Holmes was not the problem and should remain a Jet.

Added by Marvin Turner on January 6, 2012.

Where did the Jets go wrong in 2011? The first place to look at is the office of Mr.T (Mike Tannenbaum), and Rex Ryan. But before I even get into that, I need to talk about what we have been listening to since the Jets debacle in Miami.

All I have heard about from TV networks, sports talk radio, newspapers etc, is the situation involving Santonio Holmes. A situation that took place during a must win game to get into the playoffs, the last game of the season when everything was on the line in this one game, win and you’re in scenario.

Most people in the media are calling for the Jets to cut or trade Holmes, I don’t get it! People are missing the real issue here, and that has been the awful play of 3^rd year starting QB Mark Sanchez. I feel Sanchez has gotten away clean after that game because of the focus that ‘the voices’ placed on what Holmes did in that game. See, right after the game, it was all about what Holmes did, and very little about what Sanchez didn’t do.

Here’s how I see this problem. We are talking about a Pro Bowl receiver, Super Bowl MVP star player in Holmes, you can also add in a guy with the same credential in Plaxico Burress . People need to put aside personal feelings they might have for Holmes and Plax and understand the position these guys were in. These guys went the entire year where they struggled because of incompetent, in-experienced, (or whatever you wish to call it) type of   play at QB from Mark Sanchez. There was a level of frustration all year with Holmes, Plax, and others on the offensive side of the ball. But I am sure if you look on the defensive side of the Jets locker-room, you will find a few players that will tell you, ‘we could have gotten more help from the offense” lead by Sanchez.

My point here is this. What we saw from Holmes in Miami was a full year of frustration with his QB and offensive system, or lack there of. This was a game that the Jets needed, a game where Mark Sanchez threw three (what were you thinking) type interceptions. A game where Holmes and Plax did not see many opportunities to make plays. In fact, there were no catches by any Jets WR in that game until the second half. It just so happens that again, in a big game like that, a guy like Holmes felt he should have had a chance to help his team. People need to understand, how can a playmaker at WR make plays if they don’t see that ball? We here all the time that this is a passing league, and you’re not going to tell me that Mr. T, and Rex Ryan gave Holmes a 50 million dollar contract, thinking he was going to have the kind of year he had, no way!   

Why did Sanchez have a hard time finding his receivers all year long, more importantly, why could he not utilize his big money, big play receivers in a big game that they had to have? These are the questions that should have been asked by ‘the voices.’ The commentators, networks, TV and radio people throughout? Santonio Holmes is a big play just waiting to happen, yes he had a bad game or two this year, but he and the other receivers on the Jets never got in sink with Sanchez, a 3^rd year QB in the same system for three years.

It’s the QB that makes the receiver. We’ve seen over the years how Payton Manning made guys like Anthony Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garçon, Austin Collie, and others great. We saw what Eli Manning did last year with guys like Steve Smith, Boss, and Manningham. Who knew about Victor Cruz this year? As the leader and quarterback of his team, Manning made Cruz what he is today. You look at the connection that Matt Stafford has had with Calvin Johnson in Detroit. I can bring up many cases like this to show my point, so my question to Mr.T, and Rex Ryan, what is happening with Sanchez? I would bet my life that both Rex, and Tannenbaum don’t believe in this guy, but they moved up in the draft to get him, they can’t, and won’t come out to Woody Johnson, to the media, to Jet Fans, and say it was a mistake. The problem is, most Jet Fans that understand football can see where the problem is.

So there is no need to cut Holmes. Holmes considers himself one of the top playmaking receivers in the game today, the problem is, how he can display those talents if there is a lack in competence at the most important position on a football team. When you look at the recent turmoil that has taken over this Jet locker-room, the fact that Rex Ryan has not been the type of coach who has been able to hold players, and coaches accountable for there lack of production, and or leadership. The fact that Rex has had very little input, influence, or connection with what was going on, on the offensive side of the ball, these are the issues that Woody Johnson, Mr. T and Rex Ryan have to sort out, because ultimately! These were the reasons why this team went in the tank.  Its starts with the Coach when you look at the breakdown that was, with this Jets team this year.