Once a quitter, always a quitter, according to LaDainian Tomlinson.
The former New York Jets running back was on the field when Santonio Holmes essentially gave up during a 19-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in the final game of last season.
Tomlinson, now an NFL Network analyst, said Holmes is the same guy.
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"He hasn't changed," Tomlinson said Sunday on "First on the Field." "The only thing about it -- a new year brings new hope. We all know that as players. But as a player, the one thing you know, when you're playing with a guy that has quit on you, you know that when the times get tough, he will quit on you again.
"That's one thing I do know. And that's kind of what I expect when the season goes along."
The Jets are 1-1 and play the Dolphins in Week 3. There are ginormous concerns with the Mark Sanchez-led offense and the presence that is Tim Tebow lingering on the sideline.
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"It's split down the middle," Tomlinson said about whether teammates trust and respect Holmes. "It depends on what ... Santonio Holmes does moving forward, if they trust him or not. If he comes out and continues to play like this, they won't because they know he will quit."
This isn't a good evaluation for Holmes, who has seven catches, 96 yards and one touchdown through two games. Tomlinson was there for the first incident and knows that team. Tomlinson always had a reputation as a "team guy," so you can see how that kind of disrespect for the game would bother him.
The biggest problem for the Jets is the lack of playmakers at the position. They can't afford to lose Holmes' skill set for any reason. They've got to keep him involved, one way or another.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
