Santonio Holmes caught two passes for 61 yards last night, including the 45-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half that brought the Jets to within 24–10. But he finished the first half without a reception and was on the sidelines for, in his words, “the first couple of plays” of the game. Then afterward, he became annoyed when asked if that frustrated him, and he deflected any questions about why he sat out those first plays to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Is this enough to count as the first controversy of the off-season? You be the judge.
Here’s Holmes, when asked if he knew he’d be sitting out the first plays of the game, via the News:
“Ask Coach Schottenheimer what was the reason behind that,” Holmes said.
Holmes continued.
“I just had to go with the game plan,” said Holmes, who had two catches for 61 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown at the beginning of the second half. “That’s the way things were called at the time, and that’s what I had to do.”
He also indicated that the Jets had strayed from their game plan. Once again, from the News:
“Ask Coach Schottenheimer what was the reason behind that,” Holmes said.
Holmes continued.
“I just had to go with the game plan,” said Holmes, who had two catches for 61 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown at the beginning of the second half. “That’s the way things were called at the time, and that’s what I had to do.”
Needless to say, Holmes isn’t the only one unhappy with Schottenheimer today. (The words Schottenheimer Must Go feature prominently in the Big Lead’s word cloud of reactions from last night’s game.) It’s worth noting, though, that unlike any disgruntled Jets fans, Holmes will be a free agent this off-season.
Santonio Holmes questions Brian Schottenheimer’s play-calling in Jets’$2 24-19 loss to Steelers [NYDN]