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You have to respect the Jets desire to turn the page on 2011, and focus on 2012, but that doesn’t mean Santonio Holmes behavior late in the year was copasetic.
But the theme of Rex’s speech to the team this morning, about a fresh start, was the caveat that Holmes used throughout his press conference today.
He refused acknowledge he did anything wrong late last season when he blew off a Sanchez-called meeting, and then got pulled from the Miami game for having a bad attitude in the huddle.
“We’re worried about the 2012 NYJ football season, and if you’re not concerned with that we don’t have anything else to talk about.” Holmes told the media today.
First off all, reporters shouldn’t be in the business of being “worried” or “concerned.” That would display a bias.
He was telling the reporters they shouldn’t ask him about what happened late last season.
It’s not our job to ask the questions that he wants asked.
As one reporter put it today (prepare for a very outdated cultural reference), ““Santonio is like the Fonzie of the Jets, he can’t say he’s wrong.”
“Fonzie” was a character on a 1970’s sitcom called “Happy Days,” and he was the coolest guy in town, and it was a running joke on the show that he couldn’t say, “I was wrong.” He would say, the first two words, but couldn’t get the word “wrong” out of his mouth.
Holmes is the same way – he can’t admit he does anything wrong.
It’s because he’s been so talented for so long, he always gets second chances, and he’s surrounded by enablers like Joe Segal, who kiss his ring on a regular basis.
I understand Holmes despises the media, and “despises” might be an understatement, and he’s hates being questioned on his behavior or play, by the press. That is generally when he snaps.
One reporter described Holmes conference call with the media today as “combative.”
There was one absurd exchange.
Manish Mehta asked him if he reached out to Wayne Hunter, who he got into an argument with in huddle in Miami.
“Who reported [we had an argument],” Holmes snapped.
Mehta replied, “ESPN New York.”
“I’m not talking about it,” Holmes responded.
Why did he ask who reported it? It happened, and he knows it. And then when he was told who reported it, he said he wouldn’t talk about it. That makes no sense.
But you know what, who cares if he gives the media what they want, more importantly, his teammates, like the guys who were in that huddle in Miami, probably need to hear he was remorseful for his behavior in that game. He could have relayed that message today though the media and he didn’t do it.
And he likely won’t. He’s not wired that way.
Especially, now that he has $24.5 million guaranteed. He has the Jets by the [bleeps], and he knows it.
But the bottom line is this – he’s a heck of a talent, and even with his attitude, he can still help the Jets a lot.
However, to help matters, the Jets need to keep him involved in the offense, and also keep him away from the media.
Personally, I never would have made him available the first day of the off-season program. In fact, I wouldn’t have made him available the entire off-season (no NFL media rules in the off-season).
In fact, when he does talk, I would tell him to say “no comment” or give short non-answers to every question.
Holmes and the media is a toxic brew, and the sooner the Jets realize this, the better. Keep him away from them as much as humanly possible.
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