Priest & Other NFL Clergy

Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes retired on Wednesday, ending a short comeback after head and neck injuries forced him to the sidelines for 22 months. Holmes reached his peak in 2003, when he rushed for a then-record 27 touchdowns. During his press conference, Holmes declared, “I have truly been blessed with the opportunity to play in the National Football League.” Such a statement is appropriate for a man named Priest. In fact, numerous other prominent NFL players have had a connection to the clergy. Here’s a quick look.


Running Back: Travis Henry (the words “Our Father” often refer to him)

Fullback: Bob Christian

Quarterback: Doug Flutie (always good for a Hail Mary)

Wide Receiver: Art Monk; Irving Fryar (Technically, monks and friars are only considered clergy if they’ve received Holy Orders. With 1,791 receptions between them, Monk and Fryar pretty much received everything.)

Tight End: Leonard Pope

Offensive Line: Keith Bishop

Defensive Line: Deacon Jones; Reggie “Minister of Defense” White

Defensive Back: Blaine Bishop; Marquez Pope

Team: Arizona Cardinals


Current Dolphins linebacker Derrick Pope is a bit too obscure for the above list. But hopefully, like the real pope, he believes in the power of prayer. His team really needs it these days.

Chiefs Seek To Have All Home Games in December

The Kansas City Chiefs kept their slim playoff hopes alive on Saturday with a 20–7 victory over AFC West rival San Diego.  Kansas City also extended its amazing home December winning streak to 18 consecutive games.  When hearing Andy Williams croon “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Chiefs fans believe that he’s singing about Arrowhead Stadium in the twelfth month.  Considering this great run, the team has requested that the NFL schedule all its 2006 home games in December.

 

The request is unlikely to be granted, as playing eight games in one month would place an enormous physical burden on the players.  Even though one of those contests would be versus San Francisco, the other seven games would take a toll.  Such a grind could also bring head coach Dick Vermeil to tears.  If not, something else surely will.

 

However, you cannot blame the Chiefs for making such an appeal.  Kansas City has not lost a December home game since a 24–19 setback to Indianapolis in 1996.  Back then, Vermeil was in the broadcast booth, Marcus Allen was the Chiefs’ leading rusher, and Kansas City still had a major league baseball team.  The Chiefs opened that season with a loss at Houston – to the Oilers.  For the young readers out there, Houston once had a team called the Oilers.  They moved to Tennessee and became the Titans.  They are not to be confused with the New York Jets, known as the New York Titans until 1963.  Houston now has the Texans, not to be confused with the Dallas Texans.  To bring things full circle, the Dallas Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963.  Name changes were commonplace in the American Football League that year, to the delight of league commissioner Sean “Puffy” Combs.

 

The December winning streak began on December 7, 1997 with a 30–0 thumping of old rival Oakland.  The blowout was so deflating for the visitors, most of the infamous Raider fans did not even muster up the energy to commit any felonies.  The streak has continued for eight more years, even though 1997 and 2003 were the only playoff seasons during that stretch.  The team did make a shrewd move in 2001 – a year in which the Chiefs finished 6–10.  Faced with a home matchup with Philadelphia – about to make the first of four consecutive NFC championship game appearances – Kansas City knew that a loss was inevitable.  Therefore, the team made sure that the game was held on Thursday, November 29.  If it had been played three days later on Sunday, the Chiefs’ 23–10 defeat would have ended the December run at seven games.

 

Strangely, Kansas City is 0–3 in January home games during that time period.  Playoff losses to Denver and Indianapolis in January 1998 and 2004, respectively, were particularly painful.  In January 2000, the hated Raiders kept the Chiefs out of the postseason with an overtime triumph.  Kansas City is well aware of this track record as it faces Cincinnati on Sunday, January 1.  As a result, the team is editing its schedule to show that the game will take place on December 32.

 

If the league does deny the team’s request, the Chiefs will adapt accordingly.  The 2006 NFL season will begin next September.  However, the Kansas City organization will eagerly await its home opener in the month of “December minus 3.”