Chiefs Lose Holmes for the Season

Kansas City Chief running back Priest Holmes will sit out the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Holmes, who was leading the NFL in scoring and rushing when he got hurt Nov. 7, was put on injured reserve Thursday but will not require surgery.

“It was the best thing to do for Priest Holmes and his future,” Coach Dick Vermeil said. “I think he’ll be 100% within a month, two months at least.”

Vermeil said Holmes might have remained on the roster if the Chiefs (4-8) were headed for the playoffs. But he had already been declared out for Monday night’s game at Tennessee, and the Chiefs have only three more games after that.

*

Atlanta, Houston, Miami and Tampa, Fla., were selected as finalists for the 2009 Super Bowl.

The four were recommended by a committee of owners at a meeting in Atlanta. One of the four will be chosen as host by the league’s owners next May.

This season’s game will be played Feb. 6, 2005, in Jacksonville, Fla. The 2006 game will be in Detroit, with Miami playing host to the 2007 game and Phoenix playing host in 2008.

*

Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Plaxico Burress was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets after sitting out practice because of a sore hamstring.

Burress, the Steelers’ top downfield receiving threat, will sit out a third consecutive game. He hasn’t played since getting hurt three minutes into the second quarter of a 19-14 victory Nov. 21 at Cincinnati.