Peterson, the Chiefs’ president/general manager, said Thursday that he hopes Priest Holmes will return in 2006, even after Larry Johnson’s record-breaking season, even after the grumblings that the two-back rotation can’t work in Kansas City.

“That is a magnificent problem,” Peterson said. “Hindsight’s 20-20, but perhaps if we played Priest a little bit less and Larry a little bit more, we may have both of them right now at the end of the year.”

“Now, do either one like it or dislike it? OK, I’m going to tell you something: I don’t care. They’re both getting paid. They’re getting paid a lot of money. And the one thing that I have found out in this business, if you’re winning, it takes care of a lot of problems.”

Holmes, 32, recently underwent his first neurological tests since being placed on injured reserve Nov. 9, and Peterson said Holmes is “doing much better clinically.” Holmes will have more tests in about 60 days, Peterson said, and will make a decision on his future sometime after that.

“There’s no rush,” Peterson said. “He’s been on injured reserve; he can’t come back this year. He’s under contract. He’s still getting paid. When they go on injured reserve, they still get paid. And we’re happy to pay him because he’s earned where he is today.”

“Priest is going to make good decisions. This guy is very unique. He does not expose a lot of himself whether he’s running with the football or not. And I will not count him out on anything.”