Santonio Holmes, utilizing his Jets captaincy as a platform, has had a lot to say of late.
Following the loss in Baltimore three weeks ago, he criticized the offensive line for not giving Mark Sanchez enough time to get the ball down the field.
He did it again early last week, spurring Jets veteran right guard Brandon Moore to lash out at him Friday, saying calling out his teammates in public is not the way a captain is supposed to operate.
Fortunately for Moore and the Jets, Holmes played like a team captain last night, catching three passes for 63 yards, including the game-clinching touchdown, a 38-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter that capped a 24-6 win over the Dolphins.
After the game, though, while a number of Jets spoke about the team squashing any perceived rift in the locker room, Holmes became suddenly tight-lipped, refusing to get into his spat with Moore.
“We’re not talking about that, we’re moving on to the next question,” Holmes said. “We just won a ballgame today, and that’s what we’re focused on right now. What happened last week was last week. We’re looking forward to what’s going on next week. We’re moving on to the next game. That’s where we are with that right now, not what happened last week.”
Linebacker Calvin Pace, who said he spoke to Holmes about the disagreement late in the week, defended the receiver.
“I think some of the things he said were taken out of context,” Pace said. “Some of the things he said were meant to motivate, not criticize any individual. But he said it.
“I know what he was trying to say and it just wasn’t printed the way he said it, I don’t think. I talked to him and I think he meant well. He was trying to say some things, trying to motivate everybody.
“He showed what type of player he is and stood out today. That’s what being a big-time player is about.”
It seemed like Moore had buried the hatchet with Holmes.
“We play as a team together,” Moore said. “I was happy to see him do well as well as all the other guys. That’s over with. Santonio is my teammate. That’s over with.”
Holmes credited the offensive line and Mark Sanchez for his TD catch.
“Great job by Mark stepping up in the pocket and eluding tacklers,” he said. “He got the ball to me quickly and the rest happened with blocking down the field with Plaxico [Burress] and [Jeremy] Kerley and the rest is history.”