With changes likely to be made in the wake of a disappointing end to the Jets' season, Santonio Holmes -- accused of quitting on his team in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins -- is on the hot seat.
Based on Holmes' actions the past week there might not be many hurt feelings within the Jets' locker room if Holmes plays elsewhere come the start of next season.
Even before Holmes was benched Sunday, a team source told the New York Daily News on Monday that Holmes' antics were beginning to wear on his teammates.
The source said Holmes went after Sanchez during a team meeting last Wednesday and then failed to show up to a separate meeting the next day.
"He went back and forth with Mark at the meeting," the source said. "He was saying stuff like, 'What am I even here for?' Then he blew off Mark by not even showing up the next day."
Holmes finished Sunday's game without a catch for the first time in his career and was only targeted once by Sanchez. A team source told the Daily News that Holmes stopped paying attention to Sanchez in the huddle as early as the second quarter and could be seen "moping" in front of his locker at halftime.
"He's a cancer," an unnamed player told the newspaper. "It's like dealing with a 10 year old."
Holmes has $7 million guaranteed in 2012 for skill, injury and cap reasons, a source with knowledge of his contract told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Monday.
If the Jets do in fact release him, however, it is possible they could offset some of that money based on what Holmes makes on the open market, La Canfora reported. The Jets also are very short on skill players as is and likely are looking at major staff changes on offense, which could complicate any decision made on Holmes' future with the team.
Holmes declined to answer a question on if he planned to be back with the Jets in 2012 following Sunday's loss in which he was benched during the game by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. La Canfora confirmed, via a league source, that Schottenheimer will interview for the vacant Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching position as early as this week.
Holmes was escorted out of the team's locker room by public relations staff Monday after failing to speak to the media during an open locker room period.
La Canfora reported Holmes has another $7 million in future salary that becomes guaranteed on the second day of the 2012 league year (March 14), leaving the Jets with a very narrow window to explore trades. A potential trade also is a tough option to explore given the Jets' lack of leverage with Holmes coupled with the fact that the team originally gave up just a fifth-round pick to get him.
