Blindsided? Yes Surprised? No.
The Steelers Sunday night made a move that sent shockwaves through the Steel City, sending a 26-year-old former #1 pick who two years ago was the Super Bowl MVP to a rival team in their conference for what – a lousy 5th round pick.
Santonio Holmes – we hardly knew ya.
Let it be said though, the move of Holmes was made for one reason and one reason only – he was a cancer off the field. The team tired time after time to simply give him the benefit of the doubt for his off the field indiscretions, but time after time, he let the team down.
The team wanted to look at Holmes as their star WR of the future, and it seemed like it was going to happen during the 2008 postseason after he ran back a punt, caught a long touchdown, and then made the game-winning score in three consecutive playoff games. It looked like his star was rising, and the Steelers were going along for the ride.
Then, he bottomed out again. The team had already stood back and watched him get arrested back in October for possession of marijuana, but thought that was behind him. They said little when Holmes acknowledged selling drugs on the street corner of his hometown of Belle Glade, Florida as a teenager during Super Bowl media day.
But then, another incident in Florida took place, this time on March 7th when a woman claims Holmes hit her in the face with a glass at an Orlando nightclub and then offered to pay her so she wouldn’t press charges.
Anshonoe Mills also claimed in the lawsuit that Holmes grabbed her face and threw the glass at her because she was sitting on a couch in the Rain Night Club’s VIP section.
Holmes of course says he did nothing.
Whether he was involved or not, another report recently came up stating Holmes would be suspended four games for violation of the substance abuse policy. That likely was the last straw. Make no mistake, this move was made at the top – the very top.
Reports say that it was mandated that Holmes be moved, and quickly. Which is why the Steelers got little for him, unless you think a fifth round pick is a lot better than it really is. This move was made to send a message, and that is – you mess up, your gonna be shown the door.
The Steelers have been the butt of jokes over how they treat their star players with kid gloves, and the latest incidents with Ben Roethlisberger and now Holmes had done nothing to help that image. Then Sunday night happened. The sending of Holmes to New York should put the players in the Steelers locker room on alert – you better keep your nose clean, or else.
From a playing standpoint, Mike Wallace will right away be the #2, and the team maybe had other ideas in mind when they inked two free agent WR’s- Arnaz Battle and Antwaan Randle El. They may have seen this day coming sooner than they thought, though it still comes as a crazy, desperate move that had better not backfire on them.
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mark
April 12, 2010 at 7:46 am
Like I said earlier in the week. BYE! His troubles off the field and now his claim that he wont get paid what he is worth by the Steelers made him VERY expendable. Again, Wallace steps into #2, El and Battle provide depth and playmakers. Holmes might be missed a bit, but I will gaurantee that it wont be for long.
RJ
April 12, 2010 at 7:52 am
Now if we can just get rid of our rapist frat douche QB….
George H
April 12, 2010 at 8:55 am
RJ you are just like all of the bandwagon fans out there. I am astonished of how many supposed steelers fans out there think Ben needs to go. You cheer him when he wins and you sling mud at him when he does wrong. Ben is our guy and you need to take the good with the bad. If you dont like it go be a Colts fan. Mark the fact of the matter is, Holmes was our best reciever. Yeah he needs to grow up, but you, RJ, and I arent sipping on cranberry and vodka with him, so why do we really care what he does off the field. Yes, he does ternish the gold of the black and gold, but he is an amazing reciever. He and Ben provided one of the best fan moments of my life during SB 43. Mark to say we wont miss Holmes is rediculous. Holmes is our playmaker, our number one guy. Sometimes during games it seemed like he was the only one out there making plays. I am definetly worried on how the WR Corps will do this year without him. Keep in mind he became Bens go to guy with Ward aging, we will definetly miss Holmes!
mark
April 12, 2010 at 10:40 am
GeorgeH, did you panic when Burress left? did you panic when Randle-El left? Why are you panicking now? Wallace,Ward, Miller and El/Battle/Sweed can make up for this loss. You call him our #1 guy but I believe Ward and Wallace had just as much or more endzone time. Sure, his yards per reception are dynamite but like you said, he can dissappear as well. Running the ball and throwing to the guys listed above will be enough for this team to not miss Holmes as much as you might think. His absence will be apparent early in the season, because it will be talked about and put under a microscope, but at some point someone will be stepping up. Mark my words.
RJ
April 12, 2010 at 9:54 am
Why do I care? I care because this club holds itself to a higher standard. Because Art Rooney wasn’t the type to say “Who cares who our players rape or assault off the field?” (Check Wikipedia if you need to find out who Rooney was.)
Take some time to learn what this team really stands for, then you can try to come back here and try to call me a bandwagon fan. Until then, stop embarrassing yourself.
George H
April 12, 2010 at 10:31 am
Money talks in this league, even to the Rooneys. Do you honestly think if Holmes was under contract to a multiyear big money contract he would of been traded? I dont think so. I know the Steelers are held to a higher standard, but Holmes was the causalty in the Big Ben case. I definetely dont agree with how Holmes carries himself, but as a fan its hard to see him go. Do you honestly believe Ben is getting kicked out the door? Aboslutely no way he leaves Pittsburgh. Like I said money talks and Bens contract is telling the Rooneys to keep him around. A football team has a lot of people invovled, there are naturally going to be a few bad apples just like any other work place. RJ if the Steelers are all about morals, then why resign Jeff Reed? He has been involved in countless acts of stupidity with the cops. I gaurentee you cheered for Ben when he won us two superbowls… every fan did, so I dont want to hear people bad mouth Ben. Oh and guess what… HE WASNT CHARGED, therefore why condemn him? No doubt Ben needs to shape up and stop acting like a fool, but as long as he keeps bringing home the hardware I will continue to cheer him on.
mark
April 12, 2010 at 10:45 am
Ben is only guilty of being rich and dumb. Thats not a crime. I root for Ben because he is the QB of my favorite team in all of sports and he has delivered 2 titles. He is clutch,exciting and we are never out of a game as long as #7 is under center. What Steeler fan is unhappy with Ben’s performances since 2004? If you are unhappy about his personal life affecting his career, then by all means talk about it. But to throw his skill, leadership ability, and resume under the bus is ridiculous!
mark
April 12, 2010 at 10:50 am
RJ, are you crazy? who did Ben rape? I have been a Steeler fan for over 35 years (Im 42)and I do understand the “High” standard the Steelers seem to display. But in this case, Ben has not been charged, found guilty or been found to be a rapist/assaulter. We have seen the team get rid of trouble in the recent past;Bam Morris,Cedric Wilson,Burress,and now Holmes. But James HArrison has a domestic issue on his ledger and he is still there. Lets not jump to conclusions about how the front office in Pittsburgh decides these matters.
RJ
April 12, 2010 at 10:47 am
Keep making excuses, George, but you aren’t fooling anybody but yourself.
George H
April 12, 2010 at 11:04 am
Mark am I making excuses or stating the truth?
RJ
April 12, 2010 at 11:18 am
I guess the truth for you is that winning is more important than dignity and pride. That’s the mentality of the bandwagon fan, I’m sad to say.
DrGeorge
April 12, 2010 at 11:47 am
This was a good decision. S. Holmes would have been unsignable after this year, based on his demands for mega-bucks; he will lose one-fourth of this season with the commissioner’s suspension for drug abuse; and he had received numerous second chances. Even without the deal sweetner of Leon Washington (which seems pure malarkey), and admitting that the 5th round pick the Steelers got in exchange is inadequate, the Rooneys still did the right thing. It’s called cutting your loses. And if Holmes misconduct cuts his career short, a la Burress with the Giants, our 5th round pick would then look like a steal.
In hindsight, the Rooneys planned to trade or cut Holmes even before his suspension was announced, when they signed Arnaz Battle and Randall-El. Grisham also saw playing time late last year. None of them are as physically gifted as Holmes, but they are experienced and solid receivers. The passing offense will remain productive with this receiving corps, and the Steelers won’t have to stretch for Dez Bryant in the 2010 draft to compensate for Holmes’ departure.
If Ben is not charged by the Milledgeville District Attorney, then his situation really hasn’t changed from last year. And he may still face a 2-4 game suspension for embarrassing the league. George H. is right about the financial side of every decision affecting the outcome, including the decision to retain Ben; but Ben is still innocent until proved guilty. If Ben were actually found guilty of a felony, the Rooneys could cut him without financial consequences to the team (if Ben’s contract contains the usual bad-boy clause), and I would be surprised if they did not cut him under those circumstances. But cutting Ben would also affect everyone else on the team, and the Rooneys are right to be patient with him until the situation resolves itself, one way or the other.
Finally, Mark, I understand your point about the Holmes dismissal presaging a more balanced offense and an improved running game. That may be a consequence of this decision, but I doubt that it was considered in making the decision. A blocking WR is necessary in any running attack, and Holmes was pretty good at that. His blocking will be missed at least as much as his receiving. Actually, a stronger running game for 2010 became a stated goal immediately after the Steelers missed the playoffs (see the Tomlin news conference), underscored by the firing of Coach Zierlein, and Tomlin was clearly speaking for the front office as well as himself in setting that goal. If the Steelers don’t run the ball better in 2010, it won’t be for a lack of effort or focus.
Holmes departure makes headlines, but the Steelers future success depends more on rebuilding the defense (DE, CB) and creating an efficient O-line capable of effective run blocking in short yardage. It appears Tomlin, Colbert, and the Rooneys are focused on making that happen. The proof will come in the draft.
mark
April 12, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I totally agree with DrGeorge.
metal drummer
April 12, 2010 at 2:51 pm
How can it backfire? He’s a scumbag who cant handle himself the way those six Lombardi trophies require him to. I would rather go 0-16 than let some asshole like him, and Roethlisburger destroy our image. We set standards in the NFL, not follow them. Just have a look in our trophy room. Cant wait till we meet the Jets at Heinz field.
Adam
April 12, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Im really gonna mis his YAC, besides the weed I really didnt think he was a problem, but we are not in the know. It is too bad that Limas Sweed has thus been a bust, I mean I ve watched at least 3 catches where he has distanced himself from defenders and dropped the ball. Not to forget that I there in person with his game winning TD catch drop in Cincy, that was a long ferry ride back across river. We always can dig up a new great receiver though Holmes is a hard loss.