The Pittsburgh Steelers finally did it - they cut the cord on a player with a checkered history of behavior, shipping WR Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a mere fifth-round pick. Thoughts? I've got plenty of them after the jump.
Obviously, the move makes the Steelers weaker from an on-field football point-of-view. But before they're painted as the bad guy by some, remember that Holmes did his best to sabotage their season himself, on the verge of getting suspended yet again due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. So in actuality, the Jets just put a known party animal in the nightclub capital of the world, with his next strike being a full year suspension from the league. Something tells me their front office is a big fan of Las Vegas, too.
Holmes will have every opportunity to enjoy a great season with the Jets. He's clearly one of the most talented receivers in the league, and he's got 12 games to showcase himself for a new contract. Of course, he's apparently not bright enough to also realize that he's showcasing himself every time he's in the news for the wrong reasons, or every time he's opening his mouth on Twitter, or getting an infraction that pushes him one step closer to a season-long suspension. Those aren't exactly qualities that drive up a player's value on the open market. So from a football perspective he should be fine, but it was never just about football with #10 (which I'm starting to believe is a cursed number in this organization).
Like I said, it's a gamble for the Jets, trading for 75% of Holmes, but in their defense, they didn't give up much for him. I'd be much more concerned about his new atmosphere off-the-field if I were a part of Jets management.
The move hurts the Steelers on paper, as trading a Super Bowl MVP would usually do. But I think the team wanted to accomplish a few things here. #1, I think this was a warning shot to Ben Roethlisberger (and the rest of the team, for that matter), that not every player is invincible and that off-field conduct counts for something. #2, I believe that they tired of the fact that Holmes became unreliable based on that behavior. As I said earlier, he took himself out of a fourth of the season before it even started and is one more dumb move away from taking himself out for a whole season. How can you count on a guy like that? This is a team that wants to get away from uncertainty. At 2:00, they will know the future of their quarterback from a legal point-of-view. It took some time, but one-by-one, the team is getting past its various off-season question marks.
All is not lost for the Black and Gold. Remember, the draft is only 10 days away, and they've brought in several college receivers for looks already. They have depth at the position, which was undoubtedly set up by the Randle-El and Battle signings at the start of free agency (doesn't look so dumb now, does it?) - which leads me to believe that they knew this was coming for a while. Finally, it's worth noting that they won Super Bowl XL with Cedrick Wilson as a starting receiver. Mike Wallace is not quite Holmes, but he is extremely gifted, and certainly a bigger threat than Wilson.
Critics of the trade will point to the fact that the Steelers only got a fifth-rounder in return. But Randy Moss netted a fourth-round pick for Oakland in 2007, and he's one of the greatest receivers who ever lived - and was not entering a four-game suspension. Nor was Anquan Boldin, who was dealt to Baltimore for a 3rd and 4th round pick this year.
This was not the most opportune time to sell on Holmes - that would've been about a minute after Super Bowl 43 ended. They are definitely moving him at a low point. But given the circumstances and the historic trade value as cited above, I suppose that's about as good as they were going to do. This situation was obviously festering around the Steelers like a giant pimple - and as painful as it was, today they finally popped it, and now it can start to heal. It might leave a scar, it might not look as good, but it's behind them.
And after that disgusting analogy, some poll questions!
This was not the most opportune time to sell on Holmes - that would've been about a minute after Super Bowl 43 ended. They are definitely moving him at a low point. But given the circumstances and the historic trade value as cited above, I suppose that's about as good as they were going to do. This situation was obviously festering around the Steelers like a giant pimple - and as painful as it was, today they finally popped it, and now it can start to heal. It might leave a scar, it might not look as good, but it's behind them.
And after that disgusting analogy, some poll questions!
Email your feedback, questions, and tips Mondesishouse@gmail.com
31 comments:
I agree on all accounts here. That being said, I'm really going to miss Bluntonio. He was for sure a "gamer" but also a source of off-field problems. This served as a warning shot for Ben, as well as others too.
I never thought I'd feel so indifferent about a star player being traded. I really can't conjure up strong feelings one way or the other on this.
Completely agree. Good post. I wish they got a little more in return but think they will be fine without him. The Rooney's needed to lay down the law and they did in stomach wrenching fashion.
He won't do as well in New York.
The new Meadowlands Stadium has synthetic turf and everybody knows that Santonio plays better on grass.
(I love recycling Bam Morris jokes)
I can see where a lot of people are going to take this: Santonio has been traded but Ben and Skippy are still here.
Since being drafted, Santonio has been arrested 3 times and has failed a drug test. Although charges were dropped for the blunt incident, it was because the police did not have cause for pulling him over. He still was in possession of an illegal narcotic.
Reed's offenses are embarrassing, but minor league in comparison. Reed apologized for his actions, as well.
Santonio just ran his mouth through Twitter and dug a deeper and deeper hole. He was long gone before Anshonae Mills ever made headlines, they just had to wait until they found out Ben wasn't being charged to cut ties.
Hopefully, Ben gets the message as well. I understand he is not in the Rooney's good graces right now, either nor should he be. Regardless of charges being brought or not, he still made poor decisions that put his team in jeopardy.
Totally agree with Brian. On the field he was spectacular at time and a disappointment at other times. Never liked his character, all the way back to his college days. I remember not being particularly fond of drafting him for this reason. Hope this sends a message to the locker room and is an indication of the direction the Stillers are going as an organization...they've really lost their way in recent years.
steeler fans have one person to blame for the trading of santionio holmes and his name is santonio holmes. so thank you santonio, thanks for the memories and may you loose every game you sit opposite of the black and gold.
p.s. try to stay out of trouble in ny, i hear they use high profile recievers like you to make an example of.
I thought he was a good player but said last week that we should prepare for life without Tone.
I think they received much less than expected but this guy's stock was falling fast.
I think this team will change drastically over the next two years.
I completely agree with this being a warning shot to Roethlisberger. We all know that winning a superbowl almost always starts with the QB, and although statistically he may not be the best, when the game is on the line I'd easily take him over everyone else. The guy just knows how to win. With that said, in all of his off the field bad publicity, he has yet to be convicted on any of the allegations and aside from the motorcycle accident, his off season debacles haven't amounted to much legally, unlike Santonio. This is a good move for the team and way to get back some of that respect and show that the players are accountable and that a starter is not untouchable. Maybe it will put what being a Steeler is in perspective for Ben and the rest of the squad. Hopefully Mike Wallace can continue to progress and that Randle El will be a consistant threat from the slot. If nothing else, we can always move into the top 5 in the second round to take Golden Tate, but that's probabaly just wishful thinking...
So much for the Steelers being no better than the Bengals. Not only does this send a message to the NFL and players like Holmes -- even though they are too high, rich and stupid to get it -- it also sends a message to Roethlisberger and the other Steelers players that no matter how special you think you are (Super Bowl MVP and all), you're no better than a 5th round pick if you think you're going to drag the reputation of the organization into the gutter with you. Did you hear that Ben? That's a reality check from you're boy Tone and unless you want to be wearing another teams uniform too, you might want to start listening.
I guess running the ball in Pittsburgh again will no longer be simply a suggestion for Arians either.
See ya later Tone. Thanks for the catch.
For the rest of my sentiments, refer to BurressWithButterflyWings' post.
Steve, the Bengals also cut a high-profile, extremely talented but trouble-making player when they cut Odell Thurman. Not only did it make their defense terrible for the next few seasons, it failed to send the message to the rest of the team. Hopefully we have better luck than them in that aspect of it.
We should pick up Peter Warrick! Where's he been?
How about this for a poll question?
Does the Holmes trade mean that Steeler fans have not seen the last of Limas Sweed?
I'm not so sure about your "Mike Wallace isn't as good as Holmes" point.
Wallace certainly isn't as experienced, but I don't remember Santonio doing the things that Wallace did as a rookie.
And Mike is also undoubtedly faster than Santonio. I think he can develop into a better receiver than Tone, and that's what caused the Steelers to think they could get away with dealing the troubled WR.
Thanks for the Super Bowl catch that brought us 6 Santonio. For your sake, I hope you straighten things out and get on the right track, it was a fun four years. Too bad you couldn't keep your nose clean.
i doubt this benefits limas sweed's chances of putting on a steeler uniform this season...
I am not a big fan of the trade. Yes, I want Santurdio gone before the start of the season, but we still have five months before that time. I wish they would have waited for a better offer. Several analysts on the NFL Network thinks they should have been able to get a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick.
Quite frankly, I think this was a publicity stunt. Otherwise, how do you explain why they traded him now for peanuts, when they could have waited and done better, albeit with less publicity.
And btw - we still have a qb that has two rape accusations against him. That has not changed.
not really to disappointed about this, check out what I have to say http://realandraw.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/oh-santonio/
Who cares, the Pens are in the playoffs.
@ andrew - tried to read your post, but there are no spaces between your words...us mondesi folk are used to that ;)
The peanuts the Steelers got in return is better than the nothing they were being offered by other teams.
Who was the NFL network analyst that said we could have received a higher pick in return? Bucky Brooks or whoever that guy is on there that can barely even speak English?
Holmes was going to be outrighted if the Jets didn't offer the pick. That was the best offer available apparently.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Any word on the latest Holmes tweets? He's gotta have some negative $hit to say about the Steelers, or some interesting bong water stories.
Santonio's will have an eye opening experience when he discovers the difference of playing catch with Sanchez instead of Ben.
Santonio Holmes - "You mean I only have 3 seconds to get open?...daeeem!" and "How come this tiny QB can't give me all day to come back to the ball?", "oh well, time to wake and bake I guess."
@AJ - HAHA, an oldie, but a goodie!!!
Enjoy your rental NYJ. Maybe anshonae can shorten up your lease for you. An excellent player, but already said he didn't want to resign with the Steelers and once 4 games are gone, he's not worth the trouble anymore. Glad we could get something for him.
Sweed jerseys are making a comeback. ...At least until the draft.
Has anybody ever noticed the amount of similarities between the story in the song 'Date Rape' and the life of our QB?
Eerie......
It would have been nice if they could have at least picked up the rights to Leon Washington as they were trying to do. It would not have been a sure thing, but he'd be a nice addition behind Mendenhall.
"The peanuts the Steelers got in return is better than the nothing they were being offered by other teams.
Who was the NFL network analyst that said we could have received a higher pick in return?"
I believe it was Jason La Canfora who talked with some teams on background.
The Santurdio "stock value" is at a low point right now, but I think it would rise had the Steelers waited a few months. The wine glass incident would be resolved (Quite frankly, I believe Holmes on this one incident), and Ben problems too.
Come draft time, a sucker would emerge. The Cowboys and Bengals just love trading for talented criminals, I mean troubled athletes, and enabling them, I mean rehabilitating them.
Lots of peeps in shock over SH for 5th Round Draft pick. I read comments on my show. http://bit.ly/d89nLk
Your 'show' sucks balls.
The notion that this was done "to send a message to Ben" is pretty silly. What's the message? "Misbehave, and we'll trade you to a better team, where you'll be a starter with a better chance to win a Super Bowl ring!"
Scotts last comment does make sense.....the message it sends is kind of shallow as long as other NFL teams just pick up the pieces and pay big money for these trashbags......but I am glad he is no longer a Steeler....his SB catch will be forever etched in my mind, and he was dynamite on the field, but pure trouble.....whoever said it was obvious he was a 12 gamer at best as a Steeler anyway hit it on the head......it did kind of ruin my Jets as a second favorite AFC team though.....loved Faneca and Darrelle Reavis and anybody who can shit on the NE parade, but Santrudio's prescence kills that
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