HOLMES ALONE:Even after moping during Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, Santonio Holmes, who did not speak to reporters after cleaning out his locker yesterday, is expected to return to Gang Green next season. (Storms Media Group)
Santonio Holmes did not speak at his locker yesterday. (
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Tone Time is not running out.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said yesterday wide receiver Santonio Holmes will be back with the team next season despite his actions over the last week, including a verbal spat with quarterback Mark Sanchez, moping during Sunday’s loss in Miami, and fighting with teammates in the huddle during the game.
“There’s a lot of positive things about Santonio,” Ryan said. “Are there some things that we need to get directed? Absolutely. And it’s not just with him, but others as well. … I believe Santonio will be back next year.”
The four-year, $45 million contract the Jets gave Holmes in July makes it nearly impossible for them to cut him. According to NFL Players Association documents, he is due a guaranteed $7.75 million in 2012, and if he is on the roster in early February, $7.5 million of his 2013 salary becomes guaranteed — meaning the Jets would owe him $15.25 million and take a big salary cap hit.
The Jets could try to trade him, but are unlikely to find a team willing to absorb his contract.
The Holmes issue exploded in Sunday’s game, but has been brewing for a while. Things escalated last week when Holmes and Sanchez exchanged words in a meeting, according to a source. Sanchez scheduled extra film sessions for the quarterbacks and receivers. Holmes griped during the first one last Wednesday, and Sanchez and he argued. The following day, Holmes skipped the meeting, a slap at Sanchez.
On Sunday, Holmes moped his way through the game, not catching any passes. Several teammates challenged him, including guard Brandon Moore and tackle Wayne Hunter. When Holmes and Hunter got into a shouting match during the two-minute warning, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer benched Holmes.
Holmes made a brief appearance in the Jets locker room yesterday while reporters were there, but did not speak. His teammates also appeared tired of speaking about Holmes.
One player said: “He’s been a problem all year. He’s not going to change.”
Several Jets spoke of chemistry issues that have plagued the team all season. The issues popped up in October when Holmes and Derrick Mason, who was cut, criticized the offensive line and Sanchez. That led to a fight in the media between Holmes and Moore. Ryan said he thought that was a dead issue.
“I thought we were past all that,” said Ryan.“I mean, I did, and then obviously some things came up and we were not as close of a football team as I thought we were.”
Jets guard Matt Slauson said the finger-pointing fractured the team.
“That kind of stuff destroys teams,” Slauson said. “That’s Football 101. You don’t call out your teammates. I mean, you do. But not like that.”
Ryan gave a passionate speech to the team about finding some team unity before next season. He even shed some tears at one point.
One change Ryan is making is the elimination of team captains. This was the first season Ryan named captains, including Holmes.
“This is something that I think I made a huge mistake in,” Ryan said.“Not just by naming Santonio, you know, a captain, but all of the captainthings. It’s not something I truly believe in … I think that pulls away from the team a little bit. It may work for other franchises, but it doesn’t work for me.”
Ryan backed Schottenheimer’s decision to pull Holmes, though he said he did not know about the move at the time. Ryan said he was too involved in the game to have noticed what was happening with Holmes. It was only later that he realized Holmes was on the bench for the final drive.
Slauson said the team does not expect an apology from Holmes.
“We’ve been through this a couple times now, and I don’t know — it hasn’t happened yet,” Slauson said. “Nobody’s expecting it. All we’re trying to focus on now is building a team, building a group of guys that we can win with.”