Santonio Holmes may need another foot surgery — this time to remove it from his mouth.
The Jets wide receiver unwittingly gave the Panthers some bulletin board material — as if Sunday’s game will not be tough enough for the Jets, who are 11-point underdogs. Holmes, who has played eight games this season for the 30th-ranked offense in the NFL, took a shot at the Panthers’ second-ranked defense, specifically their secondary.
“Not to call these guys out, but their secondary is probably their weakest link on their defense,” Holmes said. “Their front seven are guys that are really going to get after the ball. They have really great pass rushers. We know how physical these guys are. They hustle on and off the field, sideline to sideline.”
Now, Holmes is right, but saying it may not have been wise. The Panthers’ defensive line and linebackers are the strength of the team, but the secondary has not been too shabby. The Panthers have 16 interceptions, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.
When that was pointed out to Holmes, he still stuck with his assessment of the defensive backs and said the statistics supported his view.
“I mean just from the numbers perspective,” Holmes said. “Nothing from my judgment that puts those guys in that category. It’s the way they’ve been ranked throughout the NFL. It’s not my perspective.”
Put it in with Holmes’ greatest hits as a Jet. This season has been the capper to what has been a tumultuous four years with Gang Green. Holmes has two years and $20 million remaining on his contract, but he almost certainly will be cut this offseason. The Jets will save $8.25 million against the salary cap by releasing him.
Holmes turns 30 in March. He has not had 60 catches or 800 yards receiving with the Jets. When asked about his future, Holmes said he believes he will be a Jet again next year.
“It’s not a concern of mine right now,” he said. “I signed a contract this year for three years to be with the Jets and that’s what I plan on doing is being with the Jets for three years.”
The Jets acquired Holmes in a 2010 trade with the Steelers for a fifth-round pick. It was a red flag that Pittsburgh would give up on someone who was a Super Bowl MVP the season before. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season, but returned to have a huge impact down the stretch for the Jets and put together his best statistical season in New York with 52 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns.
The Jets gave him a five-year, $45 million contract the next summer and people inside the organization said you could see an immediate change in his demeanor. He fought with quarterback Mark Sanchez and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer during the 2011 season, which ended with him fighting with teammates in the huddle during the final game.
The past two seasons have been disrupted by injuries. He suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot last year that needed surgery and ended his season. It kept him out of training camp this year. He played the first four games this season before hurting his hamstring and missing five games.
“My season in a nutshell has not been the greatest season I’ve performed since being in my eighth year in the NFL,” Holmes said. “Suffering the injury I did it’s tough to come back from, but it was a focus and a goal I had in mind just to come back and play and do as much as I can for this team.”
Despite all his baggage, a healthy Holmes would have helped this offense this season. Instead, he only has 16 catches for 381 yards and one touchdown.
“It’s been disappointing,” coach Rex Ryan said of Holmes’ injury-plagued year. “He’s just been battling different things. And that’s unfortunate because we all know the kind of player Santonio can be when he’s healthy.”