat