I WON’T GROW UP! Post columnist Mark Cannizzaro says Santonio Holmes remains a threat to repeat the same behavior that hurt the Jets last season. (Neil Miller)
Santonio Holmes spoke publicly yesterday for the first time since he was sent — like a misbehaving child to his room for a “timeout’’ by his parents — to the bench by his teammates and coaches in the 2011 season finale in Miami.
The often disgruntled Jets receiver spent 13 minutes and 34 seconds on conference call with reporters and here’s what I learned from it: Holmes has learned nothing from his embarrassing conduct in 2011 and the fallout from it, and he remains a threat to repeat the same bad behavior in 2012.
If the Jets’ 2012 season starts going the wrong way like it did in 2011, and Holmes isn’t getting the ball, watch out, let the sulking and complaining begin.
Holmes, who simply doesn’t get it and seemingly never has, had the perfect opportunity yesterday to show himself as a changed man from the guy who threw his quarterback and offensive line under the bus last year. And you know what he did with it? He dropped it like a potential game-winning touchdown pass.
Instead of owning up to his mistakes and (gasp) conceding to have learned from them, Holmes grew more defiant as the conference call went on, showing no contrition whatsoever for the damage he had a big part in causing inside the Jets’ locker room.
This exchange tells you all you need to know about Holmes: When he was asked if he has any “regrets’’ about how he handled himself late last season, he spat back, “Why should I?’’
That question begged for a more contrite answer such as: “Like everyone, I was frustrated when things weren’t going well for us. I didn’t handle it professionally, but I’ve learned from the experience. I’m better because of it and ready to move on.’’
When asked if he’s “a better teammate’’ now than he was last season after what transpired, Holmes said: “I’ve been a better teammate to be a part of the NFL for seven years. Regardless of the things that you guys report and the way you portray it, it doesn’t matter.’’
If he were such a great teammate in Pittsburgh, why did the Steelers, not far removed from Holmes’ Super Bowl MVP performance, give him to the Jets for what amounted to a box of cheap golf balls and a bag of tees?
When Holmes was asked specifically about his Miami meltdown on New Year’s Day, he went all Las Vegas on everyone, saying: “It happened down in Miami and that’s where it’s going to stay, down in Miami.’’
When asked if he reached out to any of the offensive linemen with whom he clashed last season, he said: “No, I haven’t reached out to anybody this offseason.’’
Pressed specifically on right tackle Wayne Hunter, who was the player who got into a shouting match with him in that huddle he was kicked out of late in the loss to the Dolphins, Holmes said: “Who reported that?’’
Um, everyone.
After some palpable silence over the phone line, Holmes said: “I have nothing to say about that.’’
Holmes, whose relationship with Mark Sanchez was in question last season, could barely muster any positive words when asked how he would characterize his relationship with Sanchez at the end of last season and how it has evolved since after they worked out together last week in Florida.
“That was too long ago,” Holmes said. “He’s still here as our starting quarterback. I’m still here as our starting wide receiver. I think our relationship will evolve around that.”
Warm stuff, indeed. Time for a group hug, perhaps.
Holmes grew testy when pressed about the end-of-the-season blowup, saying, “That happened in the 2011-2012 season. We don’t have anything to say on that subject. We’re worried about the 2012 New York Jets football season, and if you’re not concerned with that, we don’t have anything else to talk about.”
Do those sound like the words of a rehabilitated brat?
Didn’t think so.