Santonio Holmes is willing to accept a pay cut for the second year to remain with the New York Jets.
"Anything for the team," Holmes said Wednesday, via the New York Daily News. "Anything for the team."
Asked if it would matter how much his salary was reduced, Holmes replied, "Probably not. I mean with the production comes big pay, so do your job."
That seems to be an acknowledgment that Holmes has underperformed since signing a five-year, $45 million contract four years ago.
Set to count $10.75 million against the 2014 salary cap, there's no way Holmes will return at that price tag. In fact, it's hard to envision a scenario in which the Jets welcome him back at any salary.
Holmes has missed 17 of the last 30 Jets games with Lisfranc and hamstring injuries. His response to being eliminated from the playoffs this week couldn't have been more casual. He has quit on his teammates, stirred up a hornet's nest in the locker room and been portrayed as a team cancer.
His days with Gang Green are over once January rolls around.
Holmes turns 30 years old in March. It will be interesting to see if other teams still have visions of his toe-tapping, game-winning beauty from Super Bowl XLIII dancing in their heads.
Who would be surprised if he signs a one-year, make-good contract with a team with stronger leadership such as the New England Patriots or San Francisco 49ers?
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" broke down the Cowboys loss and every other Week 15 game. *
