Santonio Holmes was always one of those buyer-beware guys, a guy who you could count on to turn Tone Deaf once he made his big score.
He was worth the risk for a mere fifth-round pick, but there was a reason the Steelers cast him to the wind, even after he had made that amazing last-second catch to capture Super Bowl XLIII.
The reason was he was more trouble than he was worth.
A moody player who bickered in the huddle and quit on his teammates one unseemly afternoon in Miami, a player who turned a cold shoulder to Mark Sanchez, a player enabled by Rex Ryan appointing him offensive captain before being stripped of the honor. A player who required an intervention by Ryan when he feuded with the universally respected Brandon Moore. A player so suspicious of the media he viewed them as an unnecessary evil.
Holmes Sour Holmes.
Once the 2010 gamble had paid off with a pair of 100-yard games and clutch catches and six touchdowns, then-GM Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson, with Ryan’s blessings, made Holmes their $9 Million Man, a five-year, $45 million deal with $24 million guaranteed, and sure enough, there was Holmes celebrating on the front page of The Post chugging a bottle of champagne. Getting ready to drive the Jets to drink.
Over the past two injury-plagued seasons, Holmes caught two touchdown passes in 15 games, and never stopped giving the impression he had absolutely no desire to play hurt on his surgically repaired foot likely knowing that, at age 30, he would be Dead Jet Walking. Hardly the Perfect 10.
Good riddance.
Which brings us to GM John Idzik and free agency.
This is his moment, this is his time to prove once and for all he is much more than a salary-cap guy.
If Geno Smith is his quarterback for 2014, if Geno Smith will have any chance to succeed, if Ryan will have any chance to succeed in what has to be a playoffs-or-bust season, then Idzik has to knock the ball out of the park with the $47 million or so he will have in riches once Sanchez presumably bites the dust.
That means finding two dynamic receivers, between the white lines and in the locker room and meeting rooms, who will help Smith steer the green-and-white boat rather than rocking it.
In other words, no Santonio Holmes.
The position has been a train wreck of late, a long long way from Don Maynard and George Sauer, even Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet. Plaxico Burress was more shot than not during his one-year comeback. Derrick Mason, who was summoned to replace Good Guy Jerricho Cotchery, was a disaster. Stephen Hill, a second-round bust to date, has one last chance to prove he isn’t the offensive version of Vernon Gholston. It’s a wonder Marty Mornhinweg didn’t decide to suit up last season. David Nelson was a nice find, but Jeremy Kerley, who is a keeper in the slot, still craves better weapons around him.
Eric Decker is arguably the best No. 2 receiver on the free-agent market, a product of the Peyton Manning machine who has been linked to the Colts. Idzik must be careful not to overpay, because Decker is not a legitimate No. 1 receiver. It’s possible a $7 million salary will do the trick, although Decker will be looking for $8 million or more.
Hakeem Nicks has become an injury-plagued enigma, but he’d be the best Jets receiver the second he showed up. But at what price? Caution flags with him.
If the Patriots don’t want Julian Edelman, the Jets should. You win with players like him.
Golden Tate, 26 in August, is ready to emerge as a No. 2 receiver.
Emmanuel Sanders, 27 next week, would be an upgrade.
James Jones, 30 in March, has had the dropsies, but he is a big, physical deep threat.
Sign one of them, and then draft USC’s Marqise Lee, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks or LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr. in the first round. Or UNC tight end Eric Ebron, if you still need someone to pair with Jeff Cumberland.
The Seahawks reminded us defense still wins championships. But in a quarterback-driven league, you have no hope of getting to any championship without a franchise quarterback. And the only chance Smith will have to become a franchise quarterback is if he has receivers who will never be called Tone deaf.