Priest Holmes
•ON THE IMPACT OF HIS FATHER, M. SGT. HERMAN MORRIS, BEING DEPLOYED TO IRAQ LAST JANUARY I think about him four or five times a day--on the practice field, during games, at home. I think about what he might be doing that day, what he's going through. It helps me do my job. I think about his perseverance, his commitment.
•ON HIS MOTIVATION My inspiration is to play at a level where they'll have highlights from me on SportsCenter so my father can watch me. They're eight hours ahead, and I know they watch as much football as they can, either games or the highlights.
•ON THE HARDEST HE'S BEEN HIT Levon Kirkland, the Pittsburgh linebacker, a few years ago. I was with Baltimore. The quarterback exposed me on a pass route. I caught the ball and all of a sudden the sun disappeared. Everything went black. But I never got knocked out. As a player you never want anyone to see you hurt. You have to get up like nothing happened.
•ON THE TOP FOUR BACKS IN FOOTBALL Number 1, Jamal Lewis. His stature and speed make him so hard to bring down. He's a linebacker playing running back. Number 2, LaDainian Tomlinson. Had the 100 grabs last year. Great runner. Changing the running back position. Number 3, me. I have the ability to make people miss. You can't know that from a scouting report; you have to see it. Number 4, the kid from Tennessee, Chris Brown. I like the way he runs, his frame. Great upside.
•ON HIS FAVORITE GAME OTHER THAN FOOTBALL Scrabble. I like using my mind. I like it when someone sets me up for a triple word score.
•ON WHAT HE'LL BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS Working in the community with my nonprofit, Team Priest. Growing the company, earning money, pouring it back into the community so we can help the underprivileged.
•ON THE WORST THING ABOUT BEING A STAR Someone grabs you and tells you you're the best thing since sliced bread. And you wonder, Do they mean it, or do they want something from you?
•ON WHAT HE HAS LEFT TO DO IN FOOTBALL A long run, maybe a 99-yard run like my idol, Tony Dorsett, made. Most everything else I've done. --As told to Peter King
THE FATHER OF THREE BOYS AND THE NFL'S TD LEADER WITH 14, HOLMES, 31, TAKES THE CHIEFS TO TAMPA BAY ON SUNDAY
"I HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE MISS."
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Photograph by Jeffery A. Salter
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DREW HALLOWELL/ICON SMI (MITCHELL HEADSHOT)
"I thought Mariah Carey was looking at me."--Freddie Mitchell, Eagles receiver, page 37