Johnson May End Holdout Soon

Priest Holmes might have to change his plans on being the starter in Kansas City because Larry Johnson's training camp holdout might be over soon.

The Kansas City Star, citing multiple sources, reported Monday that Johnson and the Chiefs have narrowed their differences to the point where a deal might be agreed to this week and have the star running back in uniform for the Chiefs' third preseason game against the Saints on Aug. 23.

Johnson has been a no-show at camp as he seeks an extension to the seven-year contract he inked in 2003, which he can void down to a five-year deal after the final game of the 2007 season because of playing time incentives.

Johnson is demanding compensation in the range of $28 million guaranteed, insisting he be paid as much as league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson. Johnson is scheduled to earn $1.7 million this season, and is being fined more than $14,000 for every day he misses.

After rushing for 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2005, he gained 1,789 yards and had 17 touchdowns last season. His 2,199 yards from scrimmage accounted for 43 percent of the Chiefs' total offense.

When contacted by The Star, Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson wouldn't say a deal was imminent.

"I'm cautiously optimistic a deal will get concluded, but exactly when I can't tell you. I really can't," Peterson told the newspaper. "I would say we're still communicating. Are we real close? Not from where I sit.

"We're still talking pretty much on a daily basis. There are things we're still stuck on and I can't say how long that's going to take."