NFL

Jets: Santonio’s iPod flap a misunderstanding

The Jets yesterday forcefully disputed reports that wide receiver Santonio Holmes was disruptive on a flight this week and had been hauled off the plane by police.

The Jets said Holmes complied with a request by a Continental Connection flight attendant to turn off his iPod while his plane was landing Thursday in Pittsburgh, a claimed back up by Allegheny County, Pa., police

In what both police and Holmes said was a misunderstanding, the flight attendant didn’t believe him and reported Holmes because he left his headphones in his ears.

Reports said Holmes was escorted off the flight by police, but the police and the Jets said Holmes instead met cordially with officers long after he got off the plane. No charges were filed.

Holmes has a long history of off-field incidents. He will miss the first four games of the upcoming season due to an NFL drug suspension, but the Jets insist this latest controversy tainted him unfairly.

“I believe Santonio, and I’m looking forward to him being a Jet and playing here,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said yesterday.