Mother Nature prevails

Lightning halts Chiefs' 9-0 win vs. Packers in third quarter

Morten Andersen kicked the first two of Kansas City's three field goals. AP

CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Priest Holmes expected to have a short night. Everyone else got one, too.

Holmes, whose 2002 season ended early with a hip injury, passed the biggest test yet in his comeback as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers 9-0 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, shortened Monday night by lightning and torrential rain.

The exhibition opener for both teams also had a sobering moment when Chiefs offensive tackle Willie Jones sustained a neck injury late in the second quarter.

Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil said Jones sustained a sprained neck, but was beginning to have feeling return to his fingers and toes. Jones remained at Aultman Hospital.

Jones, who suffered temporary paralysis last season during a practice, collapsed to the turf with 17 seconds to go before halftime.

"He went down and wasn't moving," Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez said. "I felt like my heart stopped. It looked like he wasn't breathing. It's the worst thing, to see a player down like that. We were all saying our prayers."

Chiefs' Jones sprains neck CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Willie Jones sprained his neck but had feeling in his hands and feet after being injured late in the first half of the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. Jones crumbled to the turf with 17 seconds left in the second quarter after briefly blocking Green Bay Packers linebacker Marcus Wilkins on a pass play. After going down, Jones, who was inactive for two games late last season with a neck injury, laid motionless for nearly 10 minutes before he was removed from the field by medical personnel. Jones was taken by ambulance to Aultman Hospital. A Chiefs spokesman said Jones sustained a sprained neck, and Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil confirmed that Jones has begun to get feeling back in his extremities. "The tingling is back in his hands and feet," Vermeil said after Kansas City's 9-0 lightning-shortened win. "He has been like this before. But this wasn't anything like the first time." FULL STORY

Kansas City had just taken a 9-0 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Jose Cortez with 5:55 left in the third quarter when several lightning bolts hit near Fawcett Stadium.

Play was halted for nearly one-half hour before NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue decided to cancel the remainder of the game with 5:49 remaining in the third.

"They made the right decision," Packers cornerback Al Harris said. "Believe me, everybody wanted to play, but you don't mess with lightning."

Both teams have been involved in similar weather-related exhibition cancellations.

In 1996, the Chiefs had a 14-10 win over Chicago shortened by second-half lightning.

At the Hall of Fame game in 1980, the Packers and San Diego Chargers were tied 0-0 with 5:29 left when then-commissioner Pete Rozelle called it because of lightning.

Morten Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, kicked two field goals for the Chiefs on Monday.

Holmes ran for 15 yards on five carries in his first game since sustaining a season-ending injury to his right hip in December.

Holmes, who led the league with 1,555 yards in 2001, had a chance to rush for 2,000 yards last season when he injured his hip in Kansas City's Dec. 15 loss at Denver.

On Kansas City's first play, Holmes picked up three yards. Three plays later, he slithered for five -- his longest run -- after making two cuts while picking his way through the line of scrimmage.

Holmes was relieved to take a few hits on his hip and be able to get up and walk away.

"Some of those hits I've already taken in camp," he said. "It was just a matter of getting in there and having more guys land on me. As far as taking hits, I'll be taking plenty more this season."

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre was on the field for just two series. He went 4-of-6 for 54 yards, but couldn't get Green Bay's offense -- missing four starters with injuries -- rolling.

Andersen, who began his career in 1982 before some NFL rookies were born, put the Chiefs up 6-0 with a 51-yard kick with one minute left in the first half.

Andersen's 32-yard field goal with 8:19 left in the first quarter put the Chiefs ahead 3-0.

Packers rookie defensive lineman Kenny Peterson made his first big play as a pro on just his third play, and he did it on his high school field.

Peterson, who led Canton McKinley to a state title as a senior, recovered Kansas City backup quarterback Todd Collins' fumble. After pouncing on the ball at the Chiefs 39, Peterson got a huge ovation from his hometown crowd.

"I want the ball," Peterson said. "I don't even know where it went."

Kansas City quarterback Trent Green finished 3-of-7 for 39 yards while playing two series.

Notes: Packers TE Tyrone Davis twisted his left knee in the second quarter and didn't return. ... DE Eric Hicks (sprained ankle), FB Omar Easy (sprained knee) and DT Derrick (Ransom) were injured for Kansas City. ... Sideline reporter Lisa Guerrero made her Monday Night Football debut. In between her reports, Guerrero's boyfriend, injured Baltimore Orioles pitcher Scott Erickson, held her microphone. ... Class of 2003 Hall of Famer Marcus Allen spent the first half on Kansas City's sideline. He played five seasons with the Chiefs.

 

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