April 24, 2002

Article reprinted with permission from The Birmingham News

DAN WILLIAMS News staff writer

Over the course of 10 days, arenafootball2 kicker Brian Holmes has seen vast improvement in his summer outlook.

The Atlanta Falcons called him last Thursday to tell him they were going to sign him to a one-year NFL contract for the league minimum, abruptly canceling his plans for another summer with the Birmingham Steeldogs.

Just three games into the arena season, he cleaned out his locker in the BJCC Arena, packed up his apartment and headed to Atlanta.

"I was preparing to be (in Birmingham) anywhere from three months to three years," Holmes said. "The Falcons promised me I'll be on the team through the preseason. They'll make a cut after the final preseason game."

Besides substitute teaching and working at a local gym in Duluth, Ga., Holmes spent last offseason trying to set up a workout with an NFL team. In January, a friend of a friend got him in contact with Les Sneed, the Falcons' director of pro scouting. That led to a workout on Monday, April 15, at the Falcons' football complex in Flowery Branch, Ga.

Falcons special teams coach Joe DeCamillis had Holmes kick six kickoffs and 10 field goals from 30- to 50 yards. Holmes made all 10 attempts.

"He's a prospect because he's got a good, young leg," DeCamillis said.

Holmes, who will try out as kicker and punter, will spend the next four months trying to dislodge the Falcons' incumbent kicker, Jay Feely, and punter Chris Mohr, a 12-year veteran from Alabama.

He is the first Steeldogs player to sign an NFL contract. He debuted for the Steeldogs last season after playing football at Samford from 1997 to 1999.

Despite the sizable jump from Arena Football's developmental league to the NFL, Holmes believes the transition won't be overwhelming.

"After you get over the initial excitement, it's not anything really different than what I've been doing since I was 10," he said.

Also, NFL goal posts are 181/2 feet wide with 10-foot-high crossbars compared to 9-feet-wide goal posts with 15-foot-high crossbars in Arena Football.

Further easing the adjustment, Holmes will be living about 40 minutes from the home where he grew up.

Steeldogs coach Bobby Humphrey said the promotion wasn't a complete surprise. He knew Holmes had the leg to kick at the highest level.

"He's got the heart and desire to push them for the job, but most importantly, it puts his name in the circulation of the NFL," Humphrey said.

Holmes will get a weekly stipend of $300 and room and board from the Falcons. The stipend goes up to $700 in July when training camp begins.

The Steeldogs hope to have a new kicker signed by tomorrow. Former Alabama kicker Neal Thomas is one of the possible replacements Humphrey has contacted.