INDIANAPOLIS — The last time Jets fans saw Dustin Keller, he was trying to calm Santonio Holmes down in the huddle in Miami as the Jets’ season went down the tubes.
Keller could not believe it was a month ago when the Jets lost 19-17 to the Dolphins and Holmes watched the final two minutes from the bench after fighting with teammates.
“It was just a bad situation,” Keller said. “Things just fell the wrong way. It’s the worst-case scenario. We have a lot of competitors on the team. When things just started falling apart there were cameras in the … well I guess for the media it was the right place.
“But it was the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Keller, an Indiana native, spoke with The Post inside the ESPN offices here between interviews.
After a dismal end to an 8-8 season and the fallout that has followed, Keller sounded optimistic. He said he has spoken with quarterback Mark Sanchez about doing everything they can to fix the fractured locker room. They are already planning a “Jets West” camp in California for Sanchez and his receivers.
The question this year will be if Holmes shows up. Last year, Holmes was a no-show and now the relationship between Holmes and Sanchez is under the microscope.
Keller said he expects Holmes to be welcomed back by the team.
“Santonio is a big playmaker,” he said. “He’s a great guy in the locker room. I think pretty much everyone would consider him a good friend on the team. It’s just really uncharacteristic of him. We know that things can be settled, and he’ll be a huge piece for us next year.”
Keller said the picture that has been painted of the Jets locker room over the last month is not entirely accurate.
“I think it’s been a little bit blown out of proportion,” Keller said. “Obviously, we do have some problems that we need to address.
“It’s just not as bad as things have been made out to be.”